F.A.Q.'s – Your Online Resource

This is the Data Lounge’s Online F.A.Q. section of the site. Below you will see a number of Frequently Asked Questions relating to data products and installation. Select an option from the contents menu to view f.a.q.'s in that section.

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PLEASE SELECT A F.A.Q. SECTION BELOW TO VIEW OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

- Copper
- Fibre
- Miscellaneous
.

1. What is underground telephone or data cable?

Underground phone or data cable has a higher level of physical protection. It usually consists of a thicker nylon skin that allows the cable to be termite proof and crush resistant. You’ll find a lot of underground cables have a form of clear gel injected in between the pairs. This gel also increases the protection of the internal copper pairs whilst at the same time reduces interference between the copper pairs and from external sources near the cable.

2. What is the difference between 0.4 and 0.64 telephone cable?

0.4mm and 0.64mm cable means the thickness of the copper strands making up the pairs. The thicker 0.64mm cable allow the cable to be used over longer distances than 0.4mm.

3. What is UTP and STP?

UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair. It is a cable type with pairs of twisted insulated copper conductors contained in a single sheath. UTP cables are the most common type of cabling used in desktop communications applications.
STP stands for shielded twisted pair.

4. What is the difference between Cat5e and Cat6 cable?

Cat6 Cable contains a separator that runs in between the twisted pairs. This separator isolates each of the four pairs of twisted wire from the others, which reduces crosstalk, allows for faster data transfer, and gives Category 6 cable twice the bandwidth of Cat 5e Cat 6 cable is ideal for supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and is able to operate at up to 250 MHz. Since technology and standards are constantly evolving, Cat 6 is the wisest choice of cable when taking any possible future updates to your network into consideration. Not only is Category 6 cable future-safe, it is also backward-compatible with any previously-existing Cat 5 and Cat 5e cabling found in older installations

5. What is the difference between solid and stranded cable?

Stranded cable has several small gauge wires in each separate insulation sleeve. Stranded cable is more flexible, making it more suitable for shorter distances, such as patch cords.
Solid has one larger gauge wire in each sleeve. Solid cable has better electrical performance than stranded cable and is traditionally used for inside walls and through ceilings - any type of longer run of cable.

6. What is an RJ45 Jack?

The RJ45 jack is an 8-conductor, compact, modular jack used to terminate UTP data cable. RJ45 jacks are engineered to maintain specific Category 5, 5e, 6, or 6A performance, and therefore must match the category of the cable they are terminating.

7. What is a Patch Panel?

A Patch Panel is a series of RJ45 jacks condensed onto a single panel. Common panel configurations include 12, 24, 48, and 72 ports.

8. What is a Patch Lead or Patch Cord?

A Patch Cable / Lead is a cable assembly that consists of a length of UTP cable with an RJ45 male connector crimped onto each end. This cable assembly is used to provide connectivity between any two RJ45 jacks. The two most common uses for patch cables are for connecting patch panel ports to other patch panel ports or to switch ports, and for connecting the work area outlet (jack) to the computer or other networked device.

9. What is a BMF?

Back Mount Frame

10. What is an MDF?

Main Distribution Frame. An MDF is the test point for Telstra’s phone cable coming off the street onto a site or campus.

11. What’s the difference between 11 way and 27 way frames?

11 way frames have space for 11 disconnect modules to be mounted. 27 way frames have space for 27 disconnect modules.

12. What’s FDP stand for?

Final Distribution point.

1. What is ‘Fibre Optics’?

Fibre optics is the transfer of light guided by thin strands of glass or plastic. This lights carries data packets at mind blowing speeds and is a more efficient form of transfer than current copper networks.

2. What are SC, ST, LC and FC?

These are different connectors or connections you will come across when dealing with fibre networks.

3. What is an Opticam termination?

To view an Panduit Opticam Termination click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEls2xNbttE

4. What is Loose tube Fibre?

Loosetube fibre is a heavily protected (usually gel filled) fibre cable, surrounded by a nylon sheath. It is used where external or exposed lengths of fibre are required.

5. What is a Media Converter?

Media Converters funnily enough convert fibre signals. This allows an installer to input fibre onto a copper (or copper onto fibre) network and also allows switching between singlemode and multimode fibre transmissions.

1. What is a Cable Manager?

Cable managers are an accessory installers use to safely and securely manage excess cable within a data application. Cable managers also visually ‘neaten’ cable installations.

2. What is VOIP?

VOIP (Voice over internet protocol) is the transmission of voice over an internet service provider’s network rather than a dedicated telephone exchange eg. Telstra.

3. What’s a Data Cabinet?

A data rack is an enclosure designed to be the central point of that “section” or “levels” networking hardware. You are able to manipulate and administer the comings and goings of all voice and data to the designated area from that central point. It also improves the safety, security and longevity of your data gear.

4. What’s a Wall Frame?

A wall frame is a smaller and more basic version of a wall cabinet (Except without a door or top and bottom panels.) It is quite small and is usually made up of 2-6ru’s (rack units). Wall frames are used in smaller applications where an end user does not need the size of a wall cabinet to accommodate their data gear.

5. What’s an RU?

Rack Unit. A universal measurement for the height of data racks.

6. What’s a PDU or Power Rail?

A power rail is a rack mounted outlet of the power being used within a rack.

7. What basics do I need to know to sell/buy data cabinets?

- Height: How many RU is it?
- Depth: How deep is it. The average is 600mm
- Width: Is it 19inch or 26inch wide?
- Is it complete (with doors, side panels etc.) or just a frame?

8. What is a UPS?

Uninterruptible power supply. A UPS is a form of backup power you can use to keep constant power to a data cabinet. It has batteries that will keep power running if you lose mains power. UPS' can also include line filters and power filters.