Cabling

Cabling is a combination of cabling used in telecommunications infrastructure. The cable that is usually used in computer networks is a LAN cable, and one of them is a UTP cable. UTP LAN cables are the most popular which consists of 4 pairs of wires wrapped around each other with a special color code standard and insulated with plastic. The level of the UTP cable is indicated by the number of turns or twists per inch, the low level of attenuation, the lack of interference and crosstalk symptoms.

The maximum length per segment of this LAN cable is 100 meters only, if it is longer than 100 meters then we cannot guarantee a high level of attenuation. The speed that can be achieved is up to 1 Gigabit, namely from the UTP Cat5e lan type cable, where the number of twists or turns of the cable pair is slightly more per inch and plus a single nylon cable jacket as insulation. So once again the grade of this cable UTP is determined by the number of twists per inch.

The terms usually found in cabling computer network:

Drop cable is the cable that connects each computer to the switch. This LAN cable should use a UTP Cat 5e cable with the ends of each having an RJ-45 connector. The minimum LAN cable is 0.6 meters and the maximum is 100 meters.

The wall jack is a connection point similar to what we often find in telephones, so that it can connect the RJ-45 LAN UTP cable network. Patch cable is a UTP cable segment that is used to connect the network interface card to the wall jack or to connect other parts of this network cable installation.

The patch panel is a connecting panel that provides multi-ports that supply cables to devices or other connecting hardware such as switches.

There are 2 types of cables used between workstations or between hubs / switches:

Straight-Through Cabling

This cable has 4 pairs (8 wires) where each pin between one end and the other must be the same. That is, if one end uses the T568-A standard than the other end must use T568-A as well. Vice versa, if one end uses the T568-B standard, the other end must use the same standard.

Crossover

In addition to the Straight-Through cable, cabling is also a crossover cable. Crossover itself is a type of cable used to connect between workstations or between hubs / switches. This type of cable uses the standard T568-A at one end, and T568-B at the other.

In the Straight cable type, it is used to connect the computer to the switch. While the Cross is used to connect a switch with a switch or a switch with a router.

Note: to insert into RJ45 the pin end of the cable must be flat because it touches the tip of RJ45, so when crimping the cable to RJ45, the copper from RJ45 can touch the copper wire of the cable. And the order when inputting to RJ45 must match.