Network Communication Media

There are two mediums for network communication.
1-Cable Media (Guided Media)
2-Wireless Media (Un-guided Media) (will discuss later)

Cable Media (Guided Media)
i.e: co-axial cable, UTP (un-shielded twisted Pair), STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) and Fiber Optics.

Co-axial cable
Coaxial cables are a type of cable that is used by cable TV and that is common for data communications. Data is transmitted through the center wire, while the outer braided layer serves as a line to ground. Both of these conductors are parallel and share the same axis. This is why the wire is called coaxial!
There are two types of co-axial cables
1- Thin-net co-axial cable (Speed 10 Mbps, Range 185 meter)
2- Thick-net  co-axial cable (Speed 10 Mbps, Range 500 meter)

UTP (unshielded twisted pair)
Short form of Unshielded Twisted Pair cable, UTP cable is a popular cable used in computer networking that consists of two shielded wires twisted around each other. In the image to the right, is an example of the different network cables you’re likely to encounter.
UTP cables are twisted to cancel the EMI (Electro-magnetic interference), it has four pairs which are twisted so that magnetic and electric fields are opposite and it cancels EMI.

Given below is the Categories of UTP:

CAT 1                     Used for only voice communication
CAT 2                     Used for only voice communication
CAT 3                     Data + Voice both, Speed 4 Mbps, Range 100m
CAT 4                     Data + Voice both, Speed 10 Mbps, Range 100m
CAT 5                     Data + Voice both, Speed 100 Mbps, Range 100m
CAT 6                     Data + Voice both, Speed 1000 Mbps, Range 100m
CAT 6A                  Data + Voice both, Speed 10 Gbps, Range 10 to 15 meter

STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)
Short form of Shielded Twisted-Pair cable, STP is a cable originally developed by IBM for Token Ring that consists of two individual wires wrapped in a foil shielding to help provide a more reliable data communication.

FIBER OPTIC CABLE:
In fiber optic cables data transmit in the form of light only. There are two types of fiber optic cables which are:

1- Single Mode Fiber:
In single mode fiber, light inject through a Laser and only single ray of light travels on theory of total internal reflection (Stimulated Emission)
Maximum Bandwidth/Data rate on fiber cable   = 40 Gbps (Giga-bps)
Range ( after which signal drops)                              = up to 1 k.m (on 10 Gig)

2- Multi Mode Fiber:
In multi mode fiber, Light inject through LED ( Light Emitting Diode) and so many rays can travel simultaneously on total internal reflection (Spontaneous Emission Theory)
Maximum Bandwidth/Data rate on fiber cable   = 10 Gbps (Giga-bps)
Range ( after which signal drops)                              = 500 m

Best Regards,

S. N. Jafar