CompTIA A+ 1201 Objective 3.2: Summarize Basic Cable Types and Their Connectors, Features, and Purposes

Category 3 (Cat 3):

• Speed: Up to 10 Mbps
• Frequency: 16 MHz
• Use: Legacy telephone systems, basic networking
• Status: Obsolete for modern networking

Category 5 (Cat 5):

• Speed: Up to 100 Mbps
• Frequency: 100 MHz
• Use: Fast Ethernet, legacy installations
• Status: Largely replaced by Cat 5e

Category 5e (Cat 5e):

• Speed: Up to 1 Gbps
• Frequency: 100 MHz
• Use: Gigabit Ethernet, most common today
• Features: Enhanced crosstalk reduction

Category 6 (Cat 6):

• Speed: Up to 1 Gbps (10 Gbps at 55m)
• Frequency: 250 MHz
• Use: Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit at short distances
• Features: Better performance than Cat 5e

Category 6a (Cat 6a):

• Speed: Up to 10 Gbps
• Frequency: 500 MHz
• Use: 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Features: Augmented performance, full 100m support

Category 7 (Cat 7):

• Speed: Up to 10 Gbps
• Frequency: 600 MHz
• Use: High-performance networking
• Features: Shielded, individual pair shielding

Category 8 (Cat 8):

• Speed: Up to 25/40 Gbps
• Frequency: 2000 MHz
• Use: Data centers, high-speed applications
• Features: Shielded, limited to 30m

Purpose: Standardized wiring schemes for twisted pair cables

T568A Wiring:

• Pin 1: White/Green
• Pin 2: Green
• Pin 3: White/Orange
• Pin 4: Blue
• Pin 5: White/Blue
• Pin 6: Orange
• Pin 7: White/Brown
• Pin 8: Brown

T568B Wiring:

• Pin 1: White/Orange
• Pin 2: Orange
• Pin 3: White/Green
• Pin 4: Blue
• Pin 5: White/Blue
• Pin 6: Green
• Pin 7: White/Brown
• Pin 8: Brown

Key Differences:

• T568A: Green pair on pins 1-2, Orange pair on pins 3-6
• T568B: Orange pair on pins 1-2, Green pair on pins 3-6
• Both standards are functionally equivalent
• T568B is more commonly used in the US
• Must use same standard on both ends of cable

Straight-through vs Crossover:

• Straight-through: Same standard on both ends (T568A-T568A or T568B-T568B)
• Crossover: Different standards on each end (T568A-T568B)
• Auto-MDIX: Modern devices automatically detect and adjust

Structure: Central conductor surrounded by insulation, shielding, and outer jacket

Types:

• RG-6: Cable TV, broadband internet, satellite
• RG-59: Video applications, CCTV
• RG-11: Long-distance applications

Characteristics:

• Impedance: 50Ω or 75Ω
• Shielding: Excellent EMI protection
• Distance: Good for longer runs
• Bandwidth: High bandwidth capacity

Use Cases:

• Cable television
• Broadband internet (cable modems)
• Satellite television
• CCTV systems
• Radio frequency applications

Structure: Twisted pairs with additional shielding

Shielding Types:

• F/UTP: Foil around all pairs
• S/UTP: Braided shield around all pairs
• F/FTP: Foil around each pair and overall
• S/FTP: Braided shield overall, foil around each pair

Advantages:

• Better EMI protection
• Reduced crosstalk
• Better performance in noisy environments
• Higher data rates possible

Disadvantages:

• More expensive
• Larger diameter
• More difficult to install
• Requires proper grounding

Use Cases:

• Industrial environments
• High EMI areas
• Data centers
• Long cable runs

Purpose: Designed for underground installation

Features:

• Water-resistant jacket
• UV protection
• Rodent protection
• Temperature resistance
• Chemical resistance

Installation Requirements:

