Coaxial Cable vs Ethernet Cable
Feb 26, 2025
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For network engineers, coaxial cable and ethernet cable are likely the most familiar tools. There are many types of cables, such as straight-through cables, crossover cables, and coaxial cables. But do you know what these different types of cables look like? What are their specific use of coaxial cable and ethernet cable? In this article, Ruige (the author) will guide you through coaxial cable vs ethernet cable knowledge thoroughly. If you find this guide helpful, feel free to share it with others! Let's dive right in!
I. Foundational Knowledge
Before getting into the details of various types of cables, it's important to first understand some related foundational knowledge about cabling.
1.1 Standardization Organizations for Cabling
There are numerous cabling standards, and each country has its own. Here we'll introduce three common standards:
China's General Standard: GB 50311-2019
International General Standard: ISO/IEC
Most Popular U.S. Cabling Standard: ANSI/TIA/EIA
GB 50311-2019
As the name suggests, this standard was released in 2019. Previous versions include GB 50311-2016 and GB 50311-2011. GB 50311-2019 is currently the latest Chinese standard and is officially titled "Design Code for Integrated Cabling System Engineering."
As the name suggests, this standard was released in 2019. Previous versions include GB 50311-2016 and GB 50311-2011. GB 50311-2019 is currently the latest Chinese standard and is officially titled "Design Code for Integrated Cabling System Engineering."
ISO/IEC
ISO (International Organization for Standardization),
IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission),
ISO is widely recognized as the international standardization organization. IEC represents the International Electrotechnical Commission, which develops international electrical and electronic standards. Established in 1906, it consists of national committees from over 60 countries. Together, ISO and IEC develop, maintain, and promote standards across scientific and technological fields.
ANSI/TIA/EIA
ANSI (American National Standards Institute),
TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association),
EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance),
The EIA/TIA cabling standards address various aspects of residential, commercial, and telecommunications cabling practices. These include:
EIA/TIA 570: Residential/Light Commercial Cabling Standard
EIA/TIA 568A: Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard
EIA/TIA 569: Standards for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces in Commercial Buildings
EIA/TIA 606: Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure in Commercial Buildings
EIA/TIA 607: Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Commercial Building Telecommunications
Among these, EIA/TIA 568A, or the Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard, defines structured cabling systems for twisted-pair cables and pin assignments for 8-pin RJ45 connectors. It also specifies requirements for different "categories" of twisted-pair cables such as CAT cables-details we'll explore further below.
1.2 Understanding the "8-Pin" Component
Let's focus on the term "8-pin." This does not refer to a specific device but rather a component called 8P8C (8 positions, 8 conductors).
The 8P8C component is part of an RJ45 connector and represents the wiring configuration used for Ethernet cables. The RJ45 Ethernet connector is technically classified as an 8P8C connector. In an 8P8C connector, each plug contains eight positions spaced approximately one millimeter apart where individual wires can be inserted.
Various types of 8P8C connectors exist on the market today; among them, modern RJ45 Ethernet connectors are the most commonly used type.
It's important to clarify that while all RJ45 Ethernet connectors are a type of 8P8C connector, not all 8P8C connectors are RJ45 Ethernet connectors-a distinction that matters when discussing technical specifications.
1.3 Standards for Ethernet Cables
Two types of Ethernet cables are widely used in network transmission: straight-through cables and crossover cables.
Ethernet patch cables are designed with four pairs of wires; each pair consists of a solid-colored wire paired with a striped wire of the same color. For 10/100BASE-T Ethernet networks, only two pairs of wires (orange and green) are used; the remaining two pairs (brown and blue) can be utilized for other Ethernet applications or telephone connections.
Depending on connection requirements, either straight-through or crossover cables may be needed. To standardize wiring configurations, two standards-T568A and T568B-are used to create these two cable types:
Straight-through cables use the same wiring standard on both ends: either T568A or T568B.
Crossover cables use T568A on one end and T568B on the other end.
T568A
T568B
Comparing T568A and T568B Standards
The primary difference between these two standards lies in how wire pairs 2 and 3 are assigned specific colors.
Now that we've covered three key foundational topics about cabling, let's move forward with detailed introductions to various types of cables!
