TRUE OR FALSE
- Plenum cabling does not require use of conduit.
- With coaxial cable, stranded wire offers better attenuation performance than solid center wire.
- There is no such thing as “digital cable.”
- The best way to remember the difference between a “plug” and a “jack” is that “Jack” is a man's name, and therefore the jack is the male connector.
ANSWERS
1. TRUE. Plenum cables are coated with a fire retardant that also reduces its smoke-producing characteristics. However, it's still advisable to check with local inspectors to confirm that they'll allow use of plenum-rated cabling in plenum spaces without conduit.
2. FALSE. A solid center will give the best attenuation performance, but will be stiffer (less flexible) than stranded wire.
3. FALSE. For digital video signal transmission, there is a difference between a “digital” cable and an “analog” cable. A cable intended for digital video signals is likely to have a bandwidth capability of up to 750MHz and a higher operating frequency — both important factors for image quality of a digital video signal.
4. FALSE. Think of the woman's name “Jacqueline,” and you'll stay on the right track. A “plug” is the male (probe) connector, and a “jack” is the female (receptor) connector.
Sources: Belden, L-com.