CPCT Cabling Standards & Installation Practices 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which category of UTP cable first introduced the requirement for alien crosstalk testing?
- Category 5e
- Category 6
- Category 6A (Correct answer)
- Category 7
Correct answer: Category 6A
Category 6A (Augmented Category 6) introduced alien crosstalk specifications (ANEXT and AFEXT) because its 500 MHz bandwidth made external crosstalk a significant performance factor.
Question 2: What is the recommended separation distance between telecommunications cables and fluorescent lighting fixtures to reduce EMI?
- 25 mm (1 in)
- 75 mm (3 in)
- 150 mm (6 in) (Correct answer)
- 300 mm (12 in)
Correct answer: 150 mm (6 in)
TIA-569 recommends a minimum 150 mm (6 in) separation between unshielded telecommunications cables and fluorescent lighting fixtures to minimize electromagnetic interference.
Question 3: When using a 110-type punch-down block, which tool is used to terminate and trim the conductor simultaneously?
- Crimping tool
- Krone punch-down tool
- 110 blade impact tool (Correct answer)
- Cable stripper
Correct answer: 110 blade impact tool
A 110 blade impact tool (punch-down tool with a 110 blade) seats the wire into the insulation displacement connector and trims the excess wire in one action.
Question 4: What does the TIA-568 'permanent link' test configuration measure?
- The cable from wall outlet to end-user equipment
- The installed cable and connectors, excluding equipment and patch cords (Correct answer)
- Only the bare horizontal cable with no connectors
- The full channel from switch port to PC network card
Correct answer: The installed cable and connectors, excluding equipment and patch cords
A permanent link test measures the installed horizontal cable plus its connecting hardware (jacks and patch panel ports), but excludes equipment cords and patch cords.
Question 5: A split pair wiring fault will NOT be detected by which test?
- Wire map test (Correct answer)
- Crosstalk (NEXT) test
- Continuity test
- Attenuation test
Correct answer: Wire map test
A split pair shows correct continuity on a wire map test because all eight pins connect properly, but the paired wires are wrong, which causes excessive crosstalk detectable by NEXT testing.
Question 6: Which TIA standard addresses structured cabling for data centers?
- ANSI/TIA-568-C
- ANSI/TIA-942 (Correct answer)
- ANSI/TIA-569-D
- ANSI/TIA-606-B
Correct answer: ANSI/TIA-942
ANSI/TIA-942 is the Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers, covering design and installation requirements specific to data center environments.
Question 7: When installing cable through metallic conduit, what must be done to prevent cable jacket damage at conduit ends?
- Apply electrical tape to the cable before pulling
- Install plastic bushings or conduit fittings on all conduit ends (Correct answer)
- Use only armored cable inside conduit
- Sand the conduit ends smooth with sandpaper
Correct answer: Install plastic bushings or conduit fittings on all conduit ends
Plastic bushings or conduit fittings must be installed on conduit ends to protect cable jackets from sharp metal edges that could nick or cut the jacket during pulling.
CPCT Cabling Standards & Installation Practices 5
Which category of UTP cable first introduced the requirement for alien crosstalk testing?