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	INTERCONNECTION GLOSSARY Download a printable version of the Interconnection Glossary. We'd like to hear from you! Email us with any additions, updates or changes  you would like to see made to the glossary. Select from the following:
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R

R	R-interface
RA	Remote Access
RACE	Research in Advanced Communications Equipment
RACH	Random Access Channel
RADIUS	Remote Authenication Dial-In User Service
RADSL	Rate Adaptive DSL
RAI	Remote Alarm Indication
RAID	Redundant Array of Independent Disks
RAM	Random Access Memory
RAN	Radio Access Network
RAS	Registration, Admission, and Status protocol
RAT	Radio Access Technology
RBOC	Regional Bell Operating Company
RC	Radio Configuration
RC	Rate Center
RC	Repeating Coil
RC2000	See Radiocom 2000
RCC	Radio Common Carrier
RCCN	Radio Common Carrier Number
RD	Resistance Design
RDBMS	Radio Data Base Management System
RDRAM	Rambus Direct RAM
REAG	Regional Economical Area Grouping
REXX	An interpreted script language development by IBM
RF	Radio Frequency
RFC	Request for Comment
RFI	Radio Frequency Interference; Request for Information
RFP	Request For Proposal
RFQ	Request For Quote
RIP	Routing Information Protocol
RIPE	Reseaux IP Europeens
RIPE NCC	Reseaux IP Europeens Network Coordination Centre
RIR	Regional Internet Registry
RISC	Reduced Instruction Set Computer
RITL	Radio In The Loop
RJ	Registered Jack
RJ-11	Registered Jack 11
RJ-45	Registered Jack 45
RLCG	Acronym representing Resistance (R, ohms/km), Inductance (L, mH/km), Capacitance (C, nF/km), and Conductance (G, mho/km).
RLE	Run Length Encoding
RMII	Reduced Media Independent Interface
RMON	Remote Monitoring
RNC	Radio Network Memory
ROBO	Remote Office/Branch Office
ROM	Read-Only Memory
RPC	Remote Procedure Call
RPE-LTP	Regular Pulse Excited-Long Term Prediction
RRD	Revised Resistance Design
RS	Recommended Standard
RS-232	Recommenced Standards 232. (Physical interface between DCE and DTE)
RSA	Rural Service Area
RSSI	Received Signal Strength Indication
RSVP	Resource Reservation Protocol
RT	Remote Digital Terminal; Ringback Tone
RTCP	Real-Time Control Protocol
RTE	Real-Time Enterprise
RTMS	Radio Telephone Mobile System
RTP	Real-Time Transfer Protocol
RTSP	Real-Time Streaming Protocol
RTU	Remote Termination Unit
rt-VBR	Real-Time Variable Bit Rate
Rx	Receive; also written RX
RF Connector	Connector used for connecting or terminating coaxial cable.
Rack and Panel Connectors	A rack and panel connector is one that connects the inside back end of the cabinet (rack) with the drawer containing the equipment when it is fully inserted. The drawer permits convenient removal of portions of the equipment for repair or examination. Special design and rugged construction of the connector allow for variations in rack-to-panel alignment.
Raised Base	A terminal block design that includes an elevated base that permits flux and solvents to drain during flow soldering operations.
Ram	The moving portion in the head of a crimping tool.
Ramp	(1) Portion of a terminal connector located between the tongue and the barrel. Also called stuff. (2) The sloped channel that accepts the detent pin in a bayonet connector.
Range	Number of sizes of connectors or cables of a particular type.
Range, Wire	The sizes of conductors accommodated by a particular barrel. Also the diameters of wires accommodated by a sealing grommet.
Ratchet Control	A device to ensure the full crimping cycle of a crimping tool.
Ratchet Hand Tool	Tool designed with ratchet device to insure completion of the crimping cycle.
Rated Temperature	The maximum temperature at which an electric component can operate for extended periods without loss of its basic properties.
Rated Voltage	The maximum voltage at which an electric component can operate for extended periods without undue degradation for safety hazard.
Reactance	The opposition offered to the flow of alternating current; the inductance or capacitance of a component or circuit.
Read Out (or Readout)	A term used with PC boards and connectors, meaning the ability to make contact with certain circuits (e.g., a double readout PC connector will permit two wires to be connected to anyone circuit on the PC board).
Rear Release Contacts	Connector contacts are released and removed from the rear (wire side) of the connector. The removal tool engages the contact from the rear and pulls the contact out of the connector contact retainer.
