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Practical Activity 1: Making Ethernet Cables(Straight cable)

1. What is an Ethernet cable?(2m)

2. Limitations of Ethernet Cables?(4m)

3. What are twisted pair cable used for? (2m)

4. In the process of making the Ethernet cable why was it important to make sure the length of
the cable is stripped have to be same size as the RJ 45 connector?

5. What is crosstalk? (1m)

6. Explain how does the cancellation effect of a twisted pair cable works? (6m)

7. What do you need to create a straight LAN cable?(5m)

8. List the 8 colours of the wire for straight cable?(4m)

9. What are the difference between a crossover cable and straight cable?(2m)
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A single Ethernet cable, like an electric power cord, has a limited maximum distance capacity, meaning
they have an upper limit to how long they can be before signal loss (called attenuation) happens. This is
due to their electrical transmission characteristics and is directly affected by interference around the
cable.

Both ends of the cable should be close enough to each other to receive signals quickly, but far enough
away from electrical interferences to avoid interruptions. However, this alone doesn't limit the size of a
network because hardware like routers or hubs can be used to join multiple Ethernet cables together
within the same network. This distance between two devices is called the network diameter.

The maximum length of a single CAT5 cable, before attenuation occurs, is 324 feet. CAT6 can go up to
around 700 feet. Keep in mind that Ethernet cables can be longer but they might suffer from signal loss,
especially if there are other electrical appliances that the cable passes by.

Twisted-pair cable is a type of cabling that is used for telephone communications and most modern
Ethernet networks. A pair of wires forms a circuit that can transmit data. The pairs are twisted to provide
protection against crosstalk, the noise generated by adjacent pairs. When electrical current flows
through a wire, it creates a small, circular magnetic field around the wire. When two wires in an
electrical circuit are placed close together, their magnetic fields are the exact opposite of each other.
Thus, the two magnetic fields cancel each other out. They also cancel out any outside magnetic fields.
Twisting the wires can enhance this cancellation effect
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