There are several types of network cables which are used in LANs, through cables we transfer our data from one computer to another in LAN. The selection of cable for your network depends on what type of topology you choose for your network, what type of protocols you will use, your network size, future expansion in your network if any. Few famous cables are as under:-
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable, Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable, Coaxial Cable, Fiber Optic Cable.
UTP (unshielded twisted pair cable)
There are two types of twisted pair cable, UTP (unshielded twisted pair) STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) This cable has 8 cables (4 pairs). Below is the list of 6 categories of Twisted Pair Cable categorized by Electronic Industry Association / Telecommunication Industry Association.
Category 1 support 1 Mbps Speed and Voice Only (telephonic wire)
Category 2 support 4 Mbps Speed and Local Talk, phone
Category 3 support 16 Mbps Speed and 10 Base T Ethernet
Category 4 support 20 Mbps Speed and Token Ring
Category 5 support 100 Mbps (2pari) 100 Base T Ethernet, 1000 Mbps (4pair) Gigabit Ethernet
Category 5a support 1000 Mbps Speed and Gigabit Ethernet
Category 6 support 10000 Mbps Speed and Gigabit Ethernet
UTP Connector
The plastic connector called RJ-45 is used to connect UTP cable with LAN card.
STP Cable
There are 3 different types of configuration of STP cable, in first category each pair in STP cable is shielded, in the second category inside the jacket a braid or foil cover all the pairs, and in third category all pairs covered with braid or in foil individually and then all pairs are again covered with on braid or foil again as a whole, STP cable is best option where radio and electrical signals interrupt your cable’s traffic, STP cable is the solution where other electrical equipments are installed. With the help of Shielded Twisted Pair cable your can save your data from interruption.
Coaxial Cable
This cable contains a central copper conductor, which is covered with a plastic, which isolate the central copper conductor from outer braided metal, this outer braided metal stop any interference from outside. Coaxial cable work in long distance, and connect network devices in long distance, it also have better resistance due to braided metal. There are two types of Coaxial cables, 10Base2 which carry Ethernet signals about 200 meters. The other coaxial cable 10Base5 carry signals about 500 meters.
Coaxial Connector
Bayone-Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector is use with Coaxial cable, this connector included with barrel , terminator, and T-connector.
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable, Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable, Coaxial Cable, Fiber Optic Cable.
UTP (unshielded twisted pair cable)
There are two types of twisted pair cable, UTP (unshielded twisted pair) STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) This cable has 8 cables (4 pairs). Below is the list of 6 categories of Twisted Pair Cable categorized by Electronic Industry Association / Telecommunication Industry Association.
Category 1 support 1 Mbps Speed and Voice Only (telephonic wire)
Category 2 support 4 Mbps Speed and Local Talk, phone
Category 3 support 16 Mbps Speed and 10 Base T Ethernet
Category 4 support 20 Mbps Speed and Token Ring
Category 5 support 100 Mbps (2pari) 100 Base T Ethernet, 1000 Mbps (4pair) Gigabit Ethernet
Category 5a support 1000 Mbps Speed and Gigabit Ethernet
Category 6 support 10000 Mbps Speed and Gigabit Ethernet
UTP Connector
The plastic connector called RJ-45 is used to connect UTP cable with LAN card.
STP Cable
There are 3 different types of configuration of STP cable, in first category each pair in STP cable is shielded, in the second category inside the jacket a braid or foil cover all the pairs, and in third category all pairs covered with braid or in foil individually and then all pairs are again covered with on braid or foil again as a whole, STP cable is best option where radio and electrical signals interrupt your cable’s traffic, STP cable is the solution where other electrical equipments are installed. With the help of Shielded Twisted Pair cable your can save your data from interruption.
Coaxial Cable
This cable contains a central copper conductor, which is covered with a plastic, which isolate the central copper conductor from outer braided metal, this outer braided metal stop any interference from outside. Coaxial cable work in long distance, and connect network devices in long distance, it also have better resistance due to braided metal. There are two types of Coaxial cables, 10Base2 which carry Ethernet signals about 200 meters. The other coaxial cable 10Base5 carry signals about 500 meters.
Coaxial Connector
Bayone-Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector is use with Coaxial cable, this connector included with barrel , terminator, and T-connector.
