| Glossary |
| 1000BASE-T |
A recent LAN standard for implementing 1000 Mbps Ethernet on Category
5 cable.See also Gigabit Ethernet. |
|
| 100BASE-T |
The twisted pair version of 100 Mbps Ethernet.Requires Category
5 cabling. |
|
| 10BASE2 |
Also called Thinnet.10 Mbps Ethernet on thin (RG58) coaxial cable. |
|
| 10BASE5 |
Also called Thicknet.10 Mbps Ethernet on thick coaxial cable. |
|
| 10BASE-T |
10 Mbps Ethernet on twisted-pair (Category 3) cable. |
|
| 110 Connector |
A popular insulation displacement connector (IDC) used modular
jacks, patch panels and cross connects. |
|
| 3270 (IBM) |
A mainframe computer.Originally implemented on RG62 coax.Now generally
implemented on UTP cable using baluns. |
|
| 66 Block |
A legacy cross connect system.Similar in function to AMP 110Connect
XC. |
|
| AS/400 (IBM) |
A midrange computer system.Originally implemented on twinaxial
cable.Now generally implemented on UTP cable using baluns. |
|
| Attenuation |
The amount of signal lost as it travels through the cabling system. |
|
| Backboard |
Refers to a plywood panel mounted on the wall of a telecom closet.Used
to mount the cross connect. |
| Backbone cabling |
Cabling between floors in a building or between buildings in a
campus. |
|
| Balun |
A transformer used to attach coaxial or twinaxial equipment to
twisted pair cabling. |
|
| BNC |
A bayonet style coaxial connector. |
|
| Category 3 |
A performance classification for twisted pair cables, connectors
and systems.Specified to 16 MHz.Suitable for voice and data applications
up to 10 Mbps. |
|
| Category 5 |
A performance classification for twisted pair cables, connectors
and systems.Specified to 100 MHz.Suitable for voice and data applications
up to 155 Mbps (possibly 1000 Mbps). |
|
| Category 5e |
Also called Enhanced Category 5.A performance classification for
twisted pair cables, connectors and systems.Specified to 100 MHz.Suitable
for voice and data applications up to 1000 Mbps. |
|
| Category 6 |
A performance classification for twisted pair cables, connectors
and systems.Specified up to 250 MHz. |
| Channel |
The entire horizontal cabling system. Everything between the computer
and the LAN hub in the telecom closet, excluding the equipment connections. |
|
| Coax |
Short for coaxial.Single-conductor cables with braided shields.Used
in the 80's for data transmission.Now generally replaced with UTP
for data.Still used for video. |
|
| Consolidation point |
An interconnect device that allows the horizontal cable to be
split into two parts.Used for zone cabling. |
|
| Cross connect |
Connecting hardware used to patch between two groups of cables
(horizontal to backbone, for example).AMP 110Connect XC. |
|
| Data rate |
The speed, measured in bits per second, that a particular network
(or other application) transmits data. |
|
| dB |
Abbreviation for decibel.The logarithmic ratio of two powers,
voltages or currents. |
|
| Delay skew |
The difference in propagation delay between the slowest and fastest
pairs in a cable or system. |
|
| Drop |
Refers to the horizontal cabling for one work area, as in "The
job has 100 drops." |
|
| ELFEXT |
Equal Level Far End Crosstalk. A measure of FEXT which accounts
for the attenuation of the cabling system. |
|
| Enhanced Category 5 |
Also called Category 5e.A performance classification for twisted
pair cables, connectors and systems.Specified to 100 MHz.Suitable
for voice and data applications up to 1000 Mbps. |
|
| Ethernet |
The most common network protocol in use.A protocol is a set of
rules enabling data communications. Based originally on a bus topology. |
| F connector |
A common coaxial connector used for video applications (CATV). |
|
| FEXT |
Far End Crosstalk. Unwanted noise coupled onto a receive pair
from a transmit pair at the far end of the system. |
|
| Gbps |
A data rate. Gigabits per second.A gigabit is one billion bits. |
|
| Gigabit Ethernet |
The newest (1999) and fastest version of Ethernet.Data rate is
1000 Mbps or 1 Gigabit per second. |
|
| Horizontal cabling |
Includes the work area outlet, distribution cable and connecting
hardware in the telecom closet. |
|
| Hub |
Network device, usually in the telecom closet, that stations connect
to. |
|
| IDC |
Insulation Displacement Connector.A style of connector that slices
through the cable insulation to make a connection.Eliminates the
need to strip insulation. |
|
| IEEE |
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 802 Group develops
Local Area Network standards and Metropolitan Area Network standards. |
|
| IEEE 802.3 |
Usually referred to as Ethernet.A networking protocol. . |
|
| IEEE 802.5 |
Usually referred to as token ring.A networking protocol. |
|
| Impedance |
The total opposition to the flow of alternating current in a conductor. |
