Network cable for the Internet: twisted pair and fiber optic. Which cable should I choose to connect the Internet in my apartment?

And although 2-pair cables are lighter, cheaper and more flexible than their counterparts, we recommend using only 4-pair cables. Firstly, they have high throughput. A 2-pair cable will provide you with a maximum speed of 100 Mbit/s. Secondly, even if your network equipment is not capable of transmitting speeds greater than 100 Mbps, you will receive a backup unused pair of wires in a 4-pair cable. It will come in handy if the main pair is damaged. Thirdly, this is a good foundation for the future. You don't have to re-run the cable when you want to get Internet at a speed of 1-10 Gbps.

Types of network cables for the Internet

The list of main types of network cables:

coaxial;
fiber optic;
twisted pair

The design of a coaxial wire includes a conductor with a dense insulating coating, a copper or aluminum braid, and an outer insulating layer. In addition to connecting to the network, Internet products are used to translate signals from antennas and television satellites to build high-speed digital networks (cable TV).

RJ 45 pinout – Twisted pair crimping: diagrams, connection methods

The configuration of the wire connectors is different:

The BNC connector is attached to the ends of the cable, providing connection to the T-connector and barrel connector.
BNC barrel connector is designed for connecting damaged elements or extending the wire to expand the range of the network or connect additional electrical equipment.
A BNC T-connector is a tee used to connect computer equipment to the main network line. The wire has 3 connectors (1 is intended for output to a centralized network, 2 connectors are necessary for connecting a local system).
The BNC terminator is designed to act as a ground plug, preventing the signal from propagating outside the local line. The connector is required for stable operation of network connections that occupy a large area.

To create local lines, a twisted pair network cable is used. The products include pairs of twisted copper conductors with an insulating layer. A standard wire consists of 4 (8 conductors) or 2 pairs (4 cores). According to standards, there should be no more than 100 m between devices connected by cable. The wire is available standard or with protection. To work with the cable, an 8P8C connector is used.

Before choosing a twisted pair Internet cable, you need to determine the subtype based on the characteristics of the outer layer (thickness, presence of reinforcement, composition). The UTP wire with a plastic outer layer is not protected and is produced without grounding. F/UTP, STP, S/FTP products are manufactured with shielding.

Twisted pair cable markings reflect categories based on the color of the insulating layer:

gray (used in the interior spaces of buildings);
black (used to designate products coated to protect against precipitation and electromagnetic radiation, used for outdoor structures);
the orange hue is used to indicate non-flammable polymer compounds.

Fiber optic cable is an improved wire for building network lines. The product consists of plastic fiberglass light guides with plastic protection. Cable products are characterized by high speed of information transfer and are resistant to line interference. The wire can connect systems over long distances. Products are divided into single-mode and multimode.

Fiber optics use different types of connectors (FJ, ST, MU, SC). The wires are inexpensive, look aesthetically pleasing, but require the purchase of additional equipment and are difficult to install. The products are used to form large-scale network systems and create access to the Internet at high speed.

Copper conductors in an Ethernet cable are produced:

whole;
twisted.

Solid conductors are strong, reliable, durable, but less flexible. The products are intended for stationary indoor systems or short installations on external structures. Stranded products consist of thin copper wires twisted together. The cables are durable, flexible, and are designed for placement in work spaces and in places where objects need to be moved.

How to set up an Internet connection via cable?

To set up direct access to the Internet on a computer, just insert a previously crimped LAN cable from your Internet provider with an RJ-45 plug into the Ethernet port of the PC. Then right-click on the “Start” icon and select “Network Connections” from the context menu.

Sources

https://kamin159.ru/kak-nazyvaetsia-kabel-kotoryi-idet-ot-routera-k-kompiuteru
https://Vpautinu.com/internet/kabel-internet
https://help-wifi.ru/tekh-podderzhka/setevoj-internet-kabel/
https://sovet-ingenera.com/elektrika/provodka/kabel-dlya-interneta.html
https://WiFiGid.ru/poleznoe-i-interesnoe/kabel-ot-routera-k-kompyuteru-nazvanie
https://cable911.ru/faq/14_kakie_est_vidy_i_kategorii_kabelya_vitaya_para/

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Types of twisted pair cable

What kind of twisted pair cable is needed to connect to the Internet? Twisted pair cables are divided into types:

monolithic;
stranded;
shielded;
unshielded.

Monolithic (one core) is used for laying in the walls of a building and installation to the terminal equipment of a communication line, for example, to an information socket on one side (apartment) of the communication channel equipment (provider). It is not intended for connecting network devices due to the impossibility of bending due to the single thick core.

