Which Tool Can Help You Find a Network Cable in the Walls of a Building?
What is Network Cabling?
Cable is the medium through which data usually moves from ane network device to another. There are several types of cable which are commonly used with LANs. In some cases, a network volition apply only one type of cable, other networks volition use a variety of cable types. The type of cablevision chosen for a network is related to the network's topology, protocol, and size. Understanding the characteristics of different types of cable and how they relate to other aspects of a network is necessary for the development of a successful network.
The following sections discuss the types of cables used in networks and other related topics.
- Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
- Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
- Coaxial Cablevision
- Fiber Optic Cable
- Cable Installation Guides
- Wireless LANs
- Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
Twisted pair cabling comes in two varieties: shielded and unshielded. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the near popular and is generally the all-time choice for school networks (Come across fig. one).
Fig.1. Unshielded twisted pair
The quality of UTP may vary from telephone-grade wire to extremely high-speed cablevision. The cable has four pairs of wires inside the jacket. Each pair is twisted with a different number of twists per inch to help eliminate interference from adjacent pairs and other electrical devices. The tighter the twisting, the higher the supported manual rate and the greater the cost per foot. The EIA/TIA (Electronic Industry Association/Telecommunications Industry Clan) has established standards of UTP and rated vi categories of wire (additional categories are emerging).
Categories of Unshielded Twisted Pair
| Category | Speed | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | one Mbps | Vocalization Just (Telephone Wire) |
| 2 | 4 Mbps | LocalTalk & Phone (Rarely used) |
| three | 16 Mbps | 10BaseT Ethernet |
| iv | 20 Mbps | Token Ring (Rarely used) |
| 5 | 100 Mbps (2 pair) | 100BaseT Ethernet |
| 1000 Mbps (4 pair) | Gigabit Ethernet | |
| 5e | i,000 Mbps | Gigabit Ethernet |
| vi | 10,000 Mbps | Gigabit Ethernet |
Unshielded Twisted Pair Connector
The standard connector for unshielded twisted pair cabling is an RJ-45 connector. This is a plastic connector that looks like a large phone-style connector (Meet fig. two). A slot allows the RJ-45 to be inserted simply ane way. RJ stands for Registered Jack, implying that the connector follows a standard borrowed from the telephone industry. This standard designates which wire goes with each pin inside the connector.
Fig. 2. RJ-45 connector
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
Although UTP cable is the to the lowest degree expensive cablevision, it may be susceptible to radio and electric frequency interference (it should non exist also close to electrical motors, fluorescent lights, etc.). If you must place cablevision in environments with lots of potential interference, or if you must place cable in extremely sensitive environments that may be susceptible to the electrical electric current in the UTP, shielded twisted pair may be the solution. Shielded cables tin can also help to extend the maximum distance of the cables.
Shielded twisted pair cable is available in three different configurations:
- Each pair of wires is individually shielded with foil.
- In that location is a foil or braid shield inside the jacket covering all wires (as a group).
- In that location is a shield around each individual pair, as well as around the entire group of wires (referred to as double shield twisted pair).
Coaxial Cablevision
Coaxial cabling has a single copper usher at its eye. A plastic layer provides insulation between the center usher and a braided metal shield (Encounter fig. iii). The metallic shield helps to block whatsoever exterior interference from fluorescent lights, motors, and other computers.
Fig. 3. Coaxial cablevision
Although coaxial cabling is difficult to install, it is highly resistant to signal interference. In addition, it can back up greater cable lengths betwixt network devices than twisted pair cable. The ii types of coaxial cabling are thick coaxial and thin coaxial.
Thin coaxial cable is also referred to as thinnet. 10Base2 refers to the specifications for thin coaxial cablevision carrying Ethernet signals. The 2 refers to the approximate maximum segment length being 200 meters. In actual fact the maximum segment length is 185 meters. Thin coaxial cable has been popular in school networks, peculiarly linear motorcoach networks.
Thick coaxial cable is also referred to as thicknet. 10Base5 refers to the specifications for thick coaxial cable conveying Ethernet signals. The 5 refers to the maximum segment length being 500 meters. Thick coaxial cablevision has an extra protective plastic cover that helps keep moisture abroad from the heart conductor. This makes thick coaxial a smashing choice when running longer lengths in a linear bus network. I disadvantage of thick coaxial is that it does non bend hands and is difficult to install.