|
| Jumper |
Usually unjacketed twisted pair wire used to make a cross connection. |
| Kbps |
A data rate. Kilobits, or thousands of bits, per second. |
|
| LAN |
Local Area Network.Usually confined to one building or even one
floor.Large companies may have several LANs connected by an internetwork
or backbone network. |
|
| Link |
The part of the horizontal cabling system between the work area
outlet and the telecom closet termination. |
|
| Mbps |
A data rate. Megabits, or millions of bits, per second. |
| MHz |
Megahertz.Millions of cycles (Hertz) per second. A frequency or
frequency range (bandwidth) through which a cabling system is specified. |
|
| Modular jack |
The standard female connector for twisted pair cable.A "telephone
jack". |
| Modular plug |
The standard male connector for twisted pair cable.A "telephone
plug". |
|
| MT-RJ |
A small form factor, dual fiber connector. |
|
| Multimode |
A type of optical fiber in which the light travels in multiple
paths. Utilizes LEDs or lasers as light sources. |
|
| Multi-user outlet |
A work area outlet designed to support multiple users. Also called
multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly or MUTOA. |
|
| MUTOA |
See multi-user outlet. |
|
| NEXT |
Near End Crosstalk.The unwanted noise coupled into a device's
receive circuit from its transmit circuit. |
|
| NIC |
Network interface card.Allows a PC to attach to a network. |
|
| Node |
A device connected to a network. |
|
| Outlet |
Where the horizontal cabling terminates in the work area. |
|
| Patch cord |
A cable assembly with (usually) a plug on each end, used to make
a cross connection. |
|
| Patch panel |
A rack-mountable panel (usually 19" wide) containing connecting
hardware.Used to patch between groups of cables and equipment. |
|
| PBX |
Private Branch Exchange.The premises telephone switch.Handles
telecom functions. |
|
| Plenum |
A chamber that houses environmental air transfer.Plenum-rated
cable is required in such locations. |
|
| Power sum |
A mathematical addition of noise from multiple disturbers. Applied
to NEXT and ELFEXT requirements. |
|
| Propagation delay |
The amount of time it takes a signal to travel through a cable
or system. |
|
| Propagation delay skew |
The difference in propagation delay between the slowest and fastest
pairs in a cable or system. |
|
| PS ELFEXT |
See power sum and ELFEXT. |
|
| PS NEXT |
See power sum and NEXT. |
|
| Punchdown |
Refers to IDC connectors and the method used to terminate them. |
| Rack |
Used to mount patch panels, enclosures and equipment in the telecom
closet.Usually 19" wide by 7' high. |
|
| Return loss |
A measure of the signal reflected back toward the transmitter
as a result of impedance variations in the cabling system. |
|
| Riser |
Backbone cabling connecting telecom closets situated vertically
on separate floors. |
|
| RJ11 |
A wiring pattern for 6-position modular jacks.Used to refer to
the jacks themselves. |
|
| RJ45 |
A wiring pattern for8-position modular jacks.Used to refer to
the jacks themselves. |
|
| SC connector |
A duplex optical fiber connector. The standard connector for optical
fiber per the 568 cabling standard. |
|
| Singlemode |
A type of optical fiber in which the light travels in a single
path. Utilizes lasers as a light source. |
|
| ST connector |
A bayonet style optical fiber connector.An alternate style per
the 568 standard. |
|
| STP |
Shielded Twisted Pair.2-Pair 150 ohm shielded cable. |
|
| Switch |
A type of network hub.Provides higher bandwidth than shared hubs. |
|
| System/3X (IBM) |
The predecessor of the AS/400. |
|
| T568A and B |
The two standard wiring patterns for 8-position modular jacks. |
|
| Telco |
Short for telecommunications (or telephone company). |
|
| Telco connector |
Refers to a 25-pair (AMP CHAMP) connector. |
|
| Telecom closet |
Telecommunications closet. The area of the building that houses
the termination of the horizontal cabling.May also contain LAN electronics. |
|
| Thicknet |
IEEE 10BASE5.10 Mbps Ethernet on thick coaxial cable. |
|
| Thinnet |
IEEE 10BASE2. 10 Mbps Ethernet on thin (RG58) coaxial cable. |
|
| Token ring |
A networking protocol based on a token-passing ring. |
|
| Twisted pair cable |
Cable made from pairs of wires which have been twisted together. |
|
| UTP |
Unshielded twisted pair cable. Cable made from pairs of wires
which have been twisted together. |
|
| Wiring closet |
See telecom closet. |
|
| Work area |
Where the users' communications equipment resides.The part of
the cabling system between the outlet and the equipment. |
|
| Zone cabling |
An architectural concept which splits the horizontal cabling into
two sections. Eliminates the need to replace the entire horizontal
cable in moves, adds and changes. |
