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100BASE-T |
The twisted pair version of 100 Mbps Ethernet.Requires Category 5 cabling. |
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10BASE2 |
Also called Thinnet.10 Mbps Ethernet on thin (RG58) coaxial cable. |
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10BASE5 |
Also called Thicknet.10 Mbps Ethernet on thick coaxial cable. |
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10BASE-T |
10 Mbps Ethernet on twisted-pair (Category 3) cable. |
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110 Connector |
A popular insulation displacement connector (IDC) used modular jacks, patch panels and cross connects. |
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3270 (IBM) |
A mainframe computer.Originally implemented on RG62 coax.Now generally implemented on UTP cable using baluns. |
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66 Block |
A legacy cross connect system.Similar in function to AMP 110Connect XC. |
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AS/400 (IBM) |
A midrange computer system.Originally implemented on twinaxial cable.Now generally implemented on UTP cable using baluns. |
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Attenuation |
The amount of signal lost as it travels through the cabling system. |
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Backboard |
Refers to a plywood panel mounted on the wall of a telecom closet.Used to mount the cross connect. |
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Backbone cabling |
Cabling between floors in a building or between buildings in a campus. |
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Balun |
A transformer used to attach coaxial or twinaxial equipment to twisted pair cabling. |
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BNC |
A bayonet style coaxial connector. |
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Category 3
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A performance classification for twisted pair cables, connectors and systems.Specified to 16 MHz.Suitable for voice and data applications up to 10 Mbps. |
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Category 5 |
A performance classification for twisted pair cables, connectors and systems.Specified to 100 MHz.Suitable for voice and data applications up to 155 Mbps (possibly 1000 Mbps). |
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Category 5e |
Also called Enhanced Category 5.A performance classification for twisted pair cables, connectors and systems.Specified to 100 MHz.Suitable for voice and data applications up to 1000 Mbps. |
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Category 6 |
A performance classification for twisted pair cables, connectors and systems.Specified up to 250 MHz. |
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Channel |
The entire horizontal cabling system. Everything between the computer and the LAN hub in the telecom closet, excluding the equipment connections. |
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Coax |
Short for coaxial.Single-conductor cables with braided shields.Used in the 80’s for data transmission.Now generally replaced with UTP for data.Still used for video. |
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Consolidation point |
An interconnect device that allows the horizontal cable to be split into two parts.Used for zone cabling. |
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Cross connect (XC) |
Connecting hardware used to patch between two groups of cables (horizontal to backbone, for example).AMP 110Connect XC. |
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Data rate |
The speed, measured in bits per second, that a particular network (or other application) transmits data. |
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dB |
Abbreviation for decibel.The logarithmic ratio of two powers, voltages or currents. |
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Delay skew |
The difference in propagation delay between the slowest and fastest pairs in a cable or system. |
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Drop |
Refers to the horizontal cabling for one work area, as in “The job has 100 drops.” |
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ELFEXT |
Equal Level Far End Crosstalk. A measure of FEXT which accounts for the attenuation of the cabling system. |
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Enhanced Category 5 |
Also called Category 5e.A performance classification for twisted pair cables, connectors and systems.Specified to 100 MHz.Suitable for voice and data applications up to 1000 Mbps. |
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Ethernet |
The most common network protocol in use.A protocol is a set of rules enabling data communications. Based originally on a bus topology. |
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F connector |
A common coaxial connector used for video applications (CATV). |
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FEXT |
Far End Crosstalk. Unwanted noise coupled onto a receive pair from a transmit pair at the far end of the system. |
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Gbps |
A data rate. Gigabits per second.A gigabit is one billion bits. |
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Gigabit Ethernet |
The newest (1999) and fastest version of Ethernet.Data rate is 1000 Mbps or 1 Gigabit per second. |
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Horizontal cabling |
Includes the work area outlet, distribution cable and connecting hardware in the telecom closet. |
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Hub |
Network device, usually in the telecom closet, that stations connect to. |
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IDC |
Insulation Displacement Connector.A style of connector that slices through the cable insulation to make a connection.Eliminates the need to strip insulation. |
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IEEE |
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 802 Group develops Local Area Network standards and Metropolitan Area Network standards. |
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IEEE 802.3 |
Usually referred to as Ethernet.A networking protocol. . |
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IEEE 802.5 |
Usually referred to as token ring.A networking protocol. |
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Impedance |
The total opposition to the flow of alternating current in a conductor. |
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Jumper |
Usually unjacketed twisted pair wire used to make a cross connection. |
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Kbps |
A data rate. Kilobits, or thousands of bits, per second. |
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LAN |
Local Area Network.Usually confined to one building or even one floor.Large companies may have several LANs connected by an internetwork or backbone network. |