Multi-core twisted pair cable is an ideal solution for connecting devices (computers, routers, TVs, switches, printers) and connecting them to an Ethernet socket. The small diameter of the cores allows you to bend and twist the cable as required when connecting devices in the apartment.

It is impossible to use stranded twisted pair wire in an information socket for two reasons:

The wires break easily when screwed into the connector.
Signal attenuation in multi-core twisted pair cables occurs at a distance of more than 100 meters.

There are several types of twisted pair cable shielding, which are clearly visible in the photo.

For laying cable in an apartment, a four-pair U/UTP solution is sufficient. UTP or U/UTP means that security is not provided. The F prefix or simply FTP means that there is one external common screen wrapped around four pairs.

Fiber connection

Most well-known providers have already upgraded their own lines and use fiber optics and related equipment to connect subscribers. This is more convenient for a number of reasons:

good throughput;
large length of highways without deteriorating signal quality;
saved space in OLT cabinets.

Some providers offer the introduction of fiber optics into the premises, which provides a stable, high-quality signal.

But even when introducing optical fiber into an apartment, it is better to make the wiring inside from twisted pair. It is cheaper and more convenient to install. Fiber optic wire is fragile and cannot be kinked. If it is damaged, the signal will disappear.

For these reasons, a special optical fiber is introduced into an apartment or house and connected to a converter, and from the latter a twisted pair cable is distributed throughout the room.
Twisted pair cables are used to conduct a network in an apartment or office. Fiber optics are expensive and not a suitable solution for such applications. It is usually used when connecting apartment buildings or private houses. You should select a cable for indoor wiring according to the user’s needs, having previously become familiar with the selection criteria and studying the markings on the wires when purchasing.

Coaxial wire

The very first cable created for connecting the Internet. Patented in 1880, used for transmitting high frequency signals. In modern times it is rarely used, but it is impossible to completely exclude it.

The device looks like this:

It consists of a central conductor.
The conductor is surrounded by a dense layer of insulation.
Next comes copper or aluminum braiding.
The outside is covered with a rubber insulating layer of several millimeters.

It is divided into two types: thick and thin. Each variety is used depending on the application environment. The specificity of such a wire is increased flexibility and speed of signal attenuation. Therefore, the transmission speed is not designed for long distances, reaching a maximum of 10 Mbit/s.

Nowadays the coaxial type is not used for the Internet due to its too low speed. The only area of application is cable television. However, it is also gradually disappearing, as modern routers allow the installation of wireless television.

Types of Internet cable connectors for coaxial wire represents a large collection consisting of:

A BNC connector installed at the ends of a wire to connect to other connectors.
BNC T-shape. This is a tee to connect the device to the main line. Contains three connectors, one of which is required for a network card.
A Barrel-type BNC is required if the connection between trunks is broken or the length needs to be increased.
BNC terminator. This is a plug that blocks the propagation of the signal. Two grounded terminators are required for the network to function properly.

Choices.

To lay a home or apartment network with a speed of up to 100 Mbit/s at a minimal price, you can use a 2-pair unshielded cable of category 5e. It costs from 500 to 1200 rubles per 100m.

To lay a home or apartment high-speed network (or a network with a reserve for development), you should use category 6 cable. This costs from 1300 to 3300 rubles per 100 m.

If you need a cable to lay a communication line in conditions of strong interference from production equipment, pay attention to shielded cables and ensure the presence of high-quality grounding in the places where the cable is laid and where network equipment is installed. Shielded cable will cost from 1300 to 3500 rubles per 100 m.

To lay a LAN communication line outdoors, you will need an appropriate cable at a price of 1500-3500 rubles per 100 m.

If the cable is still supposed to be pulled between the supports, then you should pay attention to the presence of a supporting cable. This will cost 2800-3500 rubles per 100 m.

Benefits of fiber optics

Fiber optic cable is a special wire made of glass and plastic. Thanks to it, the beam is transmitted using its reflection. There are single-mode and multi-mode cable fibers. In the first case, the beam propagates in one copy, and in the second case, in multiple copies, when each beam (mod) is introduced into the cable at a certain angle. Data transmission using this technology was first carried out in the 1950s.

What are the differences between 3G and 4G networks: features, advantages and disadvantages. Among the features of this type of wires, the following can be identified, which are also advantages of the technology:

Fiber optic lines are not affected by electromagnetic waves and fields, which means that in any conditions you can fully experience the good quality of communication and its reliability;
The data transmission speed over optical fiber is high-speed. This makes it possible to exchange information many times faster than via any type of iron wires;
The absence of electromagnetic radiation, which makes it possible to increase the security of this type of data transmission. Optical cables cannot be used for wiretapping. To do this, you need to completely destroy its structure, which will be noticed by low signal speed and various types of interference;
Due to the technology used, the cables do not require a large number of relay points, which reduces internal interference when transmitting binary information.

