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1000Base-LX/FX
|
Gigabit Ethernet over fibre optic cable.
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1000Base-T
|
1000Mbps, 1 Billion bits per second over copper cabling. All four pairs of Cat6 cable utilised at 250Mbps per pair.
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100Base-FX
|
100 Mbps Ethernet data transmissions over Fibre optic cable
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100Base-LX
|
1300nm - Long wavelength fibre optic transmissions at 100 Mbps.
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100Base-SX
|
850nm - Short wavelength fibre optic transmissions at 100 Mbps.
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100Base-T2
|
100 Mbps Ethernet running baseband signalling over two twisted pairs
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100Base-T4
|
Four pairs of Cat3 or better cable. Transmits at 25 Meg on all four pairs.
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100Base-TX
|
100 Mbps Ethernet running baseband signalling over twisted pair copper. Full duplex
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10Base-2
|
Thin Ethernet, sometimes called thin net or coax, capable of data transmissions up to 185 meters.
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10Base-5
|
Thick Ethernet cable capable of data transmissions up to 500 mmeters.
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10BaseT
|
10 Mbps Ethernet running baseband signalling over twisted pair copper cable
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62.5/125 micron
|
The common size of fibre optic cables
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ACR
|
Attenuation to Crosstalk Ratio. The level of cross talk in relationship to the attenuated signal at the far en of the cable. Critical in Full Duplex mode.
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ADSL
|
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A digital connection with higher bandwidth for down loading than up loading.
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Alien Crosstalk
|
Crosstalk from an adjacent cable or cables
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ANSI
|
American National Standards Institute.
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ARCnet
|
Attached Resource Computer Network. A low speed 2.5Mbps developed by Datapoint.
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ASCII
|
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Originally a 7 bit code later 8 bit for communication interfaces.
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ASIC
|
Application Specific Integrated Circuit. An IC built to perform a specific task
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Attachment cable
|
The cable between the wall socket and active equipment usually a PC or DTE.
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Attenuation
|
Loss of signal strength and integrity over a given length of cable
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AUI
|
Attachment User Interface. An IEEE 802.3 standards 15 pin 3 row 'D' type connector interface.
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AWG
|
American Wire Guage.The larger the number the smaller the wire diameter.
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Balanced cable
|
Two identical wires carrying signal of opposite polarity but equal amplitude to eliminate interference. The wires are twisted to maintain balance over a distance.
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Balun
|
Balanced - unbalanced impedance matching connector. Connects balanced and un-balanced network cables together.
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Bandwidth
|
The capacity of a medium to carry data bits. Measured in Hz
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Baseband
|
The raw data is transmitted using the full bandwidth of the cable with no modulation.
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BAUD
|
Number of signal or voltage changes per second. Sometimes relates to Bps but not always.
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BNC
|
Bayonet connector used with RG58 coaxial cable networks. Thin Ethernet
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bps
|
Bits per second
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Broadband
|
The bandwidth of the cable is split into multiple modulated channels. Guard bands are used to separate the channels
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Broadcast
|
To send data to more than one device at a time
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Bus Network
|
A network with all devices sharing one common cable.
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CAT5
|
100 Mhz Category 5 data cabling as specified by the EIA/TIA standards authority
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CAT5 E
|
Enhanced Cat 5 data cabling with more stringent tests and headroom. Still 100Mhz
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Category 1, Cat1
|
Unshielded Twisted Pair for use as speaker or door bell wire.
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Category 2, Cat2
|
UTP for frequencies up to 1.5Mhz. Used in analogue telephone applications.
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Category 3, Cat3
|
UTP for frequencies up to 16Mhz. 100 ohms.
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Category 4, Cat4
|
UTP 100 ohm for frequencies up to 20Mbs defined by TAI/EIA 568-A specifications.
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Category 5, Cat5
|
UTP 100 ohm for frequencies up to 100Mbs defined by TAI/EIA 568-A specifications.
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Category 5E, Cat5E
|
Enhanced Cat5. Similar to Cat5 with improved specifications including PSELFEXT, ACR and attenuation. Defined by EIA/TIA 568-A-5.
