Patch cord means an insulated lead with a plug at each end, for use with a patch board. It is also known as patch cable. On the other side, that is used to connect an end device to something else, as a power source. One of the most common uses of this cable is connecting a laptop, desktop or another end device to a wall outlet.
An electronic cord used to connect electronic devices to enable the transmission of data between them. There are many different patch cables, including headphone extension, microphone, RCA connectors, Ethernet, and fiber optic. Though the term patch cable is used, most frequently it refers to short cables used in a patch panel. Patch cables can be small as three inches. Cat 5, Cat 5E, and Cat 6 Ethernet cables are common examples, used to connect computers in a network as well as network servers.
Applications of patch cord cable:
Patch cord cables are also used to carry audio, telephone, and video signals between devices in non-networked applications; these might include apparatus such as headphones and microphones. Patch cords are also called patch leads.
A patch cord looks like:
Patch cables can be any color. Longer cables are usually thicker than their short counterparts and often are shielded to prevent electromagnetic interference.
A patch cord is normally made of coaxial cabling, but it also could be composed of fiber optic, saved or unsaved CAT5/5e/6/6A, or single conductor wires.
Types of Patch Cords and Their Uses:
There are many different kinds of patch cables. The most common are CAT5/CAT5eethernet cables linking a computer to a nearby network switch, or router, hub, a switch to a router, etc.
Ethernet patch cables are useful for building home computer networks. Travelers are staying in older hotels without wi-fi sometimes, so need patch cables to create hard-wired internet connections.
A crossover cable is a different type of Ethernet patch cable used to connect two computers to each other.
The Difference Between Ethernet & Patch Cables:
Where eight-conductor Ethernet cables with RJ-45 plugs are extremely common, Most standard copper Ethernet cables are referred to as patch cables.
Ethernet itself is a protocol standard that defines the way that bits of information travel over a particular medium, and ordinary phone cords can be considered patch cables, as well as the HDMI and RCA cables that connect a home TV and stereo system.
An Ethernet connection that is designed for speed and/or great distance can be referred to as a "backbone" or "long haul," even though it may use the same type of copper cable that a patch cable uses.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Patch cord:
Advantages:
As an electrical optical cable, it can connect one an electronic or optical device to another.
These cords are capable of holding more than one indication over its duration at the same time.
This cable supplies a low attenuation connection between the fiber network cables.
Use common firewalls for data security.
Disadvantages:
Can only reach around 350 feet without daisy-chaining switches together.
More expensive than other direct attached options.
Limited mobility.
Crosstalk with longer cable runs.