Cable routing

I will repeat for the third time - you cannot connect a twisted pair cable in an apartment for a computer network using twisted cables or terminal blocks. As a result, there cannot be junction boxes for cable branching.

The twisted pair cable is laid in unbroken lines from the access point to the computer, if there is only one computer in the apartment. Or it is laid in single lines from the access point to the router and from the router to the apartment (house) computers.

To connect the cable to devices (router and computer network card), special connectors called Jacks, marked RJ-45, are used.

If the network does not use a router, then we pin out the cable according to the following diagram:

If there is a router, then the ends of the twisted pair are crimped in the same way (1-1,2-2, etc.).

Why twisted pair?

Several types of Internet cables are used in the network infrastructure:

Coaxial – used in radio communications, automation systems, security systems, video surveillance and television broadcasting. It works on the principle of transmitting radio frequency electrical signals.
Fiber optic - used to transmit information over vast distances at a higher speed than in radio-electronic communications. It works on the principle of transferring light within itself, using total internal reflection.
Twisted pair - used in cable systems, telecommunications and computer networks. It works on the principle of connecting two nodes and using separate media to transmit information in different directions.

A twisted-pair cable consists of several pairs of insulated conductors, twisted together with their own twist pitch, covered with polypropylene or polyethylene insulation. If the cable is of high quality (more on this below), the insulation consists of foamed polyethylene and Teflon. This protects against high dielectric losses and during operation at elevated temperatures.

Additionally, twisted pair cable of the fifth category can use a protective shield against electromagnetic interference, and also use a “breaking thread” for the convenience of tearing the insulation when pulling, and for protection against tearing. The core of the conductor is a monolithic copper core (0.4-0.6 mm) or several pairs of cores in a bundle.

Due to its low cost and ease of installation, twisted pair cable is widely used to equip office and apartment buildings with local networks and the Internet.

At the ends of the wire, an 8P8C plug is used (popularly the name of the RJ45 standard has stuck, which is a little incorrect) to connect network devices in local LAN networks, that is, computers, routers, switches, hubs and others.

It is easy to recognize the purpose of the cable by the color of the insulation:

black – adapted to the influence of external factors (air, dampness);
orange - indicates the resistance of the insulation material to high temperatures and combustion;
light gray - used for laying inside buildings, houses, apartments, offices.

Type of protection

For a stable connection, it is necessary not only to ensure the passage of the signal, but also to protect it from interference. For this purpose, shielding is often used; its type can be found in the cable designation).

UTP does not imply the presence of shielding (but this does not mean that such a cable is inoperative).
FTP is the simplest type of shielding, which is a common sheath for all internal wires.
SFTP is additional protection in the form of a mesh shell on top of shielding. Thanks to this, the cable is less susceptible to physical stress and damage.

The presence of shielding on the cable does not guarantee additional protection against interference. Firstly, the cable must be grounded, the same goes for network equipment. Secondly, grounding must be of high quality. Otherwise, the thin ground wire will act as an antenna, which will attract additional interference. Thirdly, it is much more difficult to properly crimp an FTP and SFTP cable.

If the connector contacts are broken, you will also get the opposite effect - signal deterioration. Therefore, shielded cables are often not used in apartment buildings.

Internet connection using fiber optic

The most widespread Internet in the Russian Federation, the network of which operates on the basis of optical fiber, is provided by the provider Rostelecom. How to connect fiber optic internet?

First you just need to make sure that the optical cable is connected to the house. Then you need to order an Internet connection from your provider. The latter must provide connection data. Then you need to configure the equipment.

It is done like this:

After installing the optical fiber and connecting the equipment that ensures operation in optical passive networks, the provider’s employees perform all subsequent configuration independently.
First of all, install the yellow cable and socket as shown in the figure below.
You can have your own Wi-Fi router; you don’t have to purchase a router from Rostelecom. Wi-Fi is connected to a fiber optic cable, an optical terminal and a main cord, through which the router is connected to an optical outlet.
It is necessary to choose the most ventilated place possible for installing all equipment. The installer from the provider company should indicate exactly where the network elements need to be installed.

The terminal is equipped with a special socket that allows you to connect to a computer and connect the router to the Internet. In addition, the terminal has 2 additional sockets that allow you to connect an analog home telephone to a fiber-optic connection, and several more sockets are provided for connecting television.

Internet cable: types, device + what to look for when buying an Internet cable

Both to connect a computer and to create a network, you need an Internet cable. Although this is a passive component, it is no less important than the other elements.

