Networking - things to know

Network Media

In Networking, Network Media or Transmissiom Medium refers to the physical agents that transports data and voice messages across the network from one node or point to another. These physical agents are the various types of cables and their respective connectors. These are very important  when designing networks because inaccurate cable type or connectors can result in the loss of transmission signals. See Below

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Wire                                     

• 4 pairs of wire in a single outer jacket.
• Each pair twisted with different number of twist per inch.        
• Twisting protects the cable from electrical noise interferance from other pairs and also from other devices in and around the building eg: motors, transformers. Electrical interference could affect the cable transmission capability .

Coaxial Cable

• Woven copper braid shielding the center conductor from outside electrical interference that could distort transmission.
• Outer Jacket - Braided Copper Shielding - Plastic insulation-Copper Conductor in the center.
• Connectors Type: QT Type43, HDC43, UHDC43, BNC, SMB, 1.6/5.6, 1.0/2.3, N-Type, TNC

Shielded Twisted Pair(STP) Wire

• Comprises of woven copper braid, a foil wrap between and around wire pairs to provide maximun protection from other currents near it.
• Connectors Type:

Fiber-Optic Cable

• Often used for backbone networks and characterised as the foundation for 100Mbps FDDI(Fiber Distributed Data Interface) network.
• Made-up of Hair-like glass strands covered with cladding, inside plastic shield and outer jacket.
• The inner core serves as the path for optical signal.
• Transmission of signals react like pulses of light and as such, are not bothered by outside electric current interferance.
• Single Mode Fiber as well as Multimode Fiber available.
• Core diameter for single mode is 8um and multimode ranges between 50 to 100um.
• Connectors Type: SC/APC, SC/PC, FC/APC, FC/PC, LC, ST