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Check Out Our Resources

Black Box Explains

Black Box Explains...Straight-pinned and crossover cable.
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Straight-pinned cable has the most common type of pinning. The send and receive pairs are wired straight-through on either end of the cable.

Crossover cable is generally used for peer-to-peer connections. The send and receive pairs are crossed between Connector A to Connector B on either end of the cable.

Straight-pinned and crossover cable.
Black Box Explains...CAT5: When more isn’t always better.
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In data communications applications, using products that exceed required capacities is usually not a problem. For example, if a 28.8K modem is required, a 33.6K or 56K model will work just fine.

But sometimes, more isn’t better. Take KVM extenders designed to expect CAT5 and only CAT5 cable. You’d expect that Category 3 cable wouldn’t be effective with these products, and you would be right.

But you may also assume that if Category 5 cable works fine, Category 5e, Category 6, and other higher-capacity cables would work even better. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case, and here’s why:

KVM extenders from many manufacturers, including ServSwitch CAT5 KVM Extenders, are designed specifically for the Category 5 specs defined by the TIA/EIA standard. Higher-level cables, such as Category 5e, have different characteristics and specifications. Although differences—specifically twist ratios—might seem small, they can have a negative impact on these extenders, which are expecting a true Category 5 transmission.

So with ServSwitch CAT5 KVM Extenders, you can think big with CAT5—just don’t think bigger.

CAT5: When more isn’t always better.
Black Box Explains... GBICs
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A Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) is a transceiver that converts digital electrical currents to optical signals and back again. GBICs support speeds of 1 Gbps or more and are typically used as an interface between a high-speed Ethernet or ATM switch and a fiber backbone. GBICs are hot-swappable, so switches don’t need to be powered down for their installation.

GBICs
Black Box Explains...Shielded vs. unshielded cable.
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The environment determines whether cable should be shielded or unshielded.

Shielding is the sheath surrounding and protecting the cable wires from electromagnetic leakage and interference. Sources of this electromagnetic activity (EMI)—commonly referred to as noise—include elevator motors, fluorescent lights, generators, air conditioners, and photocopiers. To protect data in areas with high EMI, choose a shielded cable.

Foil is the most basic cable shield, but a copper-braid shield provides more protection. Shielding also protects cables from rodent damage. Use a foil-shielded cable in busy office or retail environments. For industrial environments, you might want to choose a copper-braid shield.

For quiet office environments, choose unshielded cable.

Shielded vs. unshielded cable.
Black Box Explains...ISDN Basics.
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ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. It’s a high-speed digital data service provided by most phone companies. With ISDN you can transmit large amounts of data, voice, and video signals up to 128 kbps over a single phone line.

The most common (and least expensive) ISDN service is Basic Rate Interface, or BRI. It’s usually used to combine voice and data circuits over one line between small-scale ISDN sites. BRI consists of two 64-kbps B channels plus a 16-kbps D channel to support system “overhead” functions, such as signaling the telecomm switching system to initiate a call.

What makes ISDN unique is that each B channel is a separate communication circuit. That means just one ISDN line can support simultaneous two-way communication for two devices, such as a computer and a telephone or a computer and a video camera for teleconferencing.

If you need to send more data than one 64-kbps B channel can handle, ISDN also supports BONDing for inverse multiplexing. This links the two B channels into a single logical circuit that can support data rates up to 128 kbps.

ISDN lines are terminated at your location with a special RJ-45 jack. There are two main interfaces. The U interface consists of two wires (one twisted pair) and is common in North America. The S/T interface consists of four unshielded wires (two twisted pairs) and is more common outside North America. Unless you already own U-compatible ISDN phones or PCs, you’ll need a terminal adapter to make the connection.

ISDN is the perfect choice when faster data rates, lower prices, and guaranteed data integrity are required. Consider it for high-volume datacomm applications such as Internet access and on-line service, telecommuting, remote-office routing, and disaster recovery. Also consider ISDN for a high-speed backup line—because you never know when you’ll need one.

ISDN Basics.
Black Box Explains... Local Multiplexors
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Local multiplexors extend the distance between computers and terminals or printers that are connected via customer-installed or telco-supplied cable.

Like line drivers, local multiplexors extend RS-232 communications and must be used in pairs. The difference between the two is that multiplexors merge several transmissions into one transmission over a single channel; line drivers generally transmit data over a single channel.

Local multiplexors operate over ordinary twisted-pair copper cable or fiber optic cable. Copper cable is typically used within buildings while fiber optic cable is the most common choice for connecting buildings in a campus environment. For in-building connections, copper cable is widely used because it’s comparatively inexpensive and easy to install. Your building might even have unshielded twisted-pair cable already in place.

The twisted-pair copper cable used for local multiplexors is run throughout buildings from the wallplates of each office or work area to a central wiring closet within the building. Wiring closets have centrally located punchdown blocks where all cables from the building are terminated. That way, when a connection needs to be changed or a new one needs to be made within the building, wiring can be easily rerouted on the punchdown blocks.

Selecting a local multiplexor.
When selecting a local multiplexor, keep in mind that copper-based multiplexors come in a vast array of types. You’ll find multiplexors available with RJ-11, RJ-45, or terminal block connections for your in-house wiring and with RS-232 connections for your computer equipment. All these multiplexors can be used to link a local device to a remote device within a building.

Local Multiplexors
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