To ensure that an incorrectly selected conductor does not damage the equipment, you need to become familiar with the types of cables, their features and purpose. We will talk about all this in detail in our article. We also provide a list of characteristics that you should first look at when choosing a suitable cable.

What types of veins are there?

Several core options are used in network wires:

copper;
copper-plated

Types and categories of optical fibers and cables. Singlemode and multimode

By type and purpose, single-mode and multimode optical fibers (as well as cables consisting of them) are distinguished.

Single-mode fiber optic threads transmit only 1 light signal (one mode). The diameter of their core is 7-10 microns (in communication systems - 9 microns), and the narrower it is, the lower the dispersion and the less attenuation of the beam. The bandwidth of a single-mode cable is lower than that of a multimode cable, but it is capable of transmitting data over longer distances.
Multimode fibers carry multiple signals simultaneously. Their cores have a cross section several times larger - 50-62.5 microns, which creates conditions for increasing the level of dispersion and faster pulse attenuation. These types of cables are designed for relatively short distances.

Fiber optic cables, which are used to build computer networks, are divided into 7 classes:

OS1 is a single mode with a 9 micron core.
OS2 is a broadband single mode with a 9 micron core.
OM1 is a multimode with a 62.5 µm core.
OM2 – multimode with a 50 µm core.
OM2 plus – momomod with a 50 µm core for laser sources (improved).
OM3 is a high-speed multimode with a 50 micron core.
OM4 is an optimized multimode with a 50 µm core.

Single-mode cables are designed for long-distance intercontinental, interstate, intercity and intracity backbones (usually 10 km or more), as well as for connecting remote equipment nodes of telecommunications companies and data centers. That is, they are used where continuity (or a minimum number of connections) and increased line reliability are important.

Cables of this type are cheaper than multimode ones, but if you take into account the costs of the entire necessary set of equipment, then systems using single-mode transmission are more expensive.

Multimode cables are used to connect workstations and other end devices indoors to a network, for communication between floors and nearby buildings (up to 550 m). They are also used to equip additional communication lines in data centers.

To connect to the Internet, residents of multi-storey buildings most often use multimode cables of the OM3 and OM4 classes.

Fiber optic cables transmit data over distances of up to 40-100 km and support speeds of up to 100 Gbit/s. But these are only theoretically achievable values: the speed and quality of communication is affected by the category of cable and the equipment that processes the signal.

Number of cores

Twisted pair cable can be produced with 4 and 8 cores. To transfer according to the standard at speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s, you can use 4 cores, but to get more than 100 megabit/s - 1 Gbit/s, you will need all 8 cable cores.

Therefore, it is necessary to find out in advance what the Internet speed is in the apartment in order to select the correct number of twisted pair cable cores.

Products are also produced:

single-core;
stranded.

Standards, certification

When choosing a twisted pair type, you need to understand for what purpose the cable should be used. The Ethernet standard is the most common; twisted pair is sometimes referred to by this term. The standard defines a number of characteristics of a cable network: data transmission speed, maximum distance possible without the use of signal amplifiers, modulation method, etc. However, optical fiber also applies to the same standard.

There are also separate standards applicable when laying SCS, and for structured cabling systems the requirements are much stricter.

Connecting a twisted pair cable to an Internet outlet

Over a dozen Ethernet standards have been developed, most of them are outdated (for example, 10BASE5, or IEEE 802.3, often called “thick Ethernet”).

A version of the IEEE 802.3ba standard, developed in 2009, allows data transfer at speeds of up to 40 Gb/sec; there is also a 100-gigabit standard, and a terabit standard is expected.

RJ-45 twisted pair connector

There are three popular standards in the field of SCS:

American version - EIA/TIA-568С;
the standard used in Europe is CENELEC EN 50173;
international version of the standard – ISO/IEC IS11801-2002.

Expert opinion.
LAN-ART twisted pair expert - Evgeniy Nikolaevich Berezkin.
All standards relating to the construction of structured cabling systems on twisted pair guarantee its performance for 10 years or more.

So which is better - optics or copper twisted pair?

Nowadays, any large and even medium-sized Internet provider uses optical fiber in a number of segments of its networks. And vice versa: no matter how the provider lures you with a connection to the “fastest new generation system,” certain sections of its networks are traditional copper cable. It’s just that the rules are dictated by environmental conditions (in some places they are more suitable for copper, and in others for optics) and economic feasibility, and marketing is marketing.

No one can say for sure what type of highway the providers “The Bronze Horseman” and “Optical Illusion” connected your home to, so we will assume that their offers differ only in the way they connect subscribers inside apartments.

