Media and Cabling

Question 1

What is ‘media’ in networking?

Answer 1

It is the physical material used to transmit data.

Question 2

What are three main types of networking media?

Answer 2

• Copper (e.g., Cat6)
• Fiber Optic (e.g., ISP backbones)
• Radio Waves (e.g., Wi-Fi)

Question 3

What are the speed and max distance of Cat 5?

Answer 3

100 Mbps, 100 meters.

Question 4

What are the speed and max distance of Cat 5e?

Answer 4

1 Gbps, 100 meters.

Question 5

What are the speed and max distance of Cat 6?

Answer 5

10 Gbps up to 55 meters.

Question 6

What are the speed and max distance of Cat 6a?

Answer 6

10 Gbps, 100 meters.

Question 7

What are the speed and max distance of Cat 7?

Answer 7

10 Gbps, 100 meters (Not officially TIA/EIA certified).

Question 8

What are the speed and max distance of Cat 8?

Answer 8

25–40 Gbps, 30 meters (Used in data centers only).

Question 9

What is UTP?

Answer 9

Unshielded Twisted Pair – cheaper, more flexible, easier to install.

Question 10

What is STP?

Answer 10

Shielded Twisted Pair – protects against EMI but harder to install.

Question 11

What is RG-6 used for and its approximate range?

Answer 11

Internet/TV; up to ~300 meters.

Question 12

What is RG-59 used for and its approximate range?

Answer 12

CCTV (legacy use); shorter range and limited bandwidth.

Question 13

What is DAC (Direct Attach Copper)?

Answer 13

Pre-assembled cables used for short connections (up to 7–15 meters), supports speeds up to 100 Gbps.

Question 14

What is Twinax used for?

Answer 14

High-speed, short-range server connections in data centers.

Question 15

What is plenum-rated cable and when is it used?

Answer 15

Fire-retardant cable used in air ducts.

Question 16

What is non-plenum cable?

Answer 16

Cheaper cable that releases toxic fumes when burned.

Question 17

What is an RJ-11 connector used for?

Answer 17

Telephony; uses 6P2C configuration for voice.

Question 18

What is an RJ-45 connector used for?

Answer 18

Ethernet networking; supports Cat 5–8 cables and uses 8P8C.

Question 19

What is an F-Type connector used for?

Answer 19

Cable TV or internet over coaxial cables (RG-6, RG-59).

Question 20

What is a BNC connector used for?

Answer 20

Professional video and RF; secure with push-twist lock.

Question 21

What is a straight-through cable used for?

Answer 21

Connecting different devices like PC ↔ Switch (DTE ↔ DCE), with same pinout (usually 568B on both ends).

Question 22

What is a crossover cable used for?

Answer 22

Connecting similar devices like PC ↔ PC or Switch ↔ Switch (DTE ↔ DTE), with 568A on one end and 568B on the other.

Question 23

What is MDIX and what does it do?

Answer 23

A feature in modern switches that automatically detects and adjusts for straight-through or crossover cables.

Question 24

What are the color codes for pins 1 and 2 in the 568B standard?

Answer 24

• Pin 1 – Orange/White
• Pin 2 – Orange

Question 25

What tools are used to build and test Ethernet cables?

Answer 25

* Cable stripper * Crimper (RJ-45/RJ-11) * Cable tester

Question 26

What are three advantages of fiber over copper?

Answer 26

* Immune to EMI * Supports longer distances * Supports higher speeds

Question 27

What is Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) used for?

Answer 27

Long-range backbone connections; supports distances in the tens to hundreds of miles; uses yellow cables.

Question 28

What is Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF) used for?

Answer 28

Short-range indoor links; supports distances up to 2 km; uses aqua or orange cables.

Question 29

What is the core size of SMF and MMF?

Answer 29

* SMF: ~8–10 μm * MMF: 50–100 μm

Question 30

What is an SC connector and where is it used?

Answer 30

Square connector with push-pull mechanism; used in telecom and FTTH.

Question 31

What is an LC connector and where is it used?

Answer 31

Compact connector used in high-density environments like data centers.

Question 32

What is an ST connector and where is it used?

Answer 32

Round, twist-lock connector used for outdoor or campus fiber links.

Question 33

What is an MTRJ connector and where is it used?

Answer 33

Rectangular, RJ-style latch connector used in small LANs.

Question 34

What is an MPO connector and where is it used?

Answer 34

Multi-fiber push-on connector used in high-speed, high-density environments like data centers.

Question 35

What is a PC polish and where is it used?

Answer 35

Basic polish with minimal reflection; used in general/legacy networks.

Question 36

What is a UPC polish and where is it used?

Answer 36

Ultra-polished for better performance; used in data and broadband.

Question 37

What is an APC polish and where is it used?

Answer 37

Angled polish with least reflection; used in long-distance, high-speed links.

Question 38

What is the function of a transceiver in networking?

Answer 38

Transmits and receives data, converts between media types and protocols.

Question 39

What does it mean when a transceiver is 'hot-swappable'?

Answer 39

It can be inserted or removed without shutting down the system.

Question 40

What is the speed range and use case of an SFP transceiver?

Answer 40

Up to 4.25 Gbps; used for basic fiber networking.

Question 41

What is the speed range and use case of an SFP+ transceiver?

Answer 41

Up to 16 Gbps; used in enterprise fiber networks.

Question 42

What is the speed range and use case of a QSFP transceiver?

Answer 42

Up to 40 Gbps; used for high-speed links.

Question 43

What is the speed of a QSFP28 transceiver?

Answer 43

Up to 100 Gbps; used in advanced data center backbones.

Question 44

What is the speed of a QSFP56 transceiver?

Answer 44

Up to 200 Gbps; used for future-proofing high-speed environments.

Question 45

When should copper be used in networking?

Answer 45

When cost is a concern and the distance is limited.

Question 46

When should fiber be used in networking?

Answer 46

When long distance, high speed, and EMI immunity are needed.

Question 47

What pinout standard is most commonly used in straight-through cables?

Answer 47

T568B.

Question 48

When should a crossover cable be used instead of a straight-through?

Answer 48

When connecting like devices (e.g., PC to PC or switch to switch).

Question 49

Why is it important to identify connector types by shape and use?

Answer 49

To ensure compatibility and optimal performance for the network.

Question 50

Why is knowing transceiver form factors important?

Answer 50

To match network speed, media type, and physical interface for installation.