Types of network cables

Network cable is used to connect and transfer data between computers and a network [1] or Cable is the medium through which information usually moves from one network device to another .

Types of network cables:

There are different types of network cable, and the appropriate type to use will depend on the structure and topology of your network. The most commonly used types of network cable are the twisted pair, coaxial [1].      

A coaxial cable is one that consists of two conductors that share a common axis. Coaxial cable is a cable type used to carry radio signals, video signals, measurement signals and data signals. Coaxial cable consists of an insulated center conductor which is covered with a shield. The signal is carried between the cable shield and the center conductor. This arrangement give quite good shielding against noise from outside cable, keeps the signal well inside the cable and keeps cable characteristics stable.

Figure 1

Optical fiber (or "fiber optic") refers to the medium and the technology associated with the transmission of information as light pulses along a glass or plastic strand or fiber. Optical fiber carries much more information than conventional copper wire and is in general not subject to electromagnetic interference and the need to retransmit signals. Most telephone company long-distance lines are now made of optical fiber.

Figure 2

Unshielded twisted pair is the most common kind of copper telephone wiring. Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and many business computers to the telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electromagnetic induction between pairs of wires, two insulated copper wires are twisted around each other. Each signal on twisted pair requires both wires. Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections, twisted pair is sometimes installed in two or more pairs, all within a single cable .      

Figure 3

Shielded Twisted pair:

 
Shielded Twisted Pair is suitable for environments with electrical interference. It has a foil shielding which can block out the electrical interference, but this makes the cable bulky and often difficult to work with and it uses a Universal Data Connector. However, a new version of STP cable introduced and promoted by companies like ITT Diatom uses RJ-45 connector. It is not bulky, and it is easy to work with. It has a much better signal carrying capability than the UTP.

 

Figure 4

Cable Type	Cost	Installation	Capacity	Range	EM!
Coaxial Thinner	Less than STP	Inexpensive/easy	10Mbps typical	185 m	Less sensitive than UTP
Coaxial Thicket	Greater than STP, less than fiber	Easy	10Mbps typical	500 m	Less sensitive than UTP
Shielded twisted pair (STP)	Greater than UTP, less than thicket	Fairly easy	16Mbps typical to 500Mps	100 m typical	Less sensitive than UTP
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)	Lowest	Inexpensive/easy	10Mbps typical up to 100Mbps	100 m typical	Most Sensitive
Fiber Optic	Highest	Expensive/Difficult lt	100Mbps typical to as high as 200,000 Mbps	lOs of kilometers s	Insensitive