The table below compares the properties of fiber optics and twisted pair:

Optical fiber	Copper twisted pair
Theoretically achievable communication speed	OS1 – 40 Gbps OS2– 100 Gbit/s OM3 and OM4 – 100 Gbit/s	Up to 10 Gbps for Category 6 and 7 cables.
Maximum continuous line length	OS1 – 100 km OS2 – 40 km OM3 – 300 m OM4 – 125 m. Read also: Connecting pass-through and crossover switches from three places	100 m
Physical properties of the cable	Thin, fragile	Thick, flexible
Exposure to external influences	Excessive bending, pressure, certain types of radiation	Electromagnetic interference, atmospheric electricity, corrosive chemical environments, fire, unauthorized connection to read data
Compatibility with client equipment	Requires the purchase of special adapters	Compatible with any device equipped with RJ-45 jacks
Service	Requires special equipment and training	Requires minimal skills and knowledge
Price	High	Low

Let's summarize:

A fiber optic line is up to 10 times faster and has a much longer range than twisted pair, it is not affected by interference from electrical equipment and power lines, is durable and strong, does not burn, and does not lose its properties from moisture, acids and alkalis. Does not allow spy tapping or eavesdropping via inductive connection.
A fiber-optic network is easier to disguise in the interior; it does not require the installation of wide, unaesthetic cable channels.
Fiber optics is, although flexible, glass, and any glass can crack and crumble. Therefore, installation and modernization of such a network requires great care. If damaged twisted pair can be cut and connected by simple twisting, then to restore broken optics you need a special welding machine and the ability to handle it. And sometimes even minor damage to a fiber optic line requires its complete replacement.
The main advantage of twisted pair is its low cost and ease of use. Most likely, you will not be charged any extra money for connecting to the Internet via a copper cable, but you will have to pay for optics, because they are expensive. A twisted pair cable with a universal connector can be immediately plugged into a computer - and the Internet will appear on it. For optics, you will again have to fork out for a special socket, modem (ONT terminal or router), and network adapters. And this is also not cheap.

Purely fiber optic networks inside houses and apartments are still very rare; most often they are made hybrid - partly optical, partly copper wire, partly wireless. The optics are usually connected only to the modem, and the end devices - computers, smartphones, smart TVs, etc. receive the Internet over the same twisted pair cable or Wi-Fi, because they are not equipped with light signal decoding modules. This means that no matter what super speeds your provider promises you, slow network segments will reduce it to nothing.

So, your choice is “The Bronze Horseman” if:

You don't want to overpay for something you probably won't get. If your devices that consume Internet traffic operate on outdated Ethernet or Wi-Fi protocols, then optics will not make them faster.
You often move your computer from place to place, you have a dog that likes to chew wires, or small children who grab everything. And if the cable is damaged, it’s easier for you to fix it yourself than to pay a technician.

It is better for you to become a client of Optical Illusion if:

You are for everything new against everything old. Fiber optics is the technology of the future and therefore worthy of investment. And even if it is not friendly with every device, we can expect that soon the manufacturers of the latter will come to their senses and equip their products with fiber-optic support. After all, consumers want this and are ready to invest.
Finances are not a problem for you. You have modern technology that supports the latest wired and wireless communication protocols, and you are ready to make it “take the maximum height.”
You need speed and that's it.
Network security in terms of possible data leakage is your everything.

Cable selection criteria

This cable has many characteristics, but only some of them are important for selection. These include: conductor category, core type, shielding method. Let's look at each of them in detail.

Cable core type

The core may look like an all-copper conductor or copper-plated. The copper core is considered to be of higher quality in transmitting information over long distances. Copper-clad conductors can be used to transmit data over short distances.

Copper-clad conductors can be partially made of steel and aluminum. Steel ones are considered the cheapest and are subject to mechanical damage. The name of the steel is CCS. Aluminum is commonly called SSA.

Important. If you use a steel or aluminum conductor to lay it over a distance of more than 100 meters, the signal will not be delivered.

Cable screen

Shielding is used to protect core conductors from noise coming from other cables. In addition, the protection compensates for radiation from the pair itself.

If there is a power line with a voltage of up to 380V near the place where the Internet cable is laid from the router to the computer, you will need to purchase a cable with at least one screen.

If the core cross-section of the conductor is 8 squares, with a power of 380 and above you need to choose a wire with two screens.

If high-voltage lines with a power of 1000V or more and thick conductors are laid nearby, and the installation technology involves installing power and network cables in protective corrugations, then you will need to use an SF/UTP cable.

Currently, many types of cables are used to lay networks and connect to the Internet. The most popular is eight-core twisted pair, which includes yellow, brown, blue and green colors and additionally these in combination with white. A more advanced type is fiber optic cable.

