Telecommunications Wire and Cable Test Equipment Key Terms

Using telecommunications wire and cable test equipment key terms to expand your knowledge

By Kristan Hart

Running cable is a tough, tedious job that requires exact precision. When problems arise with some of your equipment, finding the source of the trouble is important. Using telecommunications wire and cable test equipment can help you determine if the appropriate signal is traveling from one end of the line to the other. When you diagnose that your wires and cables are the problem, you can troubleshoot and fix the issue without undoing all of your hard work. When working with telecommunications wire and cable test equipment, there are certain key terms you should consider.

Calibration

Calibration is a way to measure the quality of the telecommunications cable you're testing. Calibration can help you determine the signal strength traveling through a telecommunications wire or cable.
Try: Read about calibration on the Davis Calibration website.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

The NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, sets the standards for telecommunications wire testing as well as many other technical components.
Try: Read the NIST Policy on Traceability on the National Institute of Standards and Technology website.

Coaxial cable

Coaxial cable is the cable of choice for many networks. When testing telecommunications wire and cable used in many audio and video sources, coaxial cable is a common cable you'll test.
Try: Read about coaxial cable and how it works at the Department of Physics, Davidson College website.

Fiber optic networks

Experts run fiber optic cables to create fiber optic networks that operate at high speeds. Fiber optic cable is another common type of cable you'll test when you're using telecommunications wire and cable test equipment.
Try: The ARC Electronics website explains "The Basics of Fiber Optic Cable" and how fiber optic networks work.

Twisted pair

The regular copper wire used in most homes and businesses is called twisted pair. Telecommunications wire and cable test equipment works very well when you're working with twisted pair copper wire.
Try: The TechTarget website offers a detailed definition of twisted pair.

Horizontal cabling

Horizontal cabling connects work areas to the telecommunications central location, many times in a designated room. Use telecommunications wire and cable test equipment when you need to test horizontal cabling.
Try: Read about horizontal cabling and the structure of a horizontal cabling system on the Siemon website.