AWG = American Wire Gauge, for rating the 'size' of a wire, the smaller the number, the larger the size.

BNC = A twist-lock connector used in coaxial cable networks.

Coaxial Cable = A cable with one inner conductor, and an outer shield insulated from one another by a dielectric foam, used mostly in CATV, and 10Base2 Ethernet

Connecting Block = A Plastic block containing metal clips for connecting wire runs in a distribution closet.

CMS = Cable Management System, refers to the products used to neaten-up a cable plant.

Concentrator = Basically a high-density hub, usually designed to allow for future expansion.

Cross-Over Cable = Usually referring to Ethernet. A cable that crosses the transmit and receive pins appropriately so that two devices can communicate directly without the use of a hub, or similar intermediate device.

CSMA/CD = Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detect. Before a device sends a packet it checks to see if another device is already transmitting. If the line is clear it will send it's packet. If two devices start sending at the same time a 'collision' is caused, the devices can detect this collision, and will each wait a random amount of time before re-trying. This is the access method used by Ethernet.

DEMARC = Demarcation point, identifies the division of a loop or circuit responsibility, where the telco's responsibility ends, and the subscribers begins.

F Connector = Connector type used in cable-tv connections. Can be threaded or push-on type.

FOIRL = Fiber Optic Inter-Repeater Link.

Full-Duplex = Data can travel in both directions at the same time, using 100% of available bandwidth.

Half-Duplex = Data travels in one direction, or the other, using 100% of available bandwidth.

Hub = Usually referring to Ethernet. Multiple cables from PC's, servers, etc are all plugged into the hub, which retransmits signals from one device to all other devices on the hub. If more ports are needed than are present on your hub, multiple hubs can be cascaded together, through the use of a cross-over cable, a special port designated on the hub, usually as 'MDI', or with a 'cascading' cable and port.

Horizontal Cable = The portion of a cable system that extends from the wall jack to the device (phone or PC typically). Also refers to the cable used to connect a hub or PBX to a patch panel.

HVAC = Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning systems.

IDC = Insulation Displacement Connector. This is the connector type found in most network termination equipment. An IDC works by removing the insulation on a wire as the connection is made, usually by either piercing the insulation, as is the case with RJ jacks, or by using a special tool to force the individual wire between two closely placed 'blades' of a connector, where the insulation is removed as the wire is forced between the blades. This type of connector speeds termination of wire, and allows for a simple, reliable connection.

ISDN = Integrated Services Digital Network. ISDN lines typically contain two 'B' channels, and one 'D' channel:

B Channel = Bearer Channel, 64Kbs in the US, this is the channel that carries the user data.
D Channel = Data Channel, 16Kbs, this is the channel that carries signaling information, used by the ISDN network to connect or disconnect 'B' channels.

MAC Address = A unique Hex number assigned to a device to identify it on the network. Like a serial number. MAC addresses are 6 bytes long, the first three bytes are unique to each manufacturer, the last three are a sequential number.

Multi-Mode (MM) = Refers to fiber-optic cable. Common size is 62.5/125. This means the core (or actual fiber) is 62.5 microns, the cladding is 125 microns. Multi-Mode fiber is used in most typical LAN applications, and is limited to a distance of 2Km. As it's name implies multi-mode can carry multiple 'conversations' based on different light input attenuations.

MUX - MultipleXer = A MUX takes multiple low-bandwidth channels, and combines them into one channel to be carried over a single high-bandwidth carrier. At the opposite end of the circuit another MUX/DEMUX converts the high-bandwidth signal back into it's multiple low-bandwidth channels.

NIC = Network Interface Card. Any ethernet, arc-net, or token ring card.

Node = Refers to a device on a network, other than a hub. i.e.: PC, router, bridge, sniffer, printer.

Patch Cable = A short length of network cable used to connect two devices together.

Patch Panel = A device where data cables are terminated. Patch panels allow wiring to be easily reconfigured based on need. Patch panels are more for convenience and are not needed in order to make a successful data network.

Plenum = An air-return area in a HVAC system. Plenum is NOT a type of cable coating, but rather a rating of cable for use in a 'plenum' area. Some plenum grade cable is PVC jacketed.

POTS = Plain Old Telephone Service (really). A regular residential analog phone.

PVC = A common cable jacket material.

Raised Floor = Usually found in computer rooms. Floor panels are set on risers usually 10"-12" above the actual floor, used to route cables under equipment, and provide a plenum for air conditioning.

RJ-11 = Registered Jack 11, a standard phone jack.

RJ-45 = Registered Jack 45, refers to a type of jack, similar to a phone jack, only wider.

Riser = A vertical shaft or conduit used to route cables between floors.

Router = A device that is used to connect two distant LAN's via a WAN.

SC = A type of fiber connector. Terminates one pair of fiber into one jack. Looks like two squares side-by-side. SC connectors make a 'click' when they are seated, thus SC is often remembered as Stick and Click.

Single-Mode (SM) = Refers to fiber-optic cable. Common core is 5-10 microns. SM fiber has a much longer working distance, but because of its small core size requires the use of a more precise transmitter light source, i.e.: laser. SM is used in most WAN applications, such as Telco distribution. Because of it's small core size, single-mode fiber can carry only one conversation.

Simplex = Data travels in one direction only.

ST = Type of fiber connector. Terminates each fiber individually. Looks like a mini BNC connector. ST is often remembered as Stick and Twist.

Stackable = Refers to Ethernet hubs that can be connected together, usually only with similar brands/models, so that the number of ports is increased, without adding additional hops.

Switch = Allows for a large network to maintain an effective data throughput by segmenting it into multiple parts, then passing traffic only to the segment that contains the destination host, thus eliminating traffic on the other segments.

TDR = Time Domain Reflectometer (used to measure cable length based on reflection time of a generated signal)

Tone Generator and Inductive Amplifier = The tone is connected to one end of a cable, and places a (typical) 2 kHz audio tone on the cable. The inductive amplifier can detect this signal without having to cut or damage the cable being tested. The inductive amplifier usually has a range of about 1"-4" from the cable. Typically used to identify or trace cables.

win-Ax = Twinaxial Cable. Similar to coax, but with two internal conductors, surrounded by a common shield.

USB = Universal Serial Bus. An emerging standard for (mainly) PC serial communications. Runs at 12Mbs, supports up to 127 devices via a daisy-chain method, supports hot connections.

Wiremap tester = Checks cables for wiring errors, such as: open or short circuits, reversed pairs, crossed pairs, etc. Wiremap testers may be complex digital devices, or simple analog continuity sensing devices.

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