Section

Another standard to pay attention to is AWG or wire gauge. The lower this value, the thicker and better quality the cable. UTP 5e twisted pair cables typically use AWG24. In categories 6 and 7 - AWG 23 and 22.

Comparison of optical fiber and twisted pair

The Ethernet cable, which is widely used for wiring a wired local network, consists of copper wires. Providers cannot switch completely to fiber optics - compared to LAN cables, fiber optics are afraid of bends. Therefore, ordinary copper patch cord is still successfully used in network infrastructure (especially in home and office solutions).

I advise you to read about twisted pair in even more detail. And of course about Wi-Fi.

But, as for the characteristics of the cable itself, here is a visual table.

Characteristics	Optical cable	Twisted pair (copper)
Achievable communication speed (theory, without interference), Gbit/s	OS1 – 40 OS2 – 100 OM3/OM4 – 100	Cat 5e – Up to 1 Cat 6/7 – Up to 10
Line length without repeaters (theory), km	OS1 – 100 OS2 – 40 OM3 – 0.3 OM4 – 0.125	Any cable up to 0.1
Physical properties	Fragile (afraid of bending), thin	Flexible (you can bend corners), thick
Equipment (compatibility)	Requires special adapters (PON port)	Works with any equipment with a LAN port
Service	Requires training and special equipment	Can be serviced at home
Price	Bites	Tolerant

As for external influences, the connected optical fiber is not afraid of:

Power pickups;
Fire;
Moisture;
Temperature changes;
Acidic and alkaline environments;
“Line listening” due to ignoring inductive influences.

Router cable

You've probably heard the words "twisted pair", "patch cord", "network cable". This is what they call a router cable. And also an Internet cord, an Internet cable, a LAN cable. Are all these names synonymous? And which one is correct?

In principle, all these words mean the same thing - a special cable designed to connect various network devices to each other.

Inside this cable there are eight copper strands, woven (twisted) in pairs. Hence the name - twisted pair.

Twisted pair is the general name for wires used to install networks. But the cable intended for connecting computers and other devices to the router would be more correctly called a patch cord.

Copper or partially copper-plated cable

When choosing a wire, the length of the network and the number of connected objects are taken into account. At short distances, the difference in products made of copper or copper-plated is insignificant. When conducting networks longer than 50 meters in copper-plated wires, signal transmission failures occur. The conductivity of aluminum alloy and steel is lower than copper.

Products made of copper alloys are intended for the construction of large-scale local systems with a distance between objects of up to 10-20 meters. The products do not interfere with signal transmission. To connect a computer to tees, sockets, and switching equipment, cores with a combined composition (copper-clad) are sufficient.

The video below clearly shows the differences between a copper FTP core of a twisted cable and a copper-clad aluminum UTP.

Marking

All that remains is to determine the length and get acquainted with the cable markings in practice.

The main indicators are:

U/UTP – unshielded;
Cat5e – category 5e for 1 Gbit/s local area;
PVC – polyvinyl chloride, shell;
4x2x0.48 – four pairs of two wires with a cable cross-section of 0.48 mm;
Solid - a rigid type of core core (does not bend much, but has lower losses during signal transmission).

Choose the length based on the tasks for now, and not in reserve. Otherwise, this loop of wire will remain a loop for many years.

Internet cable laying

The first thing we strongly advise you to do is to lay a cable channel with a diameter of at least 2.5 centimeters from the landing into the apartment. Many owners, wanting to provide themselves with uninterrupted Internet, turn to two or even three or four local providers at once.

And imagine that each of them will drill your wall in order to stretch their cable inside the apartment. But your home may also have cable for television and landline telephone! Let there be one cable channel so that all the wires enter the apartment in one place, without unnecessary holes in the wall.

“Why do I need to run a network cable (twisted pair) throughout my apartment?” - you ask. I’ll put a powerful router in the hallway, where the provider introduced the cable into the house and that’s it, Wi-Fi is guaranteed! And no worries. Yes, a router won’t hurt you in any case to use the Internet on your smartphone. But if the apartment is large, the walls are reinforced concrete, and there is interference from neighbors’ Wi-Fi, problems will arise.

Alternatively, you can create a network of two or three routers installed in different places in the apartment. But, again, you will have to run an Internet cable to them if there is no “bridge” or repeater function. In addition, wired Internet is still more reliable and faster than wireless Internet, as proven by the experience of numerous users.

Therefore, decide exactly where your computer and laptop will be located in your apartment. It is possible that you have several of them - each family member. Choose the optimal place to stretch the Internet cable (twisted pair) where you need it. If major renovations in the apartment are not yet planned, then you can hide the cable under the baseboard or behind the ceiling space. This is what is often done in offices.

