AWG
American Wire Gauge
Balanced Twisted-Pair
Multi conductor communications cable composed of two or more copper conductors twisted in a manner designed to cancel electrical interference
Bandwidth
A range of frequencies available for signaling in Hz
Cable
An assembly of one or more insulated conductors or fibers within an enveloping sheath
Cable Assembly
a cable that has connectors installed on one or both ends
Capacitance
Chromatic Dispersion
A result of the phenomenon that the velocity of propagation in a medium is frequency dependent, which causes the frequency components of a pulse to lose phase coherence as it propagates
Coaxial Cable
a cable consisting of a central metallic inner conductor separated from an enclosing outer conductor by a dielectric material
Conductance
The measure of the ease with which electrical current flows through a conductor
Connector
a mechanical device used to provide a means for aligning, attaching and achieving continuity between conductors
Crosstalk
The unwanted transfer of signal from one or more circuits to other circuits as a result of EMI
Delay Skew
The difference in propagation delay between any two pairs within the same sheath
Dispersion
the loss of a signal resulting from the scattering of light pulses as they are transmitted through a medium
EMI
Electromagnetic Interference
Radiated or conducted electromagnetic energy that has an undesirable effect on electronic equipment or signal transmissions
Inductance
Inside Plant (ISP)
Infrastructure systems inside a building
Modal Dispersion
a characteristic of transmission in an optical fiber that results from different lengths of the light paths taken by many modes of light as they travel down the receiver from source to receiver
NVP
Nominal Velocity of Propagation
The coefficient used to determine the speed of transmission along a cable relative to the speed of light in a vacuum, typically a percentage.
OTDR
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
An instrument that measures transmission characteristics of optical fiber by measuring backscatter and reflection of injected light as a function of time. Used to measure attenuation
Optical Fiber
A transmission media using glass or plastic to transport pulse light signals
OSP
Outside Plant
Infrastructure designed for use outside
Plenum
The areas throughout the building to which one or more air ducts are connected forming part of the air distribution system
Resistance
A measure of opposition a material offers to the flow of direct current. Measured in ohms
Riser
Any vertical service ducts and the interfloor passages of the building subject to the cable installation