Skip to main content

History of Data Communication cables

The by-products of the advancing technology have certainly created a lot of confusion among the consumers. If we consider the networking cables, the types of network cables employed in any network infrastructure are one of the most important aspects of networking, and it has become increasingly critical with the introduction of newer technologies.
If we go through the history of the data communication cables, you will find the roots from where it all started.

History

We tend to think of digital communication as a new idea, if we go back in time, like in 1844, Samuel Morse sent a message 37 miles from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, using his new invention, the telegraph. This may seem a far cry from today's computer networks, but the principles remain the same.
Morse code is a type of binary system that uses dots and dashes in different sequences to represent letters and numbers. Modern data networks use ones and zeros to achieve the same result. The big difference is, while the telegraph operators of the mid-19th century could perhaps transmit four or five dots and dashes per second, computers now communicate at speeds of up to 10 Gbps or, to put it another way, 10,000,000,000 separate ones and zeros every second.
Although the telegraph and the teletypewriter were the forerunners of data communications, it has only been in the last 35 years that things have really started to speed up. This was borne out of the necessity for computers to communicate at ever-increasing speeds, which has driven the development of faster and faster networking equipment. In the process, higher-specification cables and connecting hardware were required.

Let us shed some light on the most popular data communication cable:

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)

UTP cable is used not only for networking but also for the traditional telephone (UTP-CAT1). There are six different types of UTP categories and, depending on what you want to achieve, you would need the appropriate type of network cable. UTP-CAT5e is the most popular UTP cable; it replaced the old coaxial cable that was unable to keep up with the constantly growing need for faster and more reliable networks.

Characteristics of UTP categories

The characteristics of UTP are very good and make it easy to work with, install, expand and troubleshoot.
So, let's have a quick look at each of the UTP categories available today:
These categories specify the type of copper wire -- most telephone and network wire is copper and jacks.
CAT1 is typically used for telephone wire. This type of wire is not capable of supporting computer network traffic and is not twisted. CAT1 is also used by telco companies providing Integrated Services Digital Network and public switched telephone network services. In such cases, the wiring between the customer's site and the telco's network is performed using CAT1-type cable.
CAT2CAT3CAT4CAT5/5eCAT6, and CAT7 are network wire specifications. These types of wires can support computer network and telephone traffic. CAT2 is used mostly for token ring networks and supports speeds up to 4 Mbps. For higher network speeds,100 Mbps or higher, CAT5e must be used. For the almost-extinct 10 Mbps speed requirements, CAT3 will suffice.
CAT3CAT4 and CAT5 cables are four pairs of twisted copper wires; CAT5 has more twists per inch than CAT3. Therefore, CAT5 can run at higher speeds and greater lengths. The twist effect of each pair of the cables ensures any interference presented or picked up on one cable is canceled by the cable's partner that twists around the initial cable. CAT3 and CAT4 are both used for token ring networks, where CAT3 can provide support of a maximum 10 Mbps, while CAT4 pushed the limit up to 16 Mbps. Both categories have a limit of 100 meters.
CAT6 wire was originally designed to support Gigabit Ethernet, although there are standards that will allow gigabit transmission over the CAT5e wire. It is similar to the CAT5e wire but contains a physical separator between the four pairs to further reduce electromagnetic interference. CAT6 is able to support speeds of 1 Gbps for lengths of up to 100 meters, and 10 Gbps is also supported for lengths of up to 55 meters.
CAT7 is a newer copper cable specification designed to support speeds of 10 Gbps at lengths of up to 100 meters. To achieve this, the cable features four individually shielded pairs, plus an additional cable shield to protect the signals from crosstalk and electromagnetic interference.

Briefly, we visited the major data communication cables in use. Do go through Lapp, one of the leading cable manufacturers in India, to get the right cable for your application. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Life Expectancy of your Control Cable India and what should you expect?

With the talk of life expectancy being the need of the hour, I want to start this blog with a quote from the American author and computer scientist, Ray Kurzweil: “ Life expectancy is a statistical phenomenon. You could still be hit by the proverbial bus tomorrow .” One of the important question to ponder, when constructing new builds or considering refurbishment is: What is the life expectancy of the control cables in use? To be frank, there are no minimum requirements for an expected lifetime in cable standards and specifications. And the majority of high-quality cable manufacturers always deliver the probably expected lifespan. Under ideal circumstances which means considerably reduced heating and lower loadings, we can find the examples of cables that have remained in safe use for over 50 years. The parameters influencing the life expectancy of the control cable India ·           The changes in the polymer...

Oil Resistant Cables: Know How Important They Are!

Demands of the industrial environment are ongoing, with ever-changing trends. Cables that were able to sustain functional and operational integrity a decade ago would not be adequate to survive in the environment of a present day manufacturing site. Everywhere, from the renewable energy industry and automotive assembly plants to the factories that manufacture small office machines, and even in some commercial buildings, oil resistant cables have become increasingly important. Oils serve a dual-purpose in industrial applications, both as a coolant and lubricant, depending upon the requirements mandated by the end use application. Sustaining trouble-free cable operation under harsh chemical and environmental conditions reduces costly manufacturing downtime and helps to eliminate or minimize periodic maintenance and costly cable replacement. All of the factors mentioned play a major role that is critical to a consistent, smoothly run manufacturing operation, which in the end res...
The industrial robots till now were performing complex and repetitive factory processes, but the digitization and technological advancements have increased their applications across various sectors.   Cable manufacturing in India  is entering the era of integration and convergence that will aim at reducing costs with increased safety. Robots of the future will be seen working alongside humans in most Industrial sectors with increased responsibilities. They will be pivotal in implementing Industrial 4.0 by combining technologies that will allow robots to use big data and analytics, make decisions and function autonomously. Industry 4.0 or the industrial internet of things (IIOT) refers to the era where the industrial manufacturing processes equipment, devices, and computers are networked. Today, the use of automation and robots have come a long way and play an integral role in re-shaping and re-defining  Industry 4.0. But, it is not just the robots that ...