What is Network Cable?
Network cable is an item of networking hardware that is used to transfer data from one computer or device to another.
There are many types of networking cable that can be used depending upon the topology, size, budget and coverage area of the network.
The data rate of a network cable is the speed at which data can travel along it and can be affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI), length and other factors.
Coaxial Cable
Coaxial cable was originally used to connect computers together with BNC connectors, however, today, coaxial cable is mainly used by a cable modem to connect to an Internet provider.
Cable modems use RG-6 and, with a splitter, can transfer television and Internet data.
They are also used to transfer data from Sky satellite dishes to the sky box. The cable and sky cables use F-type connectors which use screw fittings.
The cable consists of a copper wire with insulation and then a braided shield and plastic jacket surrounding it.
Due to the insulation and braiding, a coaxial cable shields transmitted data from interference.
Twinaxial Cable
The twinaxial cable is a version of the coaxial cable, however, it contains 2 copper wires that are wrapped in insulation and then braided wire.
Twinaxial cable is often used to connect rack equipment as it is cheaper to use than fibre.
Twisted Pair
Twisted pair cables consist of a pair of cables within the same jacket with each pair working to either transmit or receive data.
Crosstalk, interference between the cables within the same jacket, is reduced when a pair of twisted cables are used.
Shielded Twisted Pair
Similarly to twisted pair cables, shielded twisted pair cables contain twisted pairs of cables that are shielded to protect them from electromagnetic interference.
There are different types of shielded twisted pair cables:
F/UTP – Full cable is shielded by foil and the wires are unshielded.
F/FTP – Foil screen for the entire cable and foil for each wire pair.
S/UTP – Braided cable with the wires unshielded.
S/FTP – Braiding for the entire cable and foil shields each wire pair.
SF/UTP – Braided and foil shielding throughout the entire cable and unshielded wires.
U/FTP – No braiding, however, each wire pair has a foil shield.
Unshielded Twisted Pair
The unshielded twisted pair type network cable contains twisted pairs of wires covered by a non protective jacket. This type of network cable is cheap when compared to shielded cable.
As the cables contain no EMI shielding, it is important to ensure that it is not close to any potential sources of interference, such as electrical devices etc.
With the development in cabling and the increased bandwidth of the cables, Cat ratings were introduced to provide a standard to indicate the maximum frequency and bandwidth that a cable can provide.
- Cat 3 = maximum frequency of 16 MHz and bandwidth of 16 Mbps.
- Cat 4 = maximum frequency of 20 MHz and bandwidth of 20 Mbps.
- Cat 5 = maximum frequency of 100 MHz and bandwidth of 100 Mbps.
- Cat 5e = maximum frequency of 100 MHz and bandwidth of 1 Gbps.
- Cat 6 = maximum frequency of 250 MHz and bandwidth of 10 Gbps.
- Cat 6a = maximum frequency of 500 MHz and bandwidth of 10 Gbps.
- Cat 7 = maximum frequency of 600 MHz and bandwidth of 10+ Gbps.
- Cat 7a = maximum frequency of 1000 MHz and bandwidth of 40 – 100 Gbps.
The standards ensure that the cables provide connection up to a maximum distance of 100 metres (328 feet).
These cables use RJ45 type connectors.
The termination standard for RJ45 connectors are TIA/EIA 568A and TIA/EIA 568B. The wires within an unshielded twisted pair cable are colour coded. The standards provided the order for those wire by colour.
- T568A = Green/White, Green, Orange/White, Blue, Blue/White, Orange, Brown/White, Brown.
- T568B = Orange/White, Orange, Green/White, Blue, Blue/White, Green, Brown/White, Brown.
Fibre Optic Cabling
Rather than electricity that travels along all of the network cables detailed above, light is transmitted down a fibre optic cable and this allows data to travel over a distance and without being affected by electromagnetic interference.
The cable is formed of glass fibre core with a light reflective cladding, a buffer, that provides strength and an outer jacket.
The light sent down the cable can be either LED or laser light, requiring different types of fibre optic cable. LED cables are known as multimode fibre.
Laser type cables is known as single-mode fibre and provides faster data transfer speeds over longer distance and avoids modal distortion, found in multimode fibre, where data sent at the same time doesn’t arrive at the same time due to the path along the cable.
Fibre optic cable include ST, SC, LC and MT-RJ connectors.
About Athena Forensics
For information on our computer forensic expert services or if you require any advice or assistance please contact a member of our team on 0330 123 4448 or via email on enquiries@athenaforensics.co.uk, further details are available on our contact us page.
Our client’s confidentiality is of the utmost importance. All correspondence is treated with discretion, from initial contact to conclusion of the matter.
We are fully aware of the significance and importance of the information that they encounter and we have been accredited to ISO 9001 for 14 years.
Our premises along with our security procedures have been inspected and approved by law enforcement agencies and we do not disclose personal information to other companies or suppliers.
Our team are all security cleared and we offer non-disclosure agreements if required.
Our premises along with our security procedures have been inspected and approved by law enforcement agencies.
Athena Forensics do not disclose personal information to other companies or suppliers.
https://athenaforensics.co.uk/service/computer-forensic-experts/
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