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Link |
The part of the horizontal cabling system between the work area outlet and the telecom closet termination. |
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MAC |
Moves Adds and Changes: When data and voice services (to include: outlets and cabling, patching, etc.) of a given location are moved to a new location or removed completely. |
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Mbps |
A data rate. Megabits, or millions of bits, per second. |
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MHz |
Megahertz.Millions of cycles (Hertz) per second. A frequency or frequency range (bandwidth) through which a cabling system is specified. |
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Modular jack |
The standard female connector for twisted pair cable.A “telephone jack”. |
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Modular plug |
The standard male connector for twisted pair cable.A “telephone plug”. |
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MT-RJ |
A small form factor, dual fiber connector. |
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Multimode |
A type of optical fiber in which the light travels in multiple paths. Utilizes LEDs or lasers as light sources. |
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Multi-user outlet |
A work area outlet designed to support multiple users. Also called multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly or MUTOA. |
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MUTOA |
See multi-user outlet. |
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NEXT |
Near End Crosstalk.The unwanted noise coupled into a device’s receive circuit from its transmit circuit. |
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NIC |
Network interface card.Allows a PC to attach to a network. |
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Node |
A device connected to a network. |
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Outlet |
Where the horizontal cabling terminates in the work area. |
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Patch cord |
A cable assembly with (usually) a plug on each end, used to make a cross connection. |
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Patch panel |
A rack-mountable panel (usually 19″ wide) containing connecting hardware.Used to patch between groups of cables and equipment. |
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PBX |
Private Branch Exchange.The premises telephone switch.Handles telecom functions. |
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Plenum |
A chamber that houses environmental air transfer.Plenum-rated cable is required in such locations. |
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Power sum |
A mathematical addition of noise from multiple disturbers. Applied to NEXT and ELFEXT requirements. |
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Propagation delay |
The amount of time it takes a signal to travel through a cable or system. |
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Propagation delay skew |
The difference in propagation delay between the slowest and fastest pairs in a cable or system. |
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PS ELFEXT |
See power sum and ELFEXT. |
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PS NEXT |
See power sum and NEXT. |
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Punchdown |
Refers to IDC connectors and the method used to terminate them. |
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Rack |
Used to mount patch panels, enclosures and equipment in the telecom closet.Usually 19″ wide by 7′ high. |
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Return loss |
A measure of the signal reflected back toward the transmitter as a result of impedance variations in the cabling system. |
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Riser |
Backbone cabling connecting telecom closets situated vertically on separate floors. |
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RJ11 |
A wiring pattern for 6-position modular jacks.Used to refer to the jacks themselves. |
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RJ21 |
A wiring pattern for a 25-pair (AMP CHAMP) connector.Also used to refer to the connectors themselves. |
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RJ45 |
A wiring pattern for8-position modular jacks.Used to refer to the jacks themselves. |
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SC connector |
A duplex optical fiber connector. The standard connector for optical fiber per the 568 cabling standard. |
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Singlemode |
A type of optical fiber in which the light travels in a single path. Utilizes lasers as a light source. |
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ST connector |
A bayonet style optical fiber connector.An alternate style per the 568 standard. |
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STP |
Shielded Twisted Pair.2-Pair 150 ohm shielded cable. |
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Switch |
A type of network hub.Provides higher bandwidth than shared hubs. |
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System/3X (IBM) |
The predecessor of the AS/400. |
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T568A and B |
The two standard wiring patterns for 8-position modular jacks. |
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Telco |
Short for telecommunications (or telephone company). |
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Telco connector |
Refers to a 25-pair (AMP CHAMP) connector. |
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Telecom closet |
Telecommunications closet. The area of the building that houses the termination of the horizontal cabling.May also contain LAN electronics. |
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Thicknet |
IEEE 10BASE5.10 Mbps Ethernet on thick coaxial cable. |
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Thinnet |
IEEE 10BASE2. 10 Mbps Ethernet on thin (RG58) coaxial cable. |
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Token ring |
A networking protocol based on a token-passing ring. |
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Twisted pair cable |
Cable made from pairs of wires which have been twisted together. |
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UTP |
Unshielded twisted pair cable. Cable made from pairs of wires which have been twisted together. |
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Wiring closet |
See telecom closet. |
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Work area |
Where the users’ communications equipment resides.The part of the cabling system between the outlet and the equipment. |
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Zone cabling |
An architectural concept which splits the horizontal cabling into two sections. Eliminates the need to replace the entire horizontal cable in moves, adds and changes. |