Copper Cabling Flashcards

What is the maximum segment length for Cat5e horizontal cabling under TIA-568 standards?

Answer: 90 meters

TIA-568 limits horizontal permanent link runs to 90 meters, reserving 10 meters for patch cords to reach the 100-meter channel maximum.

Which pair is used for data transmission in a standard 10BASE-T Ethernet connection using T568B wiring?

Answer: Pairs 1 and 2 (pins 1,2 and 3,6)

10BASE-T uses pins 1,2 (transmit) and 3,6 (receive), which correspond to pairs 2 and 3 in T568B color coding.

What does the term 'NEXT' measure in copper cabling performance testing?

Answer: Near-End Crosstalk between adjacent pairs at the transmitting end

NEXT (Near-End Crosstalk) measures the unwanted signal coupling between pairs at the same end where the test signal is injected.

A technician is pulling Cat6 cable through conduit and encounters significant resistance. What is the maximum recommended pulling tension for Cat6 UTP cable?

Answer: 110 N (25 lbf)

TIA-568 specifies a maximum pulling tension of 110 N (25 lbf) for 4-pair UTP cable to prevent stretching or damaging the conductors.

Which type of copper cable uses a metallic foil shield around each individual pair as well as an overall braid shield?

Answer: S/FTP (SFTP)

S/FTP cable has individually foil-shielded pairs (FTP) plus an overall braided shield (S/), providing maximum EMI protection.

What is the minimum bend radius for a 4-pair Cat6 UTP cable during installation?

Answer: 8 times the cable diameter

TIA-568 recommends a minimum bend radius of 8 times the cable outer diameter for 4-pair UTP during installation to prevent pair damage.

A cable test fails for 'Return Loss.' What does this indicate?

Answer: Excessive signal reflected back due to impedance mismatches along the cable

Return Loss measures how much signal is reflected back toward the source due to impedance discontinuities such as poor terminations or kinks.