2. Coaxial Cable
2.1 What is a coaxial cable?
A coaxial cable is an electrical transmission line designed to transmit high-frequency radio frequency (RF) signals from one point to another with minimal signal loss. It is widely used in telephone lines, cable television, internet connections, cell phone signal boosters, and more. Coaxial cables were invented in 1880 by British engineer and mathematician Oliver Heaviside, and he patented the invention and its design that same year. In 1940, AT&T established the first transcontinental coaxial transmission system.
2.2 What does a coaxial cable look like?
The appearance of a coaxial cable may be familiar even if you're not in the networking industry-many people born in the '70s, '80s, or '90s may recognize it as the cable used for early home cable TV setups.
2.3 Structure of a coaxial cable
The structure of a coaxial cable
Coaxial cable product photo
The structure of a coaxial cable is illustrated in the diagram above. A typical coaxial cable consists of four main components:
Copper Conductor: The central conductor which carries data.
Insulator: A dielectric plastic insulator that maintains spacing between the central conductor and the shielding layer.
Braided Mesh: Made of copper, it shields the cable from electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Protective Plastic Layer: Protects the internal layers from damage.
What is electromagnetic interference (EMI)?
Electromagnetic interference refers to unwanted signals induced into a cable by external sources such as power lines or devices, or occasionally by adjacent Ethernet cables that do not adhere to ANSI/TIA-568 standards.
Electromagnetic interference refers to unwanted signals induced into a cable by external sources such as power lines or devices, or occasionally by adjacent Ethernet cables that do not adhere to ANSI/TIA-568 standards.
2.4 Types of coaxial cables
As depicted above, coaxial cables are broadly categorized into RG and LMR® types. The two most common impedance values are 50 Ω and 75 Ω.
RG-Type Coaxial Cable
RG stands for "Radio Guide," referring to the original military specifications for coaxial cables. The RG number denotes the cable's diameter; however, measurements may vary slightly-higher RG numbers typically mean thinner central conductors.
RG stands for "Radio Guide," referring to the original military specifications for coaxial cables. The RG number denotes the cable's diameter; however, measurements may vary slightly-higher RG numbers typically mean thinner central conductors.
LMR® Coaxial Cable
LMR® represents a new generation of RF coaxial cables offering greater flexibility, easier installation, and lower costs. These cables are commonly used as transmission lines for missiles, airplanes, satellites, and communication antennas. The LMR® number provides a rough estimate of the cable's thickness.
LMR® represents a new generation of RF coaxial cables offering greater flexibility, easier installation, and lower costs. These cables are commonly used as transmission lines for missiles, airplanes, satellites, and communication antennas. The LMR® number provides a rough estimate of the cable's thickness.
(Detailed models of these two types will not be discussed here; interested readers can explore further on their own.)
2.5 Advantages and disadvantages of coaxial cables
Advantages:
Affordable;
Easy to wire and install;
Simple to expand;
Good resistance to electromagnetic interference;
Capacity up to 10 Mbps;
Durable;
⭐ The electromagnetic field carrying the signal exists only in the space between inner and outer conductors, allowing installation near metal objects without power loss.
Disadvantages:
A single cable failure can disrupt an entire network;
Must be grounded to prevent any crosstalk;
Susceptible to tampering when improperly connected.
What is crosstalk?
Crosstalk occurs when signals are inductively coupled from one wire pair to another due to magnetic fields-physical contact between conductors is not required for this to occur. This undesired situation may cause data signal transmission over long stretches of cabling to slow down or completely fail. Twisting pairs of wires within Ethernet cables significantly reduces crosstalk and its negative impacts.
Crosstalk occurs when signals are inductively coupled from one wire pair to another due to magnetic fields-physical contact between conductors is not required for this to occur. This undesired situation may cause data signal transmission over long stretches of cabling to slow down or completely fail. Twisting pairs of wires within Ethernet cables significantly reduces crosstalk and its negative impacts.
2.6 Applications of coaxial cables
Television
Coaxial cables used for televisions are typically 75-ohm RG-6 types.
Coaxial cables used for televisions are typically 75-ohm RG-6 types.
RG-6 Coaxial Cable
HDTV
High-definition television (HDTV) uses RG-11 cables due to their higher specifications compared to other types, allowing greater bandwidth for signal transmission. This enables RG-11 cables to rapidly transmit strong HD signals.