If you are still doing major repairs, then it is advisable to lay the Internet cable in grooves along the walls or under the floor screed. In this case, you must be guided by the following rules:

Never place network, telephone, antenna and other low-current cables in the same groove, parallel to 220 Volt power lines! It is unacceptable! If it so happens that there is no other possibility, low-current cables can intersect with power cables at right angles. But it is better to avoid such a situation. The distance between the power supply cable and the low-current twisted pair must be at least 20 centimeters; this is a norm that must be adhered to;
Under plaster and screed, it is recommended to lay the Internet cable in a corrugated pipe to ensure insulation and avoid strong bending and stress;
The maximum length of the Internet cable from one point to another is 80 meters. Consider this point when choosing a location for your home computer;
Avoid kinking the cable or bending it excessively. If you need to turn a twisted pair cable and bring it into the room from the corridor, the bending radius should be at least 8 outer diameters of the cable;
The cable fixation points in the grooves should be at a distance of about 50 centimeters;
The cable is fixed with clamps, brackets, and other snap-on fasteners;
Crimping of a network cable is always carried out only with special tools.

Always purchase an Internet cable, twisted pair cable of appropriate quality, UTR5 standard. If you don’t know what to choose, consult with specialists or representatives of your provider.

When the Internet cable has already been laid, it needs to be connected to a network outlet or connectors. Be sure to leave a small margin of cable length so that you can easily connect it. The installation boxes will be the same as for conventional sockets and switches, which the Rmnt.ru portal wrote about in detail. Here it is already allowed to locate an Internet outlet next to a power outlet; they are even combined into one group of installation boxes with a common frame.

In general, laying an Internet cable is no more complicated than ordinary wiring of electricity throughout an apartment. And if you can’t handle it yourself, contact specialists.

How to distinguish a network cable from us

To differentiate the type of network cable, we have an Ethernet network cable, we can do this in two ways. One of them is to look in the package where the cable comes from, its characteristics, however, this is not always possible because when we buy a cable, we usually use it and get rid of the box.

Then there is no second alternative with which we can easily find out all the details of our network cable. So, it is nothing more than an outer layer of plastic covering the entire cable. Now we're going to give a couple of practical examples so you can see if you can differentiate between a network cable category and more. Here's the first one:

In this case we have a CAT 7 Ethernet network cable and SSTP shielding.

Now let's move on to the second:

The second is CAT 5E and is a UTP type that does not have any shielding.

Optical fiber

Perhaps the most modern and fastest network cables for computers are fiber optic cables. Their structure contains light-conducting glass elements, which are protected by durable plastic insulation. Among the key advantages of these network cables for a computer is high immunity to interference. Also, data can be transmitted over a distance of about 100 km via optical fiber. The connection of cables of this type to devices can be carried out using various types of connectors. Among the most common are SC, FC, F-3000.

What does this high-tech network cable for a computer look like? Photo of the fiber optic structure below.

The intensity of practical use of optical fiber is limited by the fairly high cost of the equipment necessary to transmit data through it. However, recently many Russian providers have been actively using this network cable for the Internet. According to IT experts, with the expectation that the corresponding investments will pay off in the future.

How to crimp a cable correctly

Let's look at some technical nuances. The main device that is used in this case is a crimper. It is similar to pliers, but at the same time it is adapted to work specifically with computer cables of the appropriate type.

The design of the crimper requires the presence of special knives designed for cutting the structure. Also, sometimes crimpers are equipped with a small device for stripping twisted pair insulation. In the central part of the tool there are special sockets adapted to the thickness of the cable structure.

The optimal algorithm for the actions of a person crimping a twisted pair cable may be as follows.

First of all, it is necessary to cut a section of the cable of suitable length - thus, precise measurements will be required.
After this, the outer insulation should be removed - approximately 3 cm at the end of the cable. The main thing is not to accidentally damage the core insulation.
Then you need to arrange the conductors in relation to the connection diagrams to the connector discussed above. Afterwards, trim the ends of the cores evenly, so that the length of each of them outside the outer layer of insulation is about 12 mm.
Next, you need to put the connector on the cable so that the wires remain in the order that corresponds to the connection diagram, and each of them fits into the desired channel. You should move the wires until you feel resistance from the plastic wall of the connector.
After the cores have been properly positioned inside the connector, the PVC sheath should be positioned inside the connector body. If you can't do this, you may need to pull out the wires and shorten them a little.

Once all the structural elements are positioned correctly, you can crimp the cable by inserting the connector into a special socket on the crimper and smoothly pressing the tool handle until it stops.

What is better to connect to the apartment for the Internet?

