In this lesson,
we're going to explore the different types
of copper network connections
used in our enterprise networks.
Whether a cable is used for telephones, video, or data,
it needs to be terminated
with the appropriate connector
to use it for your desired application.
Each application, we use a different type of connector,
even though some of them can be used
with the exact same type of copper cable or wiring.
For example, if you run a Cat 5e cable in your home,
you can actually connect a telephone to it
using an RJ-11 connector,
or you can connect a desktop computer to it
if you're using an RJ-45 connector instead.
The cable itself didn't actually change,
just a small plastic connector on the end of it
to meet the needs of your specific application
and its wall jack size and format.
Now, most connectors are called something like RJ
and a number like RJ-11 or RJ-45,
or you may see some of your cables talked about
in terms of RG and a number, like RG-6 and RG-59.
Whenever you see something like RJ and a number,
this refers to a registered jack.
Now, a registered jack, often written as RJ-X
is a standardized telecommunication network interface
for connecting voice and data equipment to a service
provided by a local exchange carrier
or a long distance carrier.
The X inside the RJ-X is really just a placeholder
for the specific standard number you're talking about,
like RJ-11 or RJ-45.
Each RJ number denotes a different physical connector
and its wiring configuration,
and there are dozens of registered jacks
for various purposes.
But as a network technician,
you really just need to focus on RJ-11 and RJ-45
because they're going to be used with a twisted pair of cables
for voice and data networks.
Now, another classification you're going to see
is something known as the RG-X series of designations.
The RG stands for radio guide
and the RG-X works just like an RJ number
or registered jack standard.
The RG though, is going to be used with coaxial cables
for various applications like
high speed internet connections, television connections,
and radio communications.
While there are numerous RG standards
used for various purposes,
as a network technician,
you're likely going to be working with just
two of them most of the time,
and these are RG-6 and RG-59
because they're used for cable television connections
and high speed internet service connections respectively.
So now that you understand a little bit
about the registered jack and radio guide standards,
let's explore some of the most common
copper cable network connection types
that you're going to come across
when working as a network technician,
including RJ-11, RJ-45, F-type and BNC connectors.
First, let's take a look at the RJ-11 connector.
The RJ-11 connector is the standard for telephone wiring
and it's commonly used to connect
telephone equipment to a wall jack.
The RJ-11 connector has a six-position,
two-conductor configuration, known as a 6P2C connector.
This configuration means that the cable's connector
can support up to six slots for pins,
but we typically will only use two of these slots
for a telephone connection.
RJ-11 connectors are considered to be smaller in size,
which does make them ideal for telephone applications.
Unfortunately, RJ-11 connectors are not considered
to be suitable for high speed data transmission, though,
because they only use a limited number
of the inner cables from a twisted pair of cable.
If we want to achieve higher levels of data transfer, though,
we're going to need to move up to the next connector.
The second one we have
is what's known as an RJ-45 connector.
The RJ-45 connector is considered to be a large connector,
and it's the standard for data networks
that utilize copper cables to create your ethernet network.
The RJ-45 connector has an eight-position,
eight-conductor configuration,
which we call an 8P8C connector.
Now, an RJ-45 connector is going to be widely used
in networking to connect computers, switches
and routers together inside of a local area network.
With its eight pin configuration,
RJ-45 connectors can support the high speed data transfer
required in our modern wired ethernet networks.
RJ-45 connectors are used with Cat 5, Cat 5e,
Cat 6, Cat 6a, Cat 7, and Cat 8 cables.
And as the Cat number increases,
the cable and its associated connector
become capable of reaching higher bandwidths
and higher speeds.
This makes RJ-45 connectors the defacto standard
used by most residential and enterprise networks
for their copper cabling and infrastructure needs.
Third, let's move into the F-type connector.
The F-type connector is a screw on connector
commonly used with both the RG-6 and RG-59 cable types.
The F-type connector is the standard for cable television
and satellite connection,
and it can be used for cable internet connections too.
RG-6 is the standard for coaxial cables
as predominantly used in residential
and commercial settings for television, satellite
and cable internet applications.
These coaxial cable types are equipped
with an F-type connector
and are characterized by a thicker gauge
and better shielding compared to their predecessors
like the RG-59.
The design of the RG-6 includes
a single copper conductor at its core,
surrounded by an insulating layer
and a metallic shield,
as well as an outer protective jacket.
The enhanced construction of the RG-6 cable
allows it to support higher bandwidth
and higher frequency applications,
and it makes it well suited
for digital television transmission
and high speed internet services
that are provided through cable modems.
The RG-6 cable is the modern standard
for these applications with a heavier gauge
and better shielding than the older RG-59,
and this allows it to support higher frequencies
over longer distances without signal loss.
Now, you may also find older coaxial cables
being used in your home or office building
that rely on that older RG-59 standard,
so let's talk about that one for a moment.
RG-59 cables use this older specification
that used to be very common for television
and radio signal transmission.
While most RG-59 cables have largely been replaced
by RG-6 cables in most of our applications,
because of those lower bandwidth
and lower frequency capabilities of the RG-59 cables,
you may still find some of those RG 59 cables used
in some of your closed circuit television or CCTV systems.
Since RG-59 only supports
lower bandwidth over shorter distances,
you should never use an RG-59 cable
for any of your high bandwidth
or high definition signal transmission applications.
The fourth one we have is known as a BNC connector.
Now, the BNC connector,
also known as the Bayonet Neill-Concealment connector,
is another type of coaxial connector that's characterized by
its secure bayonet locking mechanism.
The BNC connector is usually going to be used
with the same RG-6 or RG-59 coaxial cables
like you would with an F-type connector.
But instead of creating a screw on connector
like the F-type does,
it's going to provide a push and twist style connector
to lock the cable onto the connection's jack.
The BNC connector is going to feature two bayonet lugs
on the female connector.
They're going to be turned about a quarter turn
to fully mate the cable to the coupling nut on the jack
to create a secure connection.
The BNC connector and its associated RG-6 cabling
are going to use an outer conductor with slots
and some plastic dielectric on each connector
to ensure a good connection is maintained
between your two systems.
You're going to find BNC connectors
are used in professional video connections
such as those found in studios
or video surveillance systems,
as well as in some radio frequency applications too.
The BNC provides us with a quick
and secure connection for coaxial cables,
and they're praised for their reliability
in maintaining a stable connection,
which is critical when working in a professional setting.
Another thing about BNC that you should be aware of
is that many people will erroneously call it
the British Naval Connector
instead of the Bayonet Neill-Concealment connector.
Now, this is because these type of connectors
were first introduced back in the 1940s
to connect different pieces of military radio gear together,
especially on British Navy ships.
So people started calling them the British Naval Connectors
instead of the Bayonet Neill-Concealment connector,
which was named after the people who invented it.
Now, if you remember the term BNC, though,
you're going to be fine either way,
regardless of who you're talking to
about this specific cable connection type.
So remember, there are a few different types of connectors
that you should be aware of
when working as a network technician,
including the RJ-11, RJ-45, F-type, and BNC connectors.
RJ-11 connectors are used for connecting a telephone
to a voice-based communication network.
RJ-45 is going to be used to connect data devices,
including computers, network printers, switches, routers,
and even voiceover protocol devices to your data network.
F-type connectors are used for coaxial cables,
and they're usually found
when you connect your cable modem
to your service provider's coaxial cable service jack
in your home or office.
And a BNC connector is going to be used
to connect professional video devices together
using a simple push and twist connector
instead of relying on the screw type connector
like the F-type connector provides us with our cabling.