High-definition television (HDTV) uses RG-11 cables due to their higher specifications compared to other types, allowing greater bandwidth for signal transmission. This enables RG-11 cables to rapidly transmit strong HD signals.
RG-11 Coaxial Cable
Internet
Coaxial cables can transmit internet connection signals; however, internet signal frequencies typically range higher into GHz compared to traditional analog video frequencies in MHz-usually requiring RG-6 cables.
Coaxial cables can transmit internet connection signals; however, internet signal frequencies typically range higher into GHz compared to traditional analog video frequencies in MHz-usually requiring RG-6 cables.
RG-6 Coaxial Cable
Video
Coaxial cables are also used for video transmission-RG-6 for better digital signals and RG-59 for lossless video signal transmission.
Coaxial cables are also used for video transmission-RG-6 for better digital signals and RG-59 for lossless video signal transmission.
RG-59 Coaxial Cable
3. Ethernet Cable
3.1 What is a Ethernet cable?
The Ethernet cable was first developed in 1881 by Alexander Graham Bell. It consists of two conductors, typically made of copper, each with an insulating layer. These two conductors are twisted together, giving the cable its name. See the diagram below for an illustration of a twisted pair Ethernet cable.
Since its invention, Ethernet cable have been widely used in telephone line networks in the United States. Today, various types of Ethernet cables are used worldwide, mainly for outdoor fixed lines carrying telephone voice services. Different standards for Ethernet cables are categorized into various categories such as Category 1 (Cat 1), Category 2 (Cat 2), Category 3 (Cat 3), Category 4 (Cat 4), Category 5/5e (Cat 5/5e), Category 6/6a (Cat 6/6a), Category 7/7a (Cat 7/7a), and Category 8/8.1/8.2 (Cat 8/8.1/8.2).
Ethernet cables are designed to reduce crosstalk between wire pairs within the cable and minimize signal interference from external sources or adjacent wire pairs.
3.2 Types of Ethernet Cables
Ethernet cables are divided into two types: Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) and Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP). Although their names differ by only one word, what exactly distinguishes shielded from unshielded twisted pair cables?
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
STP includes both an individual shield around each wire pair and an additional shield around all four wire pairs. This shielding reduces and isolates electromagnetic interference that occurs during signal transmission through the wires. See the diagram below for an illustration of STP.
However, if any part of the shielding is damaged or if the wires are not properly grounded on either end of the connection, the shielding may act as an antenna and introduce unwanted electromagnetic noise from stray radio waves or Wi-Fi signals in the air. Additionally, STP requires proper grounding on both ends to function effectively. STP cables must also be paired with RJ45 shielded connectors (8P8C) to ensure consistent shielding across the entire spectrum range of the cable.
Advantages of STP:
The aluminum foil outer layer helps reduce electromagnetic radiation.
Supports higher data rates and bandwidth compared to UTP.
Disadvantages of STP:
Higher cost compared to UTP.
More difficult to install than UTP.
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
UTP does not include any metallic shielding layers; instead, it has only an outer insulating rubber or plastic layer. See the diagram below for an illustration of UTP.
Advantages of UTP:
The lack of a shielding layer makes it thinner and saves space.
Easy installation and lightweight design.
High flexibility makes it suitable for structured cabling systems.
Low cost.
Disadvantages of UTP:
UTP links are less secure compared to STP links.
Effective only up to 100 meters; beyond this range, signal boosters or repeaters are required.
Limited bandwidth and data rates.
Applications of UTP and STP
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cabling is commonly used for high-efficiency information transmission as it provides better performance compared to Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP). It is often used in environments with high electromagnetic interference or strict performance requirements.
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cabling is more commonly used in most Local Area Networks (LANs) due to its cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and ease of installation and maintenance advantages. A twisted pair Ethernet cable consists of a certain length of twisted pair wires combined with RJ45 connectors at both ends.
3.3 Categories of Ethernet Cables
The categories and types of Ethernet cables differ. Please note that the following introduction to Ethernet cable categories applies specifically to shielded Ethernet cables. These standards specifically define the core data capacity, with higher-category cables being more expensive than lower-category ones. There are many categories of Ethernet cables, but they are also easy to remember:
Cat 1: 750 kHz bandwidth, supports only voice transmission and does not allow data transmission, primarily used for telephone lines prior to the 1980s.