Coaxial Cable Connectors
The almost mutual type of connector used with coaxial cables is the Bayone-Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector (Come across fig. 4). Different types of adapters are available for BNC connectors, including a T-connector, barrel connector, and terminator. Connectors on the cablevision are the weakest points in any network. To help avoid problems with your network, ever use the BNC connectors that crimp, rather screw, onto the cable.
Fig. 4. BNC connector
Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber optic cabling consists of a middle drinking glass cadre surrounded past several layers of protective materials (See fig. five). It transmits calorie-free rather than electronic signals eliminating the problem of electrical interference. This makes it ideal for certain environments that contain a large corporeality of electrical interference. It has likewise fabricated information technology the standard for connecting networks between buildings, due to its immunity to the furnishings of moisture and lighting.
Fiber optic cable has the ability to transmit signals over much longer distances than coaxial and twisted pair. Information technology also has the capability to carry data at vastly greater speeds. This capacity broadens communication possibilities to include services such as video conferencing and interactive services. The cost of cobweb optic cabling is comparable to copper cabling; still, it is more difficult to install and modify. 10BaseF refers to the specifications for fiber optic cable carrying Ethernet signals.
The heart core of fiber cables is made from glass or plastic fibers (encounter fig 5). A plastic coating and so cushions the fiber center, and kevlar fibers assist to strengthen the cables and prevent breakage. The outer insulating jacket made of teflon or PVC.
Fig. v. Fiber optic cable
At that place are two common types of fiber cables -- single mode and multimode. Multimode cable has a larger bore; still, both cables provide high bandwidth at high speeds. Single manner can provide more distance, simply information technology is more expensive.
| Specification | Cable Type |
|---|---|
| 10BaseT | Unshielded Twisted Pair |
| 10Base2 | Thin Coaxial |
| 10Base5 | Thick Coaxial |
| 100BaseT | Unshielded Twisted Pair |
| 100BaseFX | Cobweb Optic |
| 100BaseBX | Single mode Cobweb |
| 100BaseSX | Multimode Cobweb |
| 1000BaseT | Unshielded Twisted Pair |
| 1000BaseFX | Cobweb Optic |
| 1000BaseBX | Single mode Fiber |
| 1000BaseSX | Multimode Cobweb |
Installing Cable - Some Guidelines
When running cable, information technology is best to follow a few simple rules:
- E'er use more cable than you need. Leave plenty of slack.
- Examination every part of a network as you install it. Even if it is brand new, it may have problems that will exist difficult to isolate later.
- Stay at least three feet away from fluorescent calorie-free boxes and other sources of electrical interference.
- If information technology is necessary to run cable across the floor, cover the cable with cable protectors.
- Characterization both ends of each cable.
- Use cable ties (not tape) to continue cables in the aforementioned location together.
Wireless LANs
More than and more networks are operating without cables, in the wireless mode. Wireless LANs use high frequency radio signals, infrared low-cal beams, or lasers to communicate between the workstations, servers, or hubs. Each workstation and file server on a wireless network has some sort of transceiver/antenna to send and receive the data. Information is relayed between transceivers as if they were physically connected. For longer distance, wireless communications can also take place through cellular telephone technology, microwave transmission, or by satellite.
Wireless networks are peachy for allowing laptop computers, portable devices, or remote computers to connect to the LAN. Wireless networks are also beneficial in older buildings where information technology may be difficult or impossible to install cables.
The 2 nearly common types of infrared communications used in schools are line-of-sight and scattered circulate. Line-of-sight advice ways that there must be an unblocked direct line between the workstation and the transceiver. If a person walks inside the line-of-sight while there is a transmission, the information would need to be sent over again. This kind of obstruction can tedious down the wireless network. Scattered infrared communication is a broadcast of infrared transmissions sent out in multiple directions that bounces off walls and ceilings until it somewhen hits the receiver. Networking communications with light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation are nearly the aforementioned every bit line-of-sight infrared networks.