• Proper trench depth (typically 18-24 inches)
• Conduit or direct burial
• Warning tape above cable
• Proper grounding

Structure: Twisted pairs without additional shielding

Advantages:

• Lower cost
• Easier installation
• Smaller diameter
• Flexible
• No grounding required

Disadvantages:

• More susceptible to EMI
• Higher crosstalk
• Limited distance in noisy environments

Use Cases:

• Most office environments
• Home networking
• Short to medium cable runs
• Cost-sensitive installations

Purpose: Designed for installation in plenum spaces (air handling areas)

Features:

• Fire-resistant jacket material
• Low smoke emission
• Non-toxic when burned
• Meets building code requirements

Plenum Spaces:

• Air ducts
• Ceiling spaces used for air circulation
• Raised floors with air circulation
• Any space used for environmental air

Code Requirements:

• Required by building codes in plenum spaces
• Higher cost than standard cable
• Must be properly installed

Core Size: 8-10 microns

Light Source: Laser diode

Wavelength: 1310nm, 1550nm

Distance: Up to 100+ kilometers

Bandwidth: Very high

Advantages:

• Longest transmission distances
• Highest bandwidth
• No electromagnetic interference
• Secure transmission
• Future-proof technology

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost
• More complex installation
• Requires precision alignment
• Expensive equipment

Use Cases:

• Long-distance telecommunications
• Internet backbone
• Data center connections
• Campus networks

Core Size: 50 or 62.5 microns

Light Source: LED or laser

Wavelength: 850nm, 1300nm

Distance: Up to 2 kilometers

Bandwidth: High

Advantages:

• Lower cost than single-mode
• Easier installation
• Less expensive equipment
• Good for shorter distances

Disadvantages:

• Limited distance
• Modal dispersion
• Lower bandwidth than single-mode

Use Cases:

• Local area networks
• Data center interconnects
• Building-to-building connections
• Short to medium distance applications

Speed: Up to 480 Mbps

Power: 5V, 500mA

Connectors: Type A, Type B, Mini-USB, Micro-USB

Features:

• Hot-swappable
• Plug-and-play
• Backward compatible with USB 1.1
• Widespread adoption

Use Cases:

• Mice and keyboards
• Printers and scanners
• External storage devices
• Mobile device charging

Speed: Up to 5 Gbps

Power: 5V, 900mA

Connectors: Type A, Type B, Micro-USB

Features:

• 10x faster than USB 2.0
• Backward compatible
• Blue connector color
• Full-duplex communication

Use Cases:

• External hard drives
• High-speed flash drives
• Video capture devices
• Network adapters

Standard: RS-232

Speed: Up to 115.2 Kbps

Connectors: DB9, DB25

Features:

• Simple protocol
• Long distance capability
• Reliable communication
• Legacy technology

Use Cases:

• Console connections
• Industrial equipment
• Legacy systems
• Network equipment configuration

Thunderbolt 1/2:

• Speed: 10-20 Gbps
• Connector: Mini DisplayPort
• Features: PCIe and DisplayPort over single cable

Thunderbolt 3/4:

• Speed: 40 Gbps
• Connector: USB-C
• Features: USB-C compatible, power delivery

Use Cases:

• External graphics cards
• High-speed storage
• 4K/5K displays
• Docking stations

Versions:

• HDMI 1.4: 4K at 30Hz, 3D support
• HDMI 2.0: 4K at 60Hz, HDR
• HDMI 2.1: 8K at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz

Features:

• Digital audio and video
• Consumer Electronics Control (CEC)
• Audio Return Channel (ARC)
• Ethernet over HDMI

Connector Types:

• Type A: Standard (19 pins)
• Type C: Mini (19 pins)
• Type D: Micro (19 pins)

Versions:

• DisplayPort 1.2: 4K at 60Hz
• DisplayPort 1.3: 4K at 120Hz, 8K at 30Hz
• DisplayPort 1.4: 8K at 60Hz, HDR

