Lesson 1Ethernet cable categories: Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, Cat7 — construction, performance, and use casesThis section compares common twisted-pair Ethernet categories, focusing on construction, electrical performance, and application limits. You'll link bandwidth, distance, and environment to selecting the right Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, or Cat7 cable.
Cat5e construction, rating, and typical usesCat6 and Cat6A performance and distance limitsCat7 shielding, connectors, and niche deploymentsUTP vs STP selection for noisy environmentsChoosing categories for PoE and high bit ratesLesson 2Multimode fibre types and standards: OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, OM5 — bandwidth, modal bandwidth, and reachThis section details multimode fibre types OM1 through OM5, explaining core sizes, modal bandwidth, and supported distances. You'll match standards to Ethernet speeds, wavelengths, and building backbone design choices.
OM1 and OM2 legacy installations and limitsOM3 and OM4 for 10G to 100G Ethernet linksOM5 wideband MMF and SWDM applicationsModal bandwidth and link budget basicsConnector and transceiver choices for MMFLesson 3Pathways and spaces: conduit, cable tray, raceways, plenum vs non-plenum cable selection and fire code considerationsThis section covers pathways and spaces like conduit, cable tray, and raceways, plus plenum vs non-plenum cable. You'll apply fire codes, fill ratios, and support rules to safe cable routing practices.
Conduit sizing, fill, and pull considerationsCable tray and ladder rack best practicesSurface raceways for finished spacesPlenum vs riser vs general-purpose ratingsFirestopping and code-compliant penetrationsLesson 4Single-mode fibre basics and when to choose SMF vs MMFThis section explains single-mode fibre characteristics and compares SMF with multimode fibre. You'll evaluate distance, bandwidth, cost, and electronics to decide when SMF is the right choice for a given link.
SMF core size, wavelengths, and dispersionTypical SMF applications and distance rangesCost tradeoffs of SMF optics vs MMF opticsWhen to upgrade MMF backbones to SMFConnector and cleanliness needs for SMFLesson 5Overview of ANSI/TIA and ISO/IEC cabling standards (TIA-568, TIA-569, ISO/IEC 11801)This section introduces ANSI/TIA and ISO/IEC cabling standards that govern structured cabling. You'll see how TIA-568, TIA-569, and ISO/IEC 11801 define topology, performance, and spaces for compliant installations.
Structured cabling concepts and terminologyTIA-568 channel, link, and performance classesTIA-569 pathways, spaces, and clearancesISO/IEC 11801 generic cabling overviewDocumentation and compliance verificationLesson 6Connectors and terminations: RJ45 (modular plugs/jacks), keystone jacks, LC/SC/ST/FC fibre connectors, F-type coax connectorsThis section reviews copper and fibre connectors used in structured cabling. You'll practice selecting RJ45, keystone, LC, SC, ST, FC, and F-type connectors and understand proper termination and testing.
RJ45 plug and jack pinouts and ratingsKeystone jack styles and termination methodsLC, SC, ST, and FC fiber connector featuresF-type coax connectors and compression toolsInspection, cleaning, and connector testingLesson 7Colour coding, pair assignment, and wiring schemes: T568A vs T568B, voice/data separation best practicesThis section explains colour coding, pair assignments, and T568A vs T568B wiring schemes. You'll apply standards to jacks and patch panels while planning voice and data separation and labelling practices.
Twisted-pair color code and pair numberingT568A vs T568B pinouts and compatibilityStraight-through vs crossover cable usesVoice vs data jack labeling and separationCommon wiring errors and how to avoid themLesson 8Patch panels, wall plates, keystone modules, and common enclosure types (MER/TR racks and cabinets)This section covers patch panels, wall plates, keystone modules, and common rack and cabinet types. You'll design termination points that support labelling, moves, adds, changes, and proper cable management.
Copper patch panel types and labelingFiber patch panels and splice enclosuresWall plates and keystone jack selectionRack, cabinet, and open-frame choicesCable management, strain relief, and bend radiusLesson 9Coaxial cable types used for video: RG-6, RG-11, quad-shield variants — impedance and frequency characteristicsThis section examines coaxial cable types used for video, focusing on RG-6, RG-11, and quad-shield variants. You'll relate impedance, attenuation, and frequency response to distance and signal quality.
RG-6 construction, uses, and distance limitsRG-11 for long runs and lower lossQuad-shield coax for noisy environments75-ohm impedance and return loss basicsConnectors, splitters, and grounding needs