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Category 6,Cat6
|
Proposed cabling standard to support up to 250 Mhz over UTP. Not yet ratified.
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Category 7, Cat7
|
Proposed cabling standard to support up to 600 Mhz over UTP.
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CDDI
|
Copper Distributed Data Interface as defined by (ANSI X3T12) for 100Mbs token passing over copper twisted pair.
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|
Class 'C'
|
ISO/IEC 11801cabling standard corresponding to the EIA/TIA Cat3 cabling standards
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Class 'D'
|
ISO/IEC 11801cabling standard corresponding to the EIA/Tia Cat5 100Mhz cabling standards
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Class 'E'
|
ISO/IEC proposed cabling standard corresponding to the EIA/Tia Cat6 250Mhz cabling standards
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Coax
|
Coaxial cable with a copper screen carrying unbalanced signals
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Collision domain
|
All the nodes on an Ethernet segment that are affected by data collisions. Switches and bridges break up networks into individual collision domains
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Core
|
Centre of a fibre optic cable
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|
Crosstalk
|
interference picked up from an adjacent wire pair within the same cable (see also alien crosstalk)
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|
CSMA/CD
|
Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detect. A NIC transceiver "listens" to the network before transmission and can detect collisions.
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D' Type
|
D' Shaped connector with an array of pins in 9, 15 and 25
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Drop
|
Single cable outlet
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Drop Cable
|
The cable from the wall socket to the network device, usually a PC or DTE
|
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DTE
|
Data Terminal Equipment. RS232 description of a terminal or PC.
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EIA
|
Electronics Industry Association in America
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|
EIA 568
|
UTP commercial building specifications from the EIA
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EIA 568B
|
Now the most common UTP cable colour codes and pin allocation
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ELFEXT
|
Equal Level Far End Cross Talk
|
|
EMI
|
Electro Magnetic Interference. Unwanted noise from a source such as fluorescent lighting and electric motors
|
|
Ethernet
|
A LAN protocol in which computers access the network through CSMA/CD protocols defined by the IEEE 802.3 standards. Invented by Rank Xerox
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Fast Ethernet
|
100Mbps CSMA/CD Ethernet
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FDDI
|
Fibre Distributed Data Interface as defined by (ANSI X3T12) for 100Mbs token passing over Fibre.
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|
FOIRL
|
Fibre Optic Inter-Repeater Link. An Ethernet fibre optic connection method intended for connection of repeaters
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Frame Relay
|
Efficient method of packaging data into variable size frames for transmission over networks
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Full duplex
|
Allows data transmissions in two directions at once. Transmit and receive simultaneously
|
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Gbpg
|
Giga bits per second. 1 billion or 1,000,000,000 bits per second
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Gigabit Ethernet
|
1000Mbps, 1 Billion bits per second over copper cabling
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Half Duplex
|
Single way transmission. Is capable of both Transmitting and Receiving but not simultaneously
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|
Headroom
|
The amount by which a network cable ACR exceeds 10dB above the specification.
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|
Horizontal Cabling
|
The structured cabling which connects the wall sockets to the network cabinet or wiring closet.
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Hub
|
The centre of a star wired network. May be passive or active in re-transmissions of network traffic.
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Hz
|
Frequency per second
|
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IDC
|
Insulation Displacement Connection. The connection is made by forcing the wire between two sharp blades which cut through the plastic insulation to contact with the copper conductor.
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|
IEEE
|
Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers
|
|
IEEE 802
|
The IEEE project number dealing with LAN technologies
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|
IEEE 802.3
|
Physical cabling layer standards for Ethernet
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|
IEEE 802.5
|
Physical cabling layer standards for Token Ring
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|
Impedance
|
Measurement of the opposition to the flow of electrons in a cable. The combination of Resistance, Capacitance & Inductance.
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|
Infrastructure
|
The collection of communication components (excluding active equipment) that together provide support for the distribution of information within a building or campus
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|
Insertion Loss
|
The attenuation of a signal as it passes through a connector
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|
Intranet
|
A large private company network often spanning many countries
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|
IP
|
Internet Protocol. Along with TCP is used to track and deliver data packets over a network
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|
IPX
|
Internet Packet Exchange. A Novell networking protocol
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|
ISDN
|
Integrated Digital Network Services. High speed data transfer over the PSN
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|
ISO
|
International Standards Organisation.
|
|
ISP
|
Internet Service Provider. The company who provides a connection to the internet.
