INTRODUCTION TO

NETWORKING

Network Components Cabling

Objectives

Understand network devices.

Understand Network Cabling

Understand where certain

cables are used
Understand Network Cable
selection criteria.
Network Components & Cabling
■ Network Interface Devices

■ Network Cabling
– Coaxial Cable
– Twisted Pair Cable
■ Shielded Twisted Pair Cable – STP
■ Unshielded Twisted Pair Cable – UTP
– Fibre Optic Cable
Network Interface Devices
Network Interface Devices

attaching to an external port on the

computer such as the parallel port

installed internally in a Peripheral

Component Interconnect
Mezzanine/Computer Interface
Adapter (PCIM/CIA) slot,
now known simply as a PC slot
Network Interface Devices
Network Cable Types
■ Coaxial - solid or braided core
– ThinNet-RG-58 /U, A/U & C/U, RG-59, RG-62
– ThickNet-Standard Ethernet, Vampire Tap & DB-15
Connector
■ Coaxial connectors
– BNC cable connectors
– BNC T-Connector - joins components
– BNC Barrel connector - extends segments
– BNC Terminator - terminates ends
Network Cable Types
Coaxial cable grades

■ PVC - Polyvinyl-Chloride
■ Plenum
– fire resistant
– reduces poisonous gases
– used in air flow spaces (above/below floor)
Network Cable Types
Coaxial cable showing various layers

Outer shield

Insulation (PVC, Teflon)

Conducting core
Copper wire mesh or
aluminum sleeve
Network Cable Types
Attenuation causes signals to deteriorate
Network Cable Types
Thinnet cable connecting to a computer
Network Cable Types
RG-58 coaxial showing stranded wire and the solid
copper cores

Solid copper
(RG-58 /U)

Stranded wire
(RG-58 A/U)
Network Cable Types
Thick-Net cable has a thicker core than Thin-Net

Thicknet

Thinnet
 Network Cable Types
Thicknet transceiver with detail of a vampire tap piercing the core

Thicknet Vampire taps

Transceiver
Transceiver
cable
Network Cable Types - Coaxial
BNC cable connector

BNC cable connector

Network Cable Types - Coaxial

BNC T connector

BNC T connector
Network Cable Types - Coaxial

BNC barrel connector

BNC barrel connector

Network Cable Types - Coaxial

BNC terminator

Ground lead
BNC terminator
Network Cable Types - Coaxial
Fire code requires plenum grade

Plenum grade cable

Plenum Polyvinyl
grade cable chloride

Plenum grade cable

 Network Cable Types - Coaxial
Identify the following components

D
C

B
A
Coaxial Cable Length Limits

■ Thinnet Cable length :

185 Meters
■ Thicknet Cable length:

500 Meters
Network Cable Types – Twisted Pair
■ UTP - Unshielded Twisted-Pair
■ STP - Shielded Twisted Pair
■ Five categories of TP types:
 Category 1 - telephone
 Category 2 - 4 Mbps
 Category 3 - 10 Mbps
 Category 4 - 16 Mbps
 Category 5 - 100 Mbps
 Category 6 – 1Gbps
 Category 7 – 10Gbps
Network Cable Types – Twisted Pair

UTP & STP Characteristics

■ Twisted Pair cable
– Cancels out electrical noise - twist in cable
– STP shields against crosstalk - outer shield
– Uses RJ-45 connectors

■ Length Limit :
– UTP/STP - Max 100 meters
Network Cable Types – Twisted Pair

Unshielded twisted-pair and shielded twisted-pair cables

Shielding
Network Cable Types – Twisted Pair
UTP cable
Network Cable Types – Twisted Pair
Crosstalk: signals from one line mix into another
line
Network Cable Types – Twisted Pair

STP cable
Network Cable Types – Twisted Pair

RJ-45 connector and jack

Network Cable Types – Twisted Pair
Various twisted-pair cabling components

Expandable patch Distribution rack

panels
and shelves

Wall plates

Jack couplers
Network Cable Types – Fiber Optic
■ Used for high-speed, high capacity connections (100 up to 200,000
Mbps)
■ Secure (generally) connections
■ Allow greater transmission distances (miles)
■ Expensive compared to wire options
Network Cable Types – Fiber Optic

Optical fiber (core) Glass cladding

Fiber-optic connector
Protective outer sheath
(jacket)
Twisted Pair
Coaxial Cable
Fiber Optics
Network Cabling – Signal Transmission
■ Baseband - digital over single frequency
– Discrete electrical pulses
– Use complete available channel capacity
– Transmits bi-directionally
– Uses repeaters to regenerate signal
– Short distances
■ Broadband - analog over range of frequencies
– Continuous/non-discrete signal
– each transmission allocated part of bandwidth
– Amplifiers regenerate signal
– Long distances
Network Cabling – Signal Transmission
Baseband transmission showing bidirectional
digital wave
Network Cabling – Signal Transmission
Broadband transmission showing unidirectional
analog wave
Network Cabling Considerations
 Installation logistics
 Shielding
 Crosstalk concerns
 Transmission speed
 Cost
 Attenuation
Golden Rule of Cabling – ‘Pay Now or Pay Later’ Use the best
options possible