Features:

• High bandwidth
• Multi-stream transport
• Adaptive sync support
• Daisy-chaining capability

Connector Types:

• Standard: 20 pins
• Mini: 20 pins, smaller form factor

Types:

• DVI-D: Digital only
• DVI-A: Analog only
• DVI-I: Integrated (digital and analog)

Features:

• Single-link: 1920×1200 at 60Hz
• Dual-link: 2560×1600 at 60Hz
• HDCP support
• Legacy technology

Type: Analog video

Resolution: Up to 2048×1536

Connector: 15-pin D-sub

Features:

• Legacy technology
• Analog signal
• No audio support
• Being phased out

Features:

• Reversible connector
• Multiple protocols supported
• Power delivery up to 100W
• DisplayPort alternate mode
• Thunderbolt 3/4 compatible

Use Cases:

• Modern laptops and tablets
• External monitors
• Universal charging
• Data transfer

Versions:

• SATA 1.0: 1.5 Gbps
• SATA 2.0: 3.0 Gbps
• SATA 3.0: 6.0 Gbps

Features:

• Hot-swappable
• Native Command Queuing (NCQ)
• Thin, flexible cables
• 7-pin data connector
• 15-pin power connector

Use Cases:

• Internal hard drives
• SSDs
• Optical drives

Purpose: External SATA connection

Features:

• Same speed as internal SATA
• Hot-swappable
• Separate power connector required
• Shielded connector

Use Cases:

• External hard drives
• External SSDs
• High-speed external storage

RJ11:

• 6-position, 2-4 contacts
• Telephone connections
• DSL connections
• Smaller than RJ45

RJ45:

• 8-position, 8 contacts
• Ethernet connections
• Most common network connector
• Larger than RJ11

F-type:

• Coaxial connector
• Cable TV, satellite
• Broadband internet
• Threaded connection

ST (Straight Tip):

• Bayonet-style connector
• Twist-lock mechanism
• Legacy connector
• Single-mode and multimode

SC (Subscriber Connector):

• Push-pull connector
• Square connector
• Common in data centers
• Single-mode and multimode

LC (Lucent Connector):

• Small form factor
• Push-pull connector
• Most common today
• High-density applications

Punchdown Block:

• 110-style blocks
• 66-style blocks (legacy)
• Terminates twisted pair cables
• Used in patch panels

MicroUSB:

• Smaller than Mini-USB
• Common on mobile devices
• USB 2.0 and 3.0 versions
• Being replaced by USB-C

MiniUSB:

• Larger than Micro-USB
• Legacy connector
• Used on older devices
• Being phased out

USB-C:

• Reversible connector
• Multiple protocols
• Future standard
• Power delivery capable

Molex:

• 4-pin power connector
• Legacy hard drive power
• Fans and other components
• Being replaced by SATA power

Lightning:

• Apple proprietary connector
• Reversible design
• iPhone, iPad connections
• Being replaced by USB-C

DB9:

• 9-pin D-sub connector
• Serial connections
• Legacy technology
• Console connections

Factors to Consider:

• Speed requirements: Data transfer needs
• Distance: Cable run length
• Environment: EMI, temperature, moisture
• Cost: Budget constraints
• Future-proofing: Technology evolution
• Compatibility: Device requirements

General Guidelines:

• Follow manufacturer specifications
• Use proper cable management
• Avoid sharp bends
• Maintain proper bend radius
• Label cables properly
• Test all connections

Safety Considerations:

• Disconnect power before installation
• Use appropriate tools
• Follow building codes
• Consider plenum requirements
• Proper grounding for shielded cables

1. Cable selection: Choose appropriate cable for scenario
2. Connector identification: Identify connector types from description
3. Specification matching: Match cable specs to requirements
4. Troubleshooting: Diagnose cable-related issues
5. Installation planning: Plan cable installation
6. Compatibility: Ensure device compatibility