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|
Jabber
|
A transceiver on an Ethernet network that has failed and is transmitting continuously and has "locked up" the network with it's incessant jabbering
|
|
LAN
|
Local Area Network
|
|
Local Talk
|
A slow form of LAN linked to AppleTalk network. Transmits at 230 Kbps
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|
MAC
|
Media Access Control.
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MAN
|
Metropolitan Area Networks, Spanning a Town or City.
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|
MAU
|
Multiple Access Unit. IBM terminology for a token ring hub.
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|
Media
|
The physical wire of fibre for the transmission of signals
|
|
Miss-Wire
|
Where the single wires in a UTP cable have been attached to the connector in the wrong sequence.
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|
Mode
|
A single wave travelling in an optical fibre.
|
|
Modem
|
A device which modulates & demodulate the signals between digital to analogue circuits.
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|
Multi mode
|
Fibre optic cable which supports the ropogsation of multiple wavelengths. Diameter of 50 to 100 microns with a stepped refractive index. Can use inexpensive LED ligh sources.
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|
N Connector
|
Connectors used for thick Ethernet 10Base-5 coax cable
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|
NEXT
|
Near End Cross Talk. The effect of one cable pairs signal on the adjacent pairs
|
|
NIC
|
Network Interface Card
|
|
NIR
|
NEXT to Insertion loss Ratio
|
|
Numerical Aperture
|
The angle at wich a fibre will gather light and propagate it down the core.
|
|
NVP
|
Nominal Velocity of Propagation. The speed a signal will travel down an electrical cable measured as a percentage of the speed of light in a vacuum. Normally 70% - 75%
|
|
Nway
|
Auto-negotiation to the highest common protocol involving network speeds and full or half duplex between network interfaces.
|
|
Octopus
|
Converts a 25 way 'D' type to individual 2,4,6 or 8 pair sockets
|
|
OSI
|
Open System Interconnection. The world wide reference for the networking protocol stack. The network rule book.
|
|
OTDR
|
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer. A device for finding breaks in fibre optic cables or measuring the length.
|
|
PABX
|
Private Automatic Branch Exchange, A switchboard, (PBX)
|
|
Packet
|
A string of bits containing command information, destination and source addresses and data
|
|
PAM5
|
A signalling protocol using 5 voltage levels to denote data bits. Used in 100Base-T2 and 1000Base-T networks
|
|
Patch Cable
|
The cable connecting the network panel and the active switch or hub.
|
|
Patch panel
|
An array of connectors in the network cabinet to allow circuit rearrangements by plugging in patch cords.
|
|
PCM
|
Pulse Code Modulation. Sampling an analogue signal at a regular rate and converting each sample to a digital code.
|
|
Physical layer
|
Layer one of the seven OSI layers. This layer is responsible for the transmission of signals between computers.
|
|
POP
|
Point of Presence. The connection point to the internet
|
|
POTS
|
Plain Old Telephone System
|
|
Premises cabling
|
The complete cabling infrastructure for the transmission of voice, data and video throught a given building.
|
|
Propagation delay
|
The time for a signal to travel from input to the output of a device.
|
|
Protocol
|
A data transfer mode using Bit codes, Start Stop bits, Parity. Both transmitter and receiver must use the same protocols.
|
|
PSELFEXT
|
Power Sum Equal Level Far End Cross (X) Talk. Measures the summed cross talk from 3 pairs on the remaining pair having compensated for the known attenuation of the cable.
|
|
PSN
|
Public Switched Networks. In short the telephone system.
|
|
PSNEXT
|
Power Sum Near End Cross Talk. The effect on one pair of the summed crosstalk of the three other pairs.
|
|
Pulling tension
|
The maximum pulling force which can be applied to a data cable without affecting it's electrical characteristics and consequently it's network performance.
