Which cables

Thunderbolt 3 was announced around the middle of , delivering twice the throughput up to 40Gbps of Thunderbolt 2 and a more universal connection -- USB Type-C. If you have a few Thunderbolt 1 or 2 adapters, don't toss them yet. They will continue to work with existing devices for years to come. Mini DisplayPort adapters and cables do plug into Thunderbolt 1 and 2 ports, but they're not compatible with newer devices, so toss them.

DisplayPort is found on computer monitors, a small selection of televisions and business-oriented laptops. It can support multiple video streams over a single connection and, with the new 1. While many laptops have switched to Mini DisplayPort, it's still too soon to get rid of the standard DisplayPort cables.

With a dual-link DVI connection, you can reach a maximum resolution of 2, by 1, pixels. The biggest drawback, aside from the connector's size, is the lack of audio. The technology practically dead, as most manufacturers announced they would stop supporting the technology in in favor of DisplayPort and HDMI. Most computer monitors now come with HDMI, a far superior display connector. VGA is an old analog technology.

It's virtually aged out and won't be found on many devices at all anymore. It doesn't play well with LCD monitors and should probably be avoided, if possible. That odd looking, boxy cable you found in a drawer that doesn't seem to fit anything is probably a USB A to B cable, most commonly used in printers. It's good to have one of these on hand, especially for printers or audio interfaces. Even some older hard drives used this connection, so hang on to this cable for now.

The 3. While the above cables have connectors on both ends which can be mated with the corresponding opposite gender, the connectors of the test port cables are mainly NMD connectors. On one side of the test port cables, it is special rugged female connector which is designed specifically for connecting to the network analyzer test port, but does not mate with a standard male connector. NMD denotes a connector that has larger than standard coupling threads for greater stability.

NMD connectors are used on test cables, test ports, test port adapters, and test port cables. To help avoid problems with your network, always use the BNC connectors that crimp, rather screw, onto the cable. Fiber optic cabling consists of a center glass core surrounded by several layers of protective materials See fig. It transmits light rather than electronic signals eliminating the problem of electrical interference. This makes it ideal for certain environments that contain a large amount of electrical interference.

It has also made it the standard for connecting networks between buildings, due to its immunity to the effects of moisture and lighting. Fiber optic cable has the ability to transmit signals over much longer distances than coaxial and twisted pair. It also has the capability to carry information at vastly greater speeds. This capacity broadens communication possibilities to include services such as video conferencing and interactive services. The cost of fiber optic cabling is comparable to copper cabling; however, it is more difficult to install and modify.

The center core of fiber cables is made from glass or plastic fibers see fig 5. A plastic coating then cushions the fiber center, and kevlar fibers help to strengthen the cables and prevent breakage. The outer insulating jacket made of teflon or PVC. There are two common types of fiber cables -- single mode and multimode. Multimode cable has a larger diameter; however, both cables provide high bandwidth at high speeds.

Single mode can provide more distance, but it is more expensive. More and more networks are operating without cables, in the wireless mode. Wireless LANs use high frequency radio signals, infrared light beams, or lasers to communicate between the workstations, servers, or hubs. Information is relayed between transceivers as if they were physically connected.

For longer distance, wireless communications can also take place through cellular telephone technology, microwave transmission, or by satellite. Wireless networks are great for allowing laptop computers, portable devices, or remote computers to connect to the LAN.

Wireless networks are also beneficial in older buildings where it may be difficult or impossible to install cables. The two most common types of infrared communications used in schools are line-of-sight and scattered broadcast. Every iPad since the fourth-generation model released in has used a Lightning cable , including the first few versions of the iPad Pro, and the iPad Mini.

Every generation of watch has shipped with a magnetic charger with a standard USB connector. By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. Skip to navigation Skip to content. Discover Membership.