Cable Infrastructure Construction and Design Key Terms

Understanding types of cables and cable components to produce a more reliable infrastructure

In a era that continues to see the advancement of technology and non-verbal communication, the whole world seems to revolve around cable infrastructures in order to transmit information. The majority of such communication would not be possible without the integration of a complex cable infrastructure. Whether you design cable infrastructures or need one constructed for your business, it's important to know several key terms regarding the types of cables and components available.

 

Telecommunications

Telecommunications, also known as telecom, is the transmission and reception of signals over distance. Successful telecommunications, which all of today's businesses need, may require a cable infrastructure with optimal design and construction, depending on the type of information shared.
Try: Read the brief description of telecommunications offered by George Mason University's Department of Communication.

Fiber optic

Fiber-optic cables are among the most widely used cables in today's technology. The core of these cables is either glass or plastic. The transmission of signals is through light pulses from a laser or LED (light-emitting diode).
Try: Visit ARC Electronics for a fiber-optic cable overview.

Coaxial

A coaxial cable has an inner conductor and outer conductor, separated and insulated from each other by a dielectric foam. You use coaxial cables predominantly for the transmission of high-frequency signals.
Try: The Data Center Journal has information about the materials that make up coaxial cables.

Cat

You may come across something called a Cat3, Cat5 or Cat7 cable. Cat is the abbreviation for category, and each number coincides with the transmission characteristics of the hardware the cable connects to. For example, a Cat1 transmits voice and low-speed data, a Cat3 transmits up to 16 MHz (megahertz) and a Cat6a transmits up to 500 MHz of data.
Try: Obtain more in-depth details for Cat3, Cat5, Cat6 and Cat7 from Action Communication Technology.

Conduit

A conduit is a pipe used to protect cables that run from floor to floor or floor to ceiling in a building. Metal typically makes up conduits used indoors, but those that protect cables that run between buildings, such as on a college campus, usually consist of a PVC pipe encased in concrete.
Try: Learn more about the sizes and types of conduits used in electric cable work from Sweethaven Publishing Services.

Broadband

Broadband is high-grade communications simultaneously distributed over multi-channel transmissions. Most commonly, broadband refers to high-speed Internet access.
Try: The Federal Communications Commission explains broadband in more detail, including the different ways you can transmit, which includes using fiber-optic cable and power lines. For more cable infrastructure construction and design terms, visit the Cabling Business Magazine.

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