|
|
Quartet Signalling
|
Dividing a 100Mbps signal into four 25Mbps channels and transmitting them on all four pairs. Used by 100VG-AnyLAN and Cat3 UTP cabling
|
|
Reflection
|
The return of electromagnetic energy that occurs when components are mismatched in network cabling. These reflections can cause data errors.
|
|
Repeater
|
A device, usually a network hub or switch that recieves and resends the data. The signal is therby boosted and the wave reshaped allowing extended transmission distances.
|
|
Reversed Pairs
|
The most common miss wire where the single wires in a pair have been reversed.
|
|
RFI
|
Radio Frequency Interference.
|
|
RG 58
|
The specification of the coaxial cabled used for thin Ethjernet networks
|
|
Ring Network
|
Describes a network in a complete ring. Now the fastest and most resilient network
|
|
RJ11
|
Registered Jack number 11. Small line plug and socket used on telephone handsets and modem connections.
|
|
RJ45
|
Registered Jack number 45. 8 pin plug and socket
|
|
RS232
|
Robust but outdated signalling protocol using 2 pairs.
|
|
RX
|
Receive
|
|
SC
|
Small Connector used for fibre optic terminations.
|
|
SC connector
|
A connecter for terminating fibre optic cables. Can be snapped together to form a duplex connector for RX and TX transmissions.
|
|
SCSI
|
Pronounced. Skuzzie. Small Computer Systems Interface. Connects peripherals to the computer mother board
|
|
Segment
|
The area of a network that all node can see each other. Often called a collision domain
|
|
Shielded
|
Cable with a braided or foil shield to keep out RFI and EMI.
|
|
Skew
|
The differential delay between two adjacent cables carrying data transmitted simultaneously.
|
|
SNMP
|
Simple Network Management Protocol. A protocol governing network management and device handling.
|
|
SOHO
|
Small Office Home Office network system often mixing voice, data and video on the same cables.
|
|
Split Pairs
|
Where the single wires from two different pairs have been swapped. If the same at both ends will not affect short cable transmissions, but will fail over longer distance. A common fault
|
|
ST connector
|
Straight Tip. A connector registered to AT&T for fibre optic terminations
|
|
Star network
|
All devices are attached to a central hub in a star configuration.
|
|
STP
|
Shielded Twisted Pair copper cable
|
|
Structured cabling
|
The fixed solid core cabling which makes up the building wiring.
|
|
Switch
|
An Ethernet active repeater which reads MAC addresses and routes data to the individual node or network hub. Switches split up networks into smaller individual collision domains. A switch can route data at wire speed through all it's ports simultaniously.
|
|
TCP
|
Transmission Control Protocol. Used with IP to track and deliver packets of data over a network.
|
|
TDR
|
Time Domain Reflectometer. A device for measuring the length of cables by "bouncing" a signal off the far end. The NVP must be known and programmed into the machine.
|
|
Terminator
|
An electrical connector attached to the end of a cable to reduce signal reflections and unwanted noise.
|
|
TIA
|
Telecommunication Industry Association
|
|
TIA 568A-4
|
The TIA Category 5E Specifications
|
|
Token Ring
|
A network where a single token is passed around a network between computers. A computer must grab and hold onto the token before it can transmit. After transmission it releases the token back onto the network.
|
|
Topology
|
Network architecture, circuit design and transmission protocols.
|
|
Transceiver
|
An electronic circuit designer to transmit and receive data over a network. A NIC contains a transceiver as does a hub and a switch
|
|
Twisted Pair
|
Pairs of 26 AWG wires twisted together the reduce RFI and Crosstalk.
|
|
TX
|
Transmit
|
|
UN-balanced cable
|
A single conductor carrying a single unbalanced signal, For example coax or thin Ethernet
|
|
USB
|
Universal Serial Bus. A 12 Mbs connection port for games, printers, scanners and other PC peripherals
|
|
USOC
|
Universal Service Ordering Codes Cabling system original used in the American telephone systems.
|
|
UTP
|
Unshielded Twisted Pair. 4 twisted pairs in one sheath.
|
|
WAN
|
Wide Area Network
|
Professional
Network Cabling Installers...
