1c: Principles of Data Communications: Media Characteristics

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Electromagnetic Spectrum
   1. Electromagnetic Spectrum Visualised
   2. EM Waves SAQ
3. Media Characteristics
   1. Guided media
4. Coaxial Cable
   1. Types of Coaxial Cable
   2. Thinnet (10Base2)
   3. Thinnet Connections
   4. BNC Components
   5. Thicknet (10Base5)
   6. Thicknet Connections
   7. Cabling SAQ 1
5. Twisted Pair
   1. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
   2. Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
   3. Twisted Pair Cable Components
   4. TIA/EIA Standards
   5. Other UTP Standards
   6. Cabling SAQ 2
6. Fibre Optic Cable
   1. How Fibre-Optic Cable Works
   2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Fibre
   3. Multi-Mode Fibre
   4. Single Mode (Mono Mode)
   5. Fibre Connectors
   6. Cabling SAQ 3
   7. Cabling SAQ 4
   8. Balanced and Unbalanced Lines
7. Unguided Media
8. Radio Transmission
   1. Satellite Transmission
   2. Satellite Orbits
   3. Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
   4. Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO)
   5. Polar Orbit
   6. A Satellite's Coverage Area
   7. Satellite Advantages and Disadvantages
   8. Unguided Media SAQ 1
   9. Satellite Practical
9. Microwave Transmission
   1. Principles of Microwave Transmission
   2. Microwave Advantages and Disadvantages
   3. Unguided Media SAQ 2
   4. Media Characteristics Crossword
   5. Formative Assessment

Other UTP Standards

100BaseTX is a popular choice of UTP cable. With 100BaseTX only two of the four pairs are used, yet this still allows for data transfer rates of 100Mbps. The specified cable run length for 100BaseTX is 100 metres. The TIA/EIA recommendation regarding this is:

• Workstation to wall plate - 3 metres maximum
• Horizontal run from wall plate to wiring closet - 90 metres maximum
• Patch cables to network devices - 6 metres maximum

100BaseTX is also known as Fast Ethernet.

Another UTP standard that is gaining in popularity and use is 1000BaseT. This is also referred to as Gigabit Ethernet and utilises Cat 5e and Cat 6 cable. With these implementations all four pairs of wires are used with each transmitting at 250Mbps.

Click on this link to review the wikipedia resource on Fast Ethernet.

Next: Cabling SAQ 2