When providers offer to connect home Internet, they often talk about the cable they use. Usually it comes down to the fact that it is a good cable and works better than others. Let's look at the fact of what the difference is for an ordinary subscriber.

Most often, apartment buildings are connected using two technologies: Fast Ethernet or GPON.

Fast Ethernet - connection using a cable - 4-wire twisted pair, which passes up to 100 Mbit/s. If you need more speed, then connect an 8-core twisted pair cable, which passes up to 1 Gbit/s.

GPON - connection using a fiber optic cable that passes up to 1 Gbit/s.

Let's look at the differences between technologies on the most important points for the user:

The need to connect additional equipment;
Freedom to choose a Wi-Fi router;
Difference in connection speed;
Cable strength.

Visually, the cables differ slightly in thickness, but not significantly. The Fast Ethernet cable is usually light gray and the GPON cable is yellow.

The cable from Fast Ethernet can be immediately connected to the device, but additional equipment is required for optical fiber

At first glance, there is no difference: in any case, a cable is installed in the apartment. If it is Fast Ethernet, then the cable is connected directly to a computer or laptop, or to a Wi-Fi router.

With GPON it is more difficult. Such a cable cannot be immediately connected to a computer; it requires a “converter” - a subscriber terminal. At the exit from the terminal there is the same twisted pair cable, which is connected to the subscriber’s device. It is important that the subscriber terminal is provided by the provider - you cannot use another one if the company’s equipment does not suit you. The terminal is another element in the network that can fail and, therefore, increases the risk of connection problems.

Freedom to choose a Wi-Fi router

With Fast Ethernet, you can choose any router model, regardless of brand, price and technical specifications.

When connecting GPON, the provider can provide a subscriber terminal with built-in Wi-Fi function. That is, by default you install the model provided by the provider. Or you will have to connect an additional router, for which you need to allocate space and an outlet.

Connection speed difference

Both twisted pair and optical fiber transmit speeds up to 1 Gbit/s

For an ordinary Internet user, 100 Mbit/s is enough: for social networks, watching videos and news, so there is no point in connecting GPON. If a subscriber needs a speed of more than 100 Mbit/s, then they use an 8-core twisted pair cable - this technology is called Gigabit Ethernet.

GPON allows you to transmit speeds up to 1 Gbit/s over a distance of 5-6 km. One cable is not enough for speeds up to 1 Gbps: the Wi-Fi router and your devices need to pass this speed.

Which cable is stronger?

Fast Ethernet pair cable is stronger than fiber optic

The strength of Fast Ethernet and GPON cables is different and this is due to their “filling”. Inside the Fast Ethernet cable are copper wires that can be bent and laid into the baseboard. Even if you accidentally crush the cable under a sofa leg or door, the Internet can still work. With a Fast Ethernet cable, you can remove the damaged section and connect the cable without losing speed.

There are glass fibers inside the GPON cable that cannot be bent at an angle of 90% - this will immediately lead to loss of communication. If you accidentally damage such a cable in one place, then to restore it you will have to lay a new one throughout the apartment. Lengthening or shortening the optical fiber will also not work - usually providers offer to immediately change the cable.

How to connect Good Line

Good Line connects Fast Ethernet in the apartment, because it is easier to use and is capable of transmitting more than 100 Mbit/s. In addition, the Fast Ethernet cable is easy to repair, lengthen or shorten at the request of the subscriber, unlike GPON.

Good Line also uses GPON cable, but only when connecting over long distances: between cities and houses.

In short:

1. The twisted pair cable can be immediately connected to a computer, laptop, or Wi-Fi router. For fiber optics, you must install a subscriber terminal that is powered from the network.

2. With twisted pair cable, you can choose any router model. When connecting fiber optics, you will have to use Wi-Fi, which is built into the subscriber terminal, or install your own router and then you will have two set-top boxes.

3. Optical fiber is suitable for connecting private homes, when several kilometers of cable need to be laid from the main equipment to the subscriber. Twisted pair is not capable of transmitting speed over a distance of more than 100 meters, but optical fiber copes with this perfectly.

4. Both twisted pair and optical fiber are capable of carrying speeds of more than 100 Mbps. But optical fiber is easier to damage, and when restoring it, you need to change the cable throughout the apartment. Twisted pair is stronger in everyday life, and even if the cable is damaged, a separate segment can be restored without complete replacement.

Category	Frequency, MHz	Signal transmission rate, Mbit/s
5	1-100	10, 100
5e	1-100	10, 100, 1 Gbit/s (eight-core cable)
6	1-250	10, 100, 1 Gbit/s
6a	1-500	10, 100, 1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s
7	1-600	10, 100, 1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s
7a	1-1000	10, 100, 1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s