Telecommunication cables are used to facilitate communication. Learn more about these cables and the most common types that are available.
What are telecommunication cables?
The use of telecom cables enables two-way communication over long distances by transferring information from one spot to another.
Although the telephone was the initial invention that made this possible, this can now also be accomplished via the computer and television.
During the early days of telecommunication, only oral exchanges could be made. Thanks to advances in technology, our telecom efforts can now include videos and data.
Types of telecommunication cables
When you know more about the different types of telecommunication wires that are available, you will be better equipped to decide which one is right for your needs.
That is why we will go over the three most common telecom cable types:
- Coaxial;
- Fiber Optic,
- Twisted Pair.
Coaxial
The coaxial cable is also referred to as the coax cable. It was created by Oliver Heaviside in 1880.
These copper telecom cables consist of two channels that share the same axis. The first channel is in charge of transporting the signal, while the concentric channel that envelops the insulation layer of the inner channel is used as a ground.
Coax cables are utilized for:
- Connecting radio transmitters to receivers;
- Connecting to the internet,
- Transmitting cable T.V. signals.
There are three different types of coax cables:
- RG-59 – Carries video signals;
- RG-6 – Used for satellite communication,
- RG-11 – Employed to develop BNC style LAN networks.
The different types of coax cable shields include:
- Single Shielded;
- Dual Shielded,
- Quad Shielded.
The markings on a coax cable reveal how it was produced and what materials were used to make its sleeve.
Some markings you may find on a coax cable include:
- PE – Solid Polyethylene;
- FE – Foam Polyethylene;
- FS – Foam Polystyrene;
- ASP – Air Space Polyethylene;
- ST – Solid Teflon,
- AST – Air Space Teflon.
Some advantages of the coaxial cable include its:
- Capacity to transfer information over long distances;
- Ability to prevent interferences,
- Lower cost than fiber optic cables. However, you will pay more for coax cables than you would for twisted-pair cables.
Twisted pair
Twisted pair cables allow personal and business computers to connect with the telephone company. They were invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1881.
Twisted pair cables get their name from their double wire design. This design consists of a pair of wires being twisted together. The two wires are parallel to one another.
This cable’s design helps to decrease crosstalk and external interferences, although those issues aren’t entirely eradicated.
Twisted-pair cables fall into two separate categories:
- Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable,
- Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable.
Look at the markings on a twisted pair cable to learn more about it. The markings you might find include:
- UL – This marking indicates the cable conforms to UL fire requirements;
- ETL – This cable falls in line with ETL fire requirements;
- Distance Rating – This reveals the length the signal can travel before its quality starts to decrease,
- Shielded – This marking indicates a shielded jacket that minimizes RF emissions.
Although cheaper than the other two telecom cable types mentioned in this article, twisted pair cables have high attenuation.
Fiber optic
This next type of telecom cable is relatively new compared to the cables we’ve already discussed. Fiber optic cables use light to send data. The fibers in these cables are covered with plastic and reside in a tube that prevents interference.
Fiber optic cables are composed of an outer casing and core. The optical casing encompasses the light, keeping it contained in the core.
The size of a fiber optic cable’s core is used to categorize the cables. There are two different types:
- Single mode – This type of fiber optic cable has a small core that results in low attenuation,
- Multimode – This type of fiber optic cable has a larger core that causes higher attenuation.
You can tell what category a specific fiber optic cable falls into just by looking at the color of its sheathing.
For example, an aqua blue color means the cable is multimode, while a yellow sheathing reveals that the cable is single mode.
Cable markings indicate what materials were used to make their jackets. The following list includes some markings that may be found:
- PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride;
- PE – Polyethylene;
- PUR – Polyurethane;
- PBT – Polybutylene terephthalate,
- PA – Polyamide.
Fiber optic cables are ultra-resistant to interferences, making these telecom wires trustworthy for transmission. Plus, they provide fast connections.
But those benefits come at a price. Fiber optic cables are more expensive than the other two telecom cables mentioned in this article.
Without telecommunication cables, we wouldn’t be able to have long-distance communication in its various forms. So, if you need telecom wires and cables, you need to know that you can count on them.
We can help you choose the right telecom wires. Contact us today!
