DCI Copper Cable Termination 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When terminating a Cat 6 cable to a 110-style punch-down block, which tool setting should be used?
- Cut-and-seat (Correct answer)
- Seat-only
- Cut-and-punch
- Strip-and-seat
Correct answer: Cut-and-seat
The cut-and-seat setting simultaneously seats the conductor and trims the excess wire in one motion.
Question 2: What is the maximum allowed untwisting of pairs when terminating Cat 6A to a keystone jack?
- 13 mm (0.5 in) (Correct answer)
- 25 mm (1 in)
- 38 mm (1.5 in)
- 50 mm (2 in)
Correct answer: 13 mm (0.5 in)
TIA-568 limits pair untwisting to 13 mm (0.5 inch) for Cat 6A to maintain crosstalk performance.
Question 3: A technician notices intermittent failures on a newly terminated Cat 5e link. The MOST likely cause is:
- Split pairs at the termination (Correct answer)
- Exceeding bend radius mid-run
- Using a T568A wiring scheme
- Cable jacket removed too far back
Correct answer: Split pairs at the termination
Split pairs cause near-end crosstalk (NEXT) failures that appear intermittent under load.
Question 4: Which wiring standard places orange-white on pin 1 and orange on pin 2?
- T568B (Correct answer)
- T568A
- USOC
- EIA-310
Correct answer: T568B
T568B assigns orange-white to pin 1 and orange to pin 2, making it the most common commercial standard.
Question 5: When using a modular crimping tool on an RJ-45 connector, what defect results from insufficient crimp force?
- High contact resistance at the pins (Correct answer)
- Split pairs inside the connector
- Incorrect pin-out sequence
- Jacket damage from the strain relief
Correct answer: High contact resistance at the pins
Insufficient crimp force leaves the gold contacts partially seated, creating high resistance and intermittent connectivity.
Question 6: A cable tester reports a 'reversed pair' on a Cat 5e patch cord. Which pins are swapped?
- Both conductors within the same pair (Correct answer)
- Conductors from two different pairs
- Only pin 1 with pin 2
- Pins 7 and 8 with pins 1 and 2
Correct answer: Both conductors within the same pair
A reversed pair means the tip and ring of a single pair are transposed (e.g., pin 3 and pin 6 swapped on pair 2).
Question 7: What is the purpose of the strain relief boot on an RJ-45 patch cord?
- Prevent the cable from bending sharply at the connector entry (Correct answer)
- Protect the locking tab from breaking
- Identify the cable category
- Seal moisture from the connection
Correct answer: Prevent the cable from bending sharply at the connector entry
The strain relief boot maintains the minimum bend radius at the plug entry point, preventing conductor stress failures.
DCI Copper Cable Termination 2
When terminating a Cat 6 cable to a 110-style punch-down block, which tool setting should be used?