Glossary

The type designation for the coaxial cable used in ARCnet networks. It has a 93 ohm impedance and uses BNC connectors.

Multiple conductors or optical fibers clad in a single, flat, ribbon-like cable.

Rigging Installation and Commissioning Certificate, an Excel document recording antenna installation, sweep test results and schematic.

See Contractor

(1) A polarity designation of one wire of a pair indicating that the wire is that of the secondary color of a five-pair cable (which is not commonly used anymore) group (e.g., the blue wire of the blue/white pair). (2) A wiring contact to which the ring wire is attached. (3) The negative wiring polarity (see also tip). (4) Two or more stations in which data is passed sequentially between active stations, each in turn examining or copying the information before finally returning it to the source. See also ring topology

A telephony term used to describe one of the two conductors that is in a cable pair used to provide telephone service. This term was originally coined from its position as the second (ring) conductor of a tip-ring-sleeve switchboard plug. See also ring.

A network topology in which terminals are connected in a point-to-point serial fashion in an unbroken circular configuration. Many logical ring topologies such as Token Ring are wired as a star for greater reliability.

A length of string built into optical fiber cables that is pulled to split the outer jacket of the cable without using a blade.

(1) A designation for a type of cable run between floors Fire-code rating for indoor cable that is certified to pass through the vertical shaft from floor to floor. (2) A space for indoor cables that allow cables to pass between floors, normally a vertical shaft or space.

A type of cable used in vertical building shafts, such as telecommunications and utility shafts. Riser cable typically has more mechanical strength than general use cable and has an intermediate fire protection rating.

Telephone and data jacks/applications that are registered with the FCC. Numbers such as RJ-11 and RJ-45 are widely misused in the telecommunications industry

A modular connection mechanism that allows for as many as eight copper wires (four pairs). Commonly found in phone (RJ-11) or 10Base-T (RJ-45) connections.

RJ11(Registered Jack 11)
A modular (4P6C) 4 pin connector typically used with copper cable having two pairs. Typically used for telecom leads such as a modem cable.

May sometimes be confused with RJ12 as the housing is the same size however an RJ12 is a 6 pin connector (6P6C).

RJ12(Registered Jack 11)
A modular (6P6C) 6 pin connector typically used with copper cable having two pairs. Typically used for telecom leads such as a modem cable.

May sometimes be confused with RJ11 as the housing is the same size however an RJ11 is a 4 pin connector (4P6C).

50-Pin Telco (RJ21)

This connector is very common in 10BASE-T wiring. As opposed to the RJ45 connector, the 50-pin Telco connector concentrates up to 12 UTP connections onto one connection. This concentration of UTP ports is then broken out for connection to a punch-down block inside a building’s wiring closet. 50-pin Telco connections provide a very clean, uncluttered interface.