Copper Cabling Flashcards
7 cards from real VDV 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 Cabling flashcards as text
When terminating Cat6A cable to an 8P8C (RJ-45) jack, which 110-style punch-down tool setting should be used?
Answer: The low-impact (cut) setting for solid conductors
110-style punch-down tools have a low setting for solid wire (which is used in horizontal cabling) to seat the conductor without over-driving it.
What is the function of a cable balun in a copper cabling system?
Answer: Convert between balanced (twisted pair) and unbalanced (coaxial) transmission
A balun (balanced-unbalanced) converts signals between the balanced differential signaling of twisted pair and the unbalanced single-ended signaling of coaxial cable.
Which standard governs the testing requirements for Category 6A permanent links and channels?
Answer: ANSI/TIA-568.2-D
ANSI/TIA-568.2-D defines balanced twisted-pair cabling components, installation practices, and field testing requirements including Cat6A.
A 25-pair backbone cable uses what color code system to identify each pair?
Answer: A 5-color tip group combined with a 5-color ring group giving 25 combinations
25-pair cables use a binder color system combining 5 tip colors (white, red, black, yellow, violet) with 5 ring colors (blue, orange, green, brown, slate) to create 25 unique pairs.
What is propagation delay in copper cable, and why does it matter for structured cabling?
Answer: The time for a signal to travel from one end to the other; excessive delay causes timing errors in high-speed networks
Propagation delay is the transit time of a signal through the cable, and skew between pairs must stay within limits to ensure correct reassembly of parallel data streams.
A technician needs to extend a Cat6 run beyond the 90-meter horizontal limit. What is the correct solution under TIA-568?
Answer: Install an intermediate distribution frame (IDF) with an active switch to restart the segment
TIA-568 limits horizontal copper runs to 90 meters; longer distances require an active network switch at an IDF to regenerate the signal for a new 90-meter segment.
What does 'alien crosstalk' (AXT) specifically describe in a Cat6A cabling installation?
Answer: Interference coupling between adjacent cables in the same bundle or conduit
Alien crosstalk (AXT) is the unwanted signal coupling from one cable into a neighboring separate cable, which is the primary limiting factor for Cat6A performance in dense bundles.