Directory of Terms
A comprehensive glossary of cable, networking, and structured cabling terminology to help contractors, engineers, and integrators specify the right products for every project.
AWG
American Wire Gauge — a standardized wire gauge system used in North America to measure the diameter of electrical conductors. A lower AWG number indicates a thicker wire with less resistance.
Backbone Cable
The portion of the structured cabling system that provides interconnections between telecommunications rooms, equipment rooms, and entrance facilities. Backbone cabling includes the transmission media, main and intermediate cross-connects, and terminations.
Bandwidth
The range of frequencies that a cable or system can transmit. Higher bandwidth allows for faster data transmission rates. Measured in Hertz (Hz) or megahertz (MHz).
CAT5e
Category 5 Enhanced — a twisted pair cable standard that supports 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet (Gigabit Ethernet) at frequencies up to 100 MHz. Suitable for most commercial and residential network installations.
CAT6
Category 6 — a twisted pair cable standard supporting 10/100/1000 Mbps and 10 Gigabit Ethernet at frequencies up to 550 MHz over shorter distances. Features tighter twists and a spline separator for improved crosstalk performance.
CAT6A
Category 6 Augmented — an enhanced version of CAT6 supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet at frequencies up to 500 MHz over the full 100-metre channel. Available in both UTP and STP configurations.
CMR
Communications Multipurpose Cable, Riser — a cable rating for cables installed in vertical runs between floors in a building. CMR-rated cables are designed to prevent the spread of fire from floor to floor.
CMP
Communications Multipurpose Cable, Plenum — a cable rating for cables installed in air-handling spaces (plenums). CMP-rated cables have low smoke and flame spread characteristics and are required by code in plenum spaces.
CMX
Communications Multipurpose Cable, General Purpose — the lowest fire rating for communications cable, suitable for general purpose use in residential applications.
Coaxial Cable
A type of electrical cable consisting of an inner conductor surrounded by a concentric conducting shield, separated by a dielectric insulator. Commonly used for cable television (RG6) and broadband internet connections.
Crosstalk
Electromagnetic interference from one cable pair to another. NEXT (Near-End Crosstalk) and FEXT (Far-End Crosstalk) are key performance parameters measured in structured cabling systems.
dB (Decibel)
A logarithmic unit used to express the ratio of two values, commonly used to measure signal attenuation, return loss, and crosstalk in cable systems.
Direct Burial Cable
Cable specifically designed and rated for installation directly in the ground without conduit. Features moisture-resistant jacketing and often gel-filled construction.
EMI
Electromagnetic Interference — disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit. Shielded cables (STP/FTP) are used to minimize EMI in sensitive environments.
Fiber Optic Cable
A cable that transmits data as pulses of light through glass or plastic fibers. Immune to electromagnetic interference and capable of transmitting data over much longer distances than copper cable. Available in singlemode (OS2) and multimode (OM1–OM5) variants.
FPLR
Fire Power Limited Riser — a fire alarm cable rating for cables installed in vertical runs between floors. FPLR cables are designed to resist fire spread through floor penetrations.
FPLP
Fire Power Limited Plenum — the highest fire rating for fire alarm cables, required for installation in air-handling spaces (plenums). Features low smoke and flame spread characteristics.
FT4
A Canadian Standards Association (CSA) flame test rating for cables. FT4-rated cables pass the CSA vertical flame test and are suitable for use in Canada as a riser cable equivalent.
FT6
A Canadian Standards Association (CSA) flame test rating equivalent to the UL plenum (CMP) rating. FT6-rated cables are suitable for installation in air-handling spaces in Canada.
Gauge
A measurement of wire diameter. In the AWG system, the most common gauges for structured cabling are 22 AWG (telephone), 24 AWG (data), and 23 AWG (CAT6/6A).
Horizontal Cable
The portion of the structured cabling system that extends from the telecommunications outlet/connector to the horizontal cross-connect in the telecommunications room. Maximum length is 90 metres per TIA-568 standards.
