Practice Test Geeks(DCI) Data Cabling Installer Practice Test
← All DCI Flashcard Decks

Copper Installation Flashcards

7 cards from real DCI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Copper Installation flashcards as text

  1. What is the minimum separation distance between copper data cables and electrical conduit carrying circuits of 2–5 kVA in open runs?

    Answer: 5 inches

    ANSI/TIA-569 requires a minimum 5-inch (127 mm) separation between data cables and electrical conduit carrying 2–5 kVA to prevent EMI.

  2. What test verifies that each pair in a copper cable has approximately the same propagation delay?

    Answer: Propagation delay skew

    Propagation delay skew measures the difference in signal travel time between the fastest and slowest pairs, which must be within 45 ns for Cat6/6A.

  3. A technician is pulling Category 6A cable in a conduit. The conduit fill is already at 40%. What should the technician do?

    Answer: Install a larger conduit or a parallel conduit run

    NEC and TIA-569 limit conduit fill to allow cable pulling without damage; at 40% fill adding more cable would exceed limits and risk damaging all cables.

  4. When testing a newly installed copper link, a 'FAIL – Return Loss' result most likely indicates what problem?

    Answer: Impedance discontinuities caused by kinks, tight bends, or bad terminations

    Return loss failures are caused by impedance discontinuities in the cable path, such as kinks, excessively tight bends, over-tightened cable ties, or poor terminations.

  5. What is the function of a gel-filled splice case in copper outside plant (OSP) installations?

    Answer: To protect copper splice joints from moisture ingress

    Gel-filled splice cases enclose and seal copper cable splices in outdoor environments, preventing water intrusion that would degrade performance or cause shorts.

  6. Which measurement parameter is used to evaluate the performance of a cable from end to end, combining both NEXT and attenuation?

    Answer: ACR-N (Attenuation to Crosstalk Ratio, Near-End)

    ACR-N (formerly called ACR) is calculated as NEXT minus insertion loss and represents the signal-to-noise ratio at the near end of the link.

  7. What is the correct method to handle excess cable slack at a work area outlet?

    Answer: Store it in a service loop with a diameter no less than 8 times the cable OD

    Excess cable should be stored as a service loop with a minimum diameter of 8 times the cable's outer diameter to avoid exceeding the minimum bend radius.