Understand Network Media Types Part 2

Understand Network Media Types Part 2

Lesson Overview In this lesson, you will learn information about: Cabling Category 5e cable Coaxial cable RJ-45 Thicknet cable Thinnet coaxial cable Twisted pair shielded cable Unshielded cable

Anticipatory Set 1. Recall what you learned about cables yesterday. 2. On paper list everything you remember about twisted pair cables. 3. Share your answers in a group and present to the class if time allows.

Preparing for a Class Activity Students will make a cable at the end of this review using a category 5 cable and RJ-45 terminators. Keep notes on the demonstration and presentation for your cable making.

Unshielded twisted pair cable (UTP) 8 individual copper wires covered by an insulating material Used for many different networks. The copper wire is color-coded plastic insulation and they are twisted in pairs. It is all covered with an outer jacket.

UTP is the most common form of twisted pair wiring. It is less expensive and easier to work with than STP. It is used in Ethernet 10Base-T and 100Base-T networks, as well as in home and office telephone wiring. Two insulated copper wires are twisted around each other to decrease crosstalk or electromagnetic induction between pairs of wires. Every signal on a twisted pair involves both the wires. Twisted pair is installed in two or more pairs, all within a single cable, to offer multiple connections to computers. UTP cable is typically installed using a registered jack 45 (RJ-45) connector. The RJ-45 is an eight-wire connector used commonly to connect computers onto a local area network (LAN), especially Ethernets.

Types of UTP Cabling Category 1 Used for telephone communications Category 2 Data speed at 4 Mbps per second Category 3 Speeds of 10 Mbps, used for 10BASE-T Category 4 For Token Ring transmit data at 16 Mbps Category 5 Can transmit data at speeds up to 100 Mbps Category 5e Used in networks running at speeds up to 1000 Mbps (1 gigabit per second [Gbps]) Category 6 Consists of four pairs of 24 American wire gauge (AWG) copper wires and fastest standard for UTP

Shielded twisted-pair (STP) Used in Ethernet networking and has shielding, cancellation, and wire twisting with each pair of wires wrapped in a metallic foil The four pairs of wires are wrapped in an overall metallic braid or foil, generally 150-ohm cable.

Because of its cost and difficulty with termination, STP is rarely used in Ethernet networks. STP is primarily used in Europe. Because most buildings are already wired with UTP, many transmission standards are adapted to use it, to avoid costly rewiring with an alternative cable type. UTP and STP are not used together.

Coaxial cable Made of a hollow outer cylindrical conductor surrounding a single inner wire made of two conducting elements One element in the center of the cable is a copper conductor. A layer of flexible insulation surrounds the copper conductor. Over the insulation is a metallic foil or woven copper braid acting as both the second wire in the circuit and a shield for the inner conductor. This second layer/shield helps reduce the amount of outside interference.

Coaxial cable can be cheaper for a physical bus topology because less cable will be needed. It is more costly than UTP on a per-unit length and is relatively inexpensive. Coaxial cable is less expensive than fiber optic cable. Can be used over longer distances than twisted-pair cable Ethernet can run approximately 100 meters using twisted-pair cabling. Using coaxial cable increases this distance to 500 meters. Can be run with fewer boosts from repeaters for longer distances between network nodes than either STP or UTP cable

Wireless communication Uses radio frequencies (RF) or infrared (IR) waves to transmit data between devices on a LAN Wireless signals are electromagnetic waves that can travel through the vacuum of outer space and through a medium such as air. A key module is the wireless hub for distributing signals through the wireless LAN. A computer can have a wireless adapter card (wireless NIC) installed to receive the signals from the access point.

Applications of wireless data communication Accessing the Internet using a cellular phone Establishing Internet connection over satellite Beaming data between two handheld computing devices Wireless keyboard and mouse for the PC Wireless LAN (WLAN) use radio waves (902 MHz) Microwaves (2.4 GHz) IR waves (820 nanometers [nm]) for communication

Wireless Distribution

Demonstration and Class Activity Preparation Unshielded twisted pair cable (UTP) cable has eight individual copper wires covered by an insulating material; used for many different networks. The copper wire is color-coded plastic insulation and the wires are twisted in pairs. It is all covered with an outer jacket.

Color coding of wiring pairs

Network Cabling Standards The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) developed standards in 1991 for the cabling used in telecommunications applications. In 1995 it was updated by the EIA and later replaced with the current TIA/EIA 568-B standard.

T568A and T568B Based on TIA/EIA-568-B.1-2001, the wiring schemes define the pin out, or order of connections, for wires in eight-pin modular connector plugs and jacks.

The wiring assignments in the RJ-45 plug are important. A colored wire must be placed in a specific pin location in the plug in order for the cable to meet the standard. It is these wiring assignments that differ between the T568A and T568B standard. The only difference between T568A and T568B is that pairs 2 and 3 (orange and green) are swapped. Both configurations wire the pins "straight through," i.e., pins 1 through 8 on one end are connected to pins 1 through 8 on the other end. The same sets of pins are paired in both configurations: pins 1 and 2 form a pair, as do 3 and 6, 4 and 5, and 7 and 8.

Cable Termination Cables that are terminated with differing standards on each end will not function normally. Standard RJ-45 pinouts describe the arrangement of the individual wires required when connecting connectors to a cable. RJ-45 is the standard connector for 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet, ISDN, T1, and modern digital telephone systems.

Demonstration Steps 1. The pins on the RJ-45 plug are numbered 1 to 8. 2. Hold a CAT 5 patch cable in your hand, as if inserting into a jack, with the contacts facing in the up position; pin 1 will be on the far left. 3. Pin 8 will be the pin on the far right. We follow this orientation when we define the wiring assignments in the RJ-45 plug. 4. CAT 5 Cable has four twisted pairs within the sheath. Each pair has a specific color code, and is placed into deliberate pin location within the RJ-45 plug. 5. In constructing the cable, use identical pin assignments on each end as the 568-B standard is used in the United States.

Deciding to use T568 A or T568 B 1. If the installation is residential, choose T568A unless other conditions apply. 2. If there is preexisting voice/data wiring (remodel, moves, adds, changes), duplicate this wiring scheme on any new connection. 3. If project specifications are available, use the specified wiring configuration. 4. If components used within the project are internally wired either T568A or T568B, duplicate this wiring scheme. Circulate and carefully inspect the finished demonstration cable.

Student Activity 2.3_B 1. Group in pairs so each person can attach an RJ-45 end to the category 5e cable. 2. View the YouTube video on making a patch cord with RJ-45 terminators and a category 5e cable wire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=482vteszwz8 3. Complete Student Activity 2.3_B with a partner to construct a cable using the materials provided.

Lesson Review 1. Test the cable. 2. Analyze and correct any problems. 3. Detail the testing and correcting process in a written report. 4. Submit to your instructor.