Cat 2: 1 MHz bandwidth, supports voice and data transmission at speeds of up to 4 Mbps, primarily used in Token Ring networks.
Cat 3: Described in EIA/TIA-568 with a bandwidth of 16 MHz, supporting voice and data transmission at speeds of up to 10 Mbps. A typical application is 10BASE-T.
Cat 4: 20 MHz bandwidth, supports speeds of up to 16 Mbps, primarily used in Token Ring-based and 10/100BASE-T local area networks, though it is rarely utilized.
Cat 5/5e: Cat5 Ethernet cables are commonly used in structured cabling for computer networks. They can achieve speeds of up to 10/100 Mbps with a bandwidth of up to 100 MHz. However, they are now regarded as obsolete and have been replaced by Cat5e (enhanced). Cat5e cables are one of the most commonly used Ethernet cables today. The main difference between Cat5 and Cat5e is that Cat5e features reduced crosstalk and supports maximum transmission speeds of up to 1000 Mbps. Cat5/5e is widely used in local networks and video streaming applications.
Cat 6/6a: As a replacement for Cat5/5e, Cat6 Ethernet cables are used in gigabit Ethernet and other network physical layers. They support speeds of up to 10 Gbps at frequencies of up to 250 MHz. For 10GBASE-T applications, the maximum length of Cat6 cables decreases from its usual limit of 55 meters down to just 37 meters. However, Cat6a (augmented) has evolved to operate at frequencies as high as 500 MHz, allowing cable lengths up to 100 meters compared to Cat6.
Cat 7/7a: Cat7 is a Ethernet cabling standard designed for use in both 1000BASE-T and 10GBASE-T networks. It delivers performance at frequencies of up to 600 MHz over distances reaching up to 100 meters. As for Cat7a (augmented), its frequency is even higher at up to 1000 MHz. Studies indicate that it may support short-length connections for speeds as high as 40 GbE or even potentially reach up to 100 GbE.
Cat8/8.1/8.2: Cat8 is an American standard specified by ANSI/TIA, while Cat8.1 and Cat8.2 are global standards specified by ISO/IEC.
Cat8 Product Photo
The Cat8 Ethernet cables utilize an 8P8C connector, ensuring full backward compatibility with previous generations like Cat6 that also use RJ45 connectors.
Bandwidth Definition: Cat8 supports frequencies as high as 2000 MHz, which is four times greater than the maximum bandwidth supported by Cat6. The speed range for Cat8 spans from 2500 Mbps to as high as 40000 Mbps, whereas Cat6a can only reach up to 10000 Mbps at most.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Support: Cat8 Ethernet cables are PoE-capable, allowing compatible devices (such as PoE switches) to deliver power through a single cable connection using Cat8 wires. This PoE capability eliminates the need for additional power cords, providing a clean, organized, and efficiently managed structured cabling system.
3.4 What is a straight-through cable?
A straight-through cable is a type of CAT5 cable with RJ-45 connectors on both ends, and each cable has the same pinout configuration. It adheres to either the T568A or T568B standard, which uses consistent color coding across the LAN for standardization. This type of Ethernet cable is used in local area networks (LANs) to connect network devices like computers or routers. It is one of the most common types of network cables.
3.5 Differences Between Straight-Through Cables and Crossover Cables
A straight-through cable is a type of CAT5 cable with RJ45 connectors on both ends, and each cable has the same pinout configuration. A crossover cable, on the other hand, is a type of CAT5 cable where one end follows the T568A configuration and the other end follows the T568B configuration.
Straight-through cables are used to connect a router's LAN port to the uplink port of a switch or hub, whereas crossover cables are used to connect a router's LAN port to standard ports on switches or hubs.
Straight-through cables connect computers to the LAN port of a cable or DSL modem, while crossover cables link a router's LAN port to standard ports on switches or hubs.
When connecting two different types of devices, straight-through cables should be used. When connecting two devices of the same type, crossover cables should be used.
