Cable ID Lab | Network+ N10-009

Section 1 / Orientation

Lab Overview & Objectives

This lab builds the skill of looking at a cable or connector and immediately knowing what it is, what it's rated for, and when to use it — a core troubleshooting and installation skill tested throughout Network+ N10-009.

What you'll practice

✓Identify copper twisted-pair categories (Cat5e through Cat8) by their specifications and use cases.
✓Identify common connectors: RJ45, RJ11, F-type, BNC, ST, SC, LC, and MPO/MTP.
✓Distinguish single-mode from multimode fiber and know their jacket color conventions.
✓Build a T568A / T568B pinout from memory using the color-coded pairs.
✓Select the correct cable type for a real-world installation scenario.
✓Read and interpret speed/distance charts to compare media types quickly.

How this lab works: Use the numbered tabs at the top (styled like patch-panel ports) to move between sections, or use the Next/Back buttons at the bottom of each section. Every section is interactive — click cables, build pinouts, and answer scenarios as you go. Your quiz score is tracked at the end.

Section 2 / Interactive

Twisted-Pair Copper Categories

Click each cable to inspect its rated speed, max distance, and typical use. Compare shielded (STP) vs unshielded (UTP) where relevant.

Click a cable above to see its specifications.

Section 3 / Interactive

Copper Connector Identification

Copper and coax cables each terminate in a specific connector. Click each photo to reveal what it's used for and how to visually recognize it. Fiber connectors (ST, SC, LC, MPO/MTP) are covered in Section 4.

Click a connector above to see identification notes.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under Creative Commons licenses (CC BY / CC BY-SA). See link under each photo for source & attribution.

Section 4 / Interactive

Fiber Optic: Single-Mode vs Multimode

Fiber jacket color is one of the fastest ways to identify fiber type in the field. Click each strand to compare core size, light source, distance, and color convention.

Click a fiber strand above to compare specs.

Fiber Connector Types

Click each connector to see which fiber type it's typically paired with and how to spot it.

Click a connector above for details.

Multimode OM Ratings

Rating	Jacket Color	Max Distance (10GbE)	Notes
OM1	Orange	33 m	Legacy, 62.5 µm core
OM2	Orange	82 m	50 µm core
OM3	Aqua	300 m	Laser-optimized
OM4	Aqua / Violet	550 m	Higher bandwidth than OM3
OM5	Lime Green	440 m	Wideband, supports WDM

Section 5 / Build It

T568A / T568B Pinout Builder

Pick a wiring standard, then click the color chips in order to fill pins 1–8. Check your work when all 8 slots are filled.

Standard: none selected

Field tip: A cable wired T568B on both ends is a straight-through patch cable (most common today). T568A on one end and T568B on the other creates a crossover cable — largely obsolete now that Auto-MDIX handles this automatically on modern switch ports, but it's still tested.

Section 6 / Apply It

Cable Selection Scenarios

Read each real-world scenario and click the cable type you'd actually pull for the job.

Section 7 / Reference Data

Speed & Distance Comparison

Visual comparison of maximum throughput and maximum cable run distance across common media types, followed by the full reference table.

Max Throughput (relative scale)

Max Distance (meters, relative scale)

Full Reference Table

Media	Type	Max Speed	Max Distance	Connector

Section 8 / Assessment

Knowledge Check

Answer each question. Your score updates live in the corner.

Score: 0 / 0