ethernet
... Coaxial cable transmits data at 10 Mbps and is categorized as either thick or thin - this refers to the diameter of the coaxial cable. a. RG-11 = thick Ethernet & RG-58 = thin Ethernet b. Coaxial operates on a bus topology 2. Twisted pair - 100 Mbps Ethernet networks generally use twisted pair cabling (less expensive than coaxial cables). Twisted-pair cables are pairs of insulated copper wire wrapped around each other, resulting in a cleaner signal that is less prone to interference and cross talk. a. Cat 3 = transmits at up to 10 Mbps b. Cat 5 transmits at up to 100 Mbps c. STP = have an added layer of insulation around each pair of wires that UTP does not have. The shielding material is grounded metal that prevents electromagnetic radiation from creating voltages in the signal wires. Twisted pair operates on a star topology. Twisted-pair uses standard RJ-45 adapters as connector; these have eight pins. 3. Fiber-optic cabling - used primarily in Gigabit Ethernet; transmit data as ...