Wireless standards and speeds
The Wi-Fi Brotherhood is a global, non-profit organisation that helps to ensure standards and interoperability for wireless networks, and wireless networks are often referred to as WiFi (Wireless Allegiance). The original Wi-Fi standard (IEEE 802.11) was adopted in 1997. Since and then many variations accept emerged (and will continue to sally). Wi-Fi networks utilise the Ethernet protocol.
| Standard | Max Speed | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| 802.11a | 54 Mbps | 150 feet |
| 802.11b | eleven Mbps | 300 feet |
| 802.11g | 54 Mbps | 300 feet |
| 802.11n | 100 Mbps | 300+ feet |
Wireless Security
Wireless networks are much more than susceptible to unauthorized use than cabled networks. Wireless network devices use radio waves to communicate with each other. The greatest vulnerability to the network is that rogue machines can "eves-drop" on the radio moving ridge communications. Unencrypted information transmitted can be monitored past a third-political party, which, with the correct tools (free to download), could rapidly gain admission to your entire network, steal valuable passwords to local servers and online services, modify or destroy data, and/or access personal and confidential information stored in your network servers. To minimize the possibility of this, all modern access points and devices accept configuration options to encrypt transmissions. These encryption methodologies are still evolving, as are the tools used by malicious hackers, then always use the strongest encryption available in your access point and connecting devices.
A NOTE ON ENCRYPTION: Every bit of this writing WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption can be easily hacked with readily-bachelor free tools which circulate the internet. WPA and WPA2 (WiFi Protected Admission versions one and 2) are much better at protecting information, just using weak passwords or passphrases when enabling these encryptions may let them to exist hands hacked. If your network is running WEP, y'all must exist very careful about your utilize of sensitive passwords or other data.
Three basic techniques are used to protect networks from unauthorized wireless use. Use any and all of these techniques when setting up your wireless access points:
- Encryption.
- Enable the strongest encryption supported by the devices yous will be connecting to the network. Utilise strong passwords (strong passwords are generally defined as passwords containing symbols, numbers, and mixed case letters, at least 14 characters long).
- Isolation.
- Use a wireless router that places all wireless connections on a subnet independent of the primary individual network. This protects your private network data from pass-through internet traffic.
- Subconscious SSID.
- Every access point has a Service Prepare IDentifier (SSID) that by default is circulate to customer devices so that the access point can exist found. By disabling this feature, standard client connexion software won't be able to "see" the access indicate. However, the eves-dropping programs discussed previously can hands find these access points, then this alone does little more than keep the admission betoken proper name out of sight for casual wireless users.
Advantages of wireless networks:
- Mobility - With a laptop reckoner or mobile device, access can be available throughout a school, at the mall, on an airplane, etc. More and more businesses are too offer free WiFi admission ("Hot spots").
- Fast setup - If your figurer has a wireless adapter, locating a wireless network can be as unproblematic every bit clicking "Connect to a Network" -- in some cases, yous will connect automatically to networks within range.
- Cost - Setting upwards a wireless network tin be much more cost effective than ownership and installing cables.
- Expandability - Adding new computers to a wireless network is as easy every bit turning the estimator on (as long as you do not exceed the maximum number of devices).
Disadvantages of wireless networks:
- Security - Exist careful. Be vigilant. Protect your sensitive data with backups, isolated private networks, strong encryption and passwords, and monitor network access traffic to and from your wireless network.
- Interference - Considering wireless networks use radio signals and similar techniques for transmission, they are susceptible to interference from lights and electronic devices.
- Inconsistent connections - How many times have yous hears "Wait a minute, I just lost my connection?" Because of the interference caused past electrical devices and/or items blocking the path of transmission, wireless connections are not virtually as stable as those through a defended cablevision.
- Speed - The transmission speed of wireless networks is improving; however, faster options (such as gigabit Ethernet) are available via cables. If you are just using wireless for internet access, the actual net connection for your home or school is generally slower than the wireless network devices, so that connection is the bottleneck. If y'all are as well moving large amounts of data around a private network, a cabled connection volition enable that work to proceed much faster.
Source: https://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap4/chap4.htm