3.6 What is a rollover cable?
As the name suggests, in a rollover cable, the wiring sequence at both ends of the connector is reversed: pin 1 on connector A connects to pin 8 on connector B; pin 2 on connector A connects to pin 7 on connector B; and so on. For this reason, rollover cables are sometimes also referred to as "fully reversed cables."
Rollover cables are most commonly used for connecting to a device's console port to perform programming changes. Unlike crossover and straight-through cables, rollover cables do not transmit data but instead establish a command-line interface for device management.
3.7 What is RJ45?
In the preceding discussion, we mentioned RJ45 multiple times, and in our daily work, this term is also a commonly used one. So, what exactly is RJ45? RJ45 stands for Registered Jack, and it refers to a standardized connector. The connector designated as 45 (i.e., the RJ45 connector) is widely used around the world for both telephone and network connections. It employs cables with twisted pairs, commonly referred to as twisted pair cables. Thus, it is discussed here as part of twisted pair cables.
RJ45
RJ45 was introduced in the United States in the 1970s and was standardized shortly thereafter. For instance, there are other types of RJ-standard connectors, such as RJ11, RJ14, and RJ25, each differing in size and functionality. RJ45 connectors are physically larger than RJ11 connectors.
RJ45 Interface Color Codes
RJ45 is a highly modular 8P8C connector (8 positions, 8 contacts) because it supports various wiring configurations. It defines two wiring standards: T568a and T568b.
RJ45 Cable Types
Cat5, Cat6, and Cat7 cables are currently the most commonly used RJ45 cables in network connections. These three cable types have already been discussed earlier:
Cat5 and Cat5e:
Cat5 provides a rated line speed of 100 Mbit/s using two pairs of twisted wires with a maximum transmission distance of 100 meters. Later on, the Cat5e specification was introduced with stricter regulations and standards. The new standard also mandates that all four pairs of twisted wires be included in new cables.
Cat6 and Cat6a:
Backward compatible with Cat5e, Cat6 adheres to stricter standards and offers significantly improved shielding. Cat6 cables are designed for Gigabit Ethernet standards (1 Gbps) and provide native speeds up to 1000 Mbit/s at frequencies of 250 MHz. Cat6 cables support 10 Gigabit Ethernet but reduce the maximum cable length from 100 meters to 55 meters for optimal performance. Cat6a doubles the frequency to 500 MHz while further minimizing noise interference through enhanced grounding foil shielding. These improvements eliminate signal degradation over longer distances when operating in 10 Gigabit Ethernet environments.
Cat7:
Cat7 operates at frequencies up to 600 MHz and is engineered to support rated speeds for 10 Gigabit Ethernet. In addition to the shielding introduced by Cat6a, Cat7 provides individual shielding for each of its four pairs of twisted wires. The maximum cable distance for Cat7 remains at 100 meters while maintaining backward compatibility with Cat5 and Cat6 standards. Additionally, its increased frequency range (up to 1000 MHz) enables transmission of lower-frequency signals such as cable television streams.
Cat7a:
Cat7a extends the frequency range to 1000 MHz, offering enhanced specifications capable of supporting future speeds of 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet. This expanded frequency range also allows for more versatile applications like transmitting cable television streams alongside data signals seamlessly.
4. Optical Fibers
The cables introduced earlier are standard types, typically made of copper. These cables tend to be relatively expensive and face bottlenecks in speed. Optical fibers, which we will now discuss, effectively overcome these two limitations. For more details, keep reading.
4.1 What Are Optical Fibers?
Optical fibers are thin, flexible mediums that are slightly thicker than a human hair, used for transmitting light beams. In practical optical communication systems, to ensure long-term use under various conditions and environments, optical fibers need to be turned into optical cables. This is because optical fibers must be protected by multiple layers of covering prior to deployment. The resulting wrapped product is called an optical cable, with the optical fiber serving as its core component. Optical cables consist of optical fibers and additional protective elements.
The history of optical fibers is fascinating-they were initially introduced in the 1950s to support the medical field through endoscopic examinations. With this technology, doctors could view the interior of the human body without needing to make incisions or open it-a groundbreaking advancement at the time. By the 1960s, engineers realized that this same technology could be applied to transmit telephone signals at the speed of light (approximately 300,000 kilometers per second in a vacuum but reduced to two-thirds in practical conditions).
4.2 What Do Optical Fibers Look Like?
(Optical fibers are extremely thin, flexible strands made of glass or plastic.)
