Types of Cabling in a Structured Cabling Environment

If you are considering a structured cabling environment, or perhaps already use a variety of different types of cabling, this article will explore the most common types of cabling used in a structured cabling environment.

Fiber Optic Cabling

Fiber optic cabling has been around for a long time but has recently become more popular due to its ability to transmit data faster than other types of cabling.

Since fiber optic cables use no metal wires or connectors, they are well suited for both indoor and outdoor environments. Fiber optic cabling is also generally more expensive than other types of cabling, but the enhanced performance makes up for the added cost.

Advantages of fiber optic cabling:

• Faster data transfer rates
• Greater bandwidth capacity
• Less susceptible to interference than other types of wiring
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor environments

Disadvantages of fiber optic cabling:

• More expensive than other types of wiring
• More difficult to install than other types of wiring
• Infrastructure hardware upgrades may be required

Twisted Pair Cabling

In most Ethernet networks, twisted pair cabling is used. The insulation or outer sheath of the cabling consists of four pairs of thin metal wires or conductors. Each pair is twisted into several additional twists. These twists help prevent signal interference from other devices and, more importantly, from neighboring cables.

Twisted pair cabling is a good choice for businesses that need to run cabling over long distances. Although twisted pair cabling is best suited for indoor environments, it is also often seen in certain outdoor applications.

Examples of commonly used twisted pair cables include Cat3, Cat5, and Cat6.

Advantages of twisted pair cabling:

• Good quality and low price
• Twisted pair cabling is a good choice for enterprises that need to lay cabling over long distances.
• Easy to install, use and maintain
• An industry standard used for decades in networking and computer applications

Disadvantages of twisted pair wiring:

• Cable length limitations limit the speed of data transmission
• More sensitive to interference from external sources such as power lines or fluorescent lights
• For structured cabling environments, more infrastructure hardware upgrades may be required than for fiber cabling. Installation is more challenging than for fiber cabling.
• Not so suitable for outdoor applications

Other Types of Cabling in a Structured Cabling Environment

There are various other types of cabling in a structured cabling environment. In addition to twisted pair and fiber optic cables, businesses often use coaxial cables or telephone lines.

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable, sometimes called "coax," is a type of cable in which an insulating layer surrounds an inner conductor and then a conductive shield. Many also include an insulating jacket. The electrical signal passes through the center conductor.

Coaxial cable can transmit data much faster than phone lines, so it may be a good choice if there is an application that requires higher speeds.

Advantages of coaxial cable:

• Has greater bandwidth capacity than other types of cabling
• Can be used in indoor and outdoor environments

Disadvantages of coaxial cable:

• More expensive than other types of wiring
• Less flexible and more challenging to use during installation than twisted pair or fiber optic cabling
• Infrastructure hardware upgrades may be required

Telephone line

In some cases, a business may need copper phone lines instead of coaxial or fiber optic cabling. This usually happens when a business only has a few devices that need to be connected to the network.

Many older alarm systems and credit card POS systems used copper phone lines to connect to landline backup circuits. However, these are rarely found in modern structured wiring environments.

Copper phone lines transmit data more slowly than coaxial cable or fiber-optic wiring, but they are more affordable and easier to work with during installation.

Advantages of telephone lines:

• Much cheaper than coaxial or fiber optic cabling
• Ideal for businesses that only need to connect a small number of devices
• Traditional telephone or fax systems require

Disadvantages of telephone lines:

• Data transmission rates are lower than other types of cabling, such as twisted pair and fiber optic cabling
• May require infrastructure hardware upgrades or unique interfaces
• Not suitable for outdoor applications due to potential corrosion
• Easy to steal

Choosing structured cabling solutions for your business

The type of cabling used in a structured cabling environment depends on the needs and size of the business.

A small office with a few employees who only need to use the Internet and send email is unlikely to require a structured cabling solution unless it is preparing for rapid growth and expansion.

Large businesses with hundreds of employees can greatly benefit from the flexibility, speed, and efficiency of a structured cabling environment.

But, no matter what the need, there are certain types of cabling that will suit.