IDC (Insulation Displacement Connector)
A type of electrical connector designed to be pressed onto an insulated wire, displacing the insulation to make contact with the conductor without stripping. Used in keystone jacks and patch panels.
Insertion Loss
Also called attenuation — the reduction in signal strength as it travels through a cable. Measured in decibels (dB). Lower insertion loss indicates better cable performance.
J-Hook
A cable support device shaped like the letter 'J' used to support horizontal cable runs from the ceiling structure. Available in wall mount, ceiling mount, and multi-function batwing styles.
Keystone Jack
A modular connector used in structured cabling systems that snaps into a keystone-compatible faceplate, wall plate, or patch panel. Available in CAT5e, CAT6, and CAT6A configurations.
LAN (Local Area Network)
A network that connects computers and devices within a limited geographic area such as a home, office, or building. Typically implemented using structured cabling and Ethernet technology.
Multimode Fiber
Optical fiber with a larger core diameter (50 or 62.5 microns) that allows multiple light modes to propagate. Suitable for shorter distance applications (up to 550 metres for OM4 at 10 Gbps). Common types include OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5.
NMD90
Non-Metallic Dry 90°C — a type of building wire used in residential and light commercial wiring in Canada. Consists of two or more insulated conductors and a bare ground wire enclosed in a thermoplastic jacket.
OS2
Optical Singlemode 2 — a singlemode fiber specification with a 9-micron core diameter, suitable for long-distance transmission up to 10 km and beyond. Used in campus and wide-area network applications.
Patch Cord
A short length of cable with connectors on both ends used to connect network equipment to patch panels or wall outlets. Available in CAT5e, CAT6, and CAT6A configurations in various lengths and colours.
Patch Panel
A mounted hardware assembly containing ports used to connect and manage incoming and outgoing network cables. Allows for flexible cable management and easy moves, adds, and changes in a telecommunications room.
Permanent Link
The installed cabling infrastructure from the telecommunications outlet to the patch panel port, excluding patch cords. The permanent link is tested separately from the channel to verify installation quality.
Plenum
An air-handling space in a building, typically the space above a dropped ceiling or below a raised floor used for air circulation. Cables installed in plenum spaces must be plenum-rated (CMP/FT6) to meet fire code requirements.
RG6
Radio Guide 6 — a common type of coaxial cable used for cable television, satellite, and broadband internet connections. Features a 75-ohm impedance and dual or quad shielding for improved signal quality.
Riser
A vertical cable run between floors in a building. Cables installed in riser applications must be riser-rated (CMR/FT4) or higher to meet fire code requirements.
Shielded Cable (STP/FTP)
Cable with a metallic shield surrounding the conductors to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) has individual pair shields, while FTP (Foiled Twisted Pair) has an overall foil shield.
Singlemode Fiber
Optical fiber with a small core diameter (9 microns) that allows only a single mode of light to propagate. Capable of transmitting data over very long distances (up to 40 km and beyond) with minimal signal loss.
Structured Cabling
A standardized approach to telecommunications cabling infrastructure that provides a comprehensive system for voice, data, video, and security applications. Governed by TIA-568 and ISO/IEC 11801 standards.
T568A / T568B
Two wiring standards for terminating twisted pair cables to RJ45 connectors and keystone jacks. T568B is the most common standard in North America. Both standards must be used consistently throughout an installation.
TECK Cable
Thermoplastic Elastomer Copper — an armoured cable used in industrial, commercial, and institutional applications in Canada. Features a corrugated aluminum armour jacket for mechanical protection.
TIA-568
Telecommunications Industry Association standard 568 — the primary standard governing structured cabling systems in North America. Specifies cable categories, connector types, channel performance, and installation practices.
UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
The most common type of twisted pair cable, consisting of pairs of conductors twisted together without any metallic shielding. Cost-effective and easy to install for most commercial and residential applications.
VDSL
Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line — a DSL technology providing faster data transmission over copper telephone lines. Requires high-quality cable infrastructure to achieve rated speeds.
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