4.3 Structure of Optical Cables
Optical cables are similar in structure to coaxial cables but do not include mesh shielding. At their center lies a glass core responsible for light transmission.
The external protective structure shields the fiber from environmental influences. Optical cables include:
Optical Fiber: A very fine central tube made from optically transparent dielectric material that carries light emitters and receivers; core diameters range from 5µm to 100µm.
Buffer Layer: An external optical material surrounding the core with a lower refractive index than the core, ensuring that light remains confined within the core through total internal reflection.
Protective Layer: A plastic coating that protects the fiber; made from silicone rubber, resulting in a typical coated fiber diameter of 250-300µm.
4.4 Types of Optical Fibers
The types of optical fibers can be categorized based on different dimensions as follows:
By Material
Glass Fiber Optics: Made from fine glass; commonly used in high-speed data transmission applications.
Plastic Fiber Optics: Made from plastic.
By Mode
Single-Mode Fiber: Features a smaller core diameter (9µm) and allows only one mode of light propagation, reducing leakage and minimizing attenuation so signals can travel longer distances. Single-mode fibers are commonly used by telecommunications providers, cable TV operators, government agencies, large enterprises, and universities for distances exceeding several hundred meters.
Multi-Mode Fiber: Features larger core diameters (50µm or 62.5µm), allowing greater data throughput by enabling multiple signals to propagate simultaneously. However, due to higher dispersion and attenuation rates, signal quality degrades significantly over long distances.Multi-mode fibers are typically deployed for short-distance applications within data centers, local area networks (LANs), and similar networks. Like single-mode fibers and other communication fibers, subsets of multi-mode fibers exist based on construction/design (step-index or graded-index) and bandwidth rate requirements for specific distances (e.g., OM2, OM3, OM4).
By Refractive Index Distribution
Step-Index Fiber: Features a uniform refractive index along both the core and cladding.
Graded-Index Fiber: Features a non-uniform refractive index along both the core and cladding.
4.5 Working Principle of Optical Fibers
The working principle behind optical fibers is total internal reflection (TIR). Light naturally propagates in straight lines; however, unless we have an entirely straight line with no bends over long distances, leveraging this property would be impractical. Instead, optical cables are designed such that they bend all incoming light inward using TIR principles so that light continually propagates by bouncing off fiber walls while transmitting data end-to-end.
Although optical signals weaken over distance depending on material purity levels used in manufacturing, losses are significantly less compared to metallic cables. An optical fiber relay system consists of:
Transmitter: A device that generates and encodes light signals for transmission.
Optical Fiber: The medium that transmits light pulses (signals).
Optical Receiver: A device that receives transmitted light pulses (signals) and decodes them for use.
Regenerator: A component essential for long-distance data transmission.
4.6 Advantages of Optical Cables
Noise Resistance: Immune to electromagnetic interference and crosstalk; external light is the only potential interference but is blocked by external sheathing.
Low Signal Attenuation: Enables much longer transmission distances compared to other waveguide mediums.
Higher Bandwidth: Currently limited not by medium constraints but by signal generation/receiving technologies; offers greater bandwidth compared to other mediums for faster transmission rates.
High Security: Prevents signal radiation leakage-making signal interception extremely challenging and safeguarding against interference or eavesdropping.
No Electrical Issues: Does not require grounding loops or protections against short circuits since it uses light waves as carriers for data signals; safe even in flammable environments due to the absence of arcing while offering immunity against lightning/discharge events.
Fewer Repeaters Required: While repeaters are always needed during signal transmission for amplification purposes, fewer repeaters are required compared to copper mediums.
Physical Structure: Small size, lightweight design with high flexibility/strength; operates under high temperatures without risk of electrical shock when cut or damaged.
5. Conclusion
This article, spanning nearly 8,000 words, offers a highly detailed introduction to the most commonly used cables today: coaxial cable, Ethernet cable, and optical fiber-a total of three main types of cables. Among these, the section on Ethernet cables is especially detailed, as Ethernet cables are currently the most widely used. Key topics discussed include: the types and classifications of Ethernet cables, what a straight-through cable is, how straight-through and crossover cables differ, what a rollover cable is, and an explanation of RJ45.
