All cables and wires that contribute to communication in any way are commonly referred to as data cables. There are, however, significant differences, such as the completely different structures of copper and fibre optic cables. Copper data cables come in many different types, such as low-frequency cables, coaxial, telephone, and bus cables, diverse Ethernet systems, or microwave cables for special applications requiring transmission in the range of gigahertz. Selecting the wrong cable can quickly lead to costly disruptions and errors.
In general, data cables are low-capacity cables. This means that as little electrical energy is accumulated in the cable as possible when transferring data. This electrical energy has a negative impact on the signal quality. The capacity is in part dependent on the insulation material of the cable. Modern bus and Ethernet cables primarily use materials such as PE or PP, which provide especially good insulation, which is determined by measuring the dielectric constant (εr). The lower this value is, the better the material is at insulating, and the lower the capacity of the cable. This is why thinner insulation can be used when the same dielectric strength is used.
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