Rear Seal	That design feature that provides an environmental seat at the rear of plug or receptacle.
Receiver	A detector and electronic circuitry to change optical signals to electrical signals.
Reflection	The abrupt change in direction of a light beam at an interface between two dissimilar media so that the light beam media, or in a medium which has a refractive index that is a continuous function of position (graded-index medium).
Receiving Element	Accepting side of the terminus in an optical conductor interface.
Receptacle	Usually the fixed or stationary half of a 2-piece multiple contact connector. Also, the connector half usually mounted on a panel, containing socket contacts.
Receptacle Connector	An electrical connector intended to be mounted or installed onto a fixed structure (such as a panel, electrical case or chassis), which couples or mates to a plug connector.
Rectangular Terminal	Terminal with a tongue that is rectangular in shape.
Reference Edge	Edge of cable or conductor (sometimes indicated by a thread, identification stripe or printing) from which measurements are made. Conductors are usually identified by their sequential position from the reference edge, with number one conductor closest to this edge.
Reflow Soldering	Method in which a solder joint is made by melting the solder coatings on the mating components.
Reflowing	The melting of an electro-deposit followed by solidification. The surface has the appearance and physical characteristics of being hot-dipped.
Refractive Index	(1) In fiberoptics, the ratio of light velocity in a vacuum to its velocity in the medium of interest. (2) The ratio of light velocity in a vacuum to its velocity in the transmitting medium.
Refractive Index Profile	The description of refractive index as a function of radius in a fiber.
RF (Radio Frequency)	A generic term referring to the technology employed in the CATV industry and broadband LANs. Uses electromagnetic waveforms for transmission, usually in the megahertz range.
Reinforcement	One of the two component materials that make up a composite. The other is commonly referred to as the matrix. Reinforcement materials come in forms of continuous and discontinuous fibers, whiskers, particulates and wires. Principal reinforcement materials are graphite, boron, glass and silicon carbide. The material carries the major stresses and loads.
Relays	Electrically controlled devices that open and close electrical contacts to affect the operation of other devices in the same or another electrical circuit.
Removable Contact	A contact that can be mechanically joined to or removed from an insert. Usually, special tools are required to lock the contact in place or remove it for repair or replacement.
Removal Tool	(1) A device used to remove removable contacts from a connector. (2) A device used to remove taper pins from taper pin receptacles.
Resin	High-molecular-weight organic material with no sharp melting point. For general purposes, the terms resin, polymer and plastic can be used interchangeably. (See Polymer.)
Resistance	Property of a conductor that determines the current produced by a given difference of potential. The ohm is the practical unit of resistance and the symbol “R” designates resistance in ohms.
Resistance Soldering	A method of soldering whereby a current is passed through and heats the soldering area by contact with one or more electrodes.
Resistivity	The ability of a material to resist passage of electrical current either through its bulk or on a surface.
Reworking	The act of repeating one or more manufacturing operations for the purpose of improving the yield of acceptable parts.
Ribbon Cable	Flat cable with conductors that have been individually insulated together. Structure is usually characterized by individual colors of insulation for each conductor, although a single color may be used for all conductors.
Right Angle	A mounting position option for terminal blocks.
Right Angle Edge Connector	One wherein the plug is mounted to a chassis or backpanel and the receptacle is mounted along an edge of and soldered to the circuits of a PC board.
Ring	A network topology in which stations are connected to one another in a closed logical circle.
Ring Tongue Terminal	Round-end tongue terminal with hole to accommodate screw or stud.
Rise Time	The time for the leading edge of a pulse to increase from 10 to 90% of its peak value.
Rockwell Hardness Number	A number derived from the net increase in depth of impression as the load on a penetrator is increased from a fixed minimum load to a higher load and then returned to minimum load. Penetrators include steel balls of several specified diameters and a diamond-cone penetrator.
Rosin Flux	The mildest and least effective of solder fluxes. To increase rosin flux efficiency, small amounts of organic activating agents are added. Type RA, fully activated rosin flux, is the flux most commonly used for electrical connections.
Round Conductor Flat Cable	A cable made with parallel round conductors in the same plane.
Router	An electronic device interconnecting two or more networks that operate at the Network Layer (Level 3) of the OSI Model.
Rubbers and Elastomers	Elastomers are natural or synthetic materials that can be or have been vulcanized to a state in which they have the ability to accept and recover from extreme deformation in the order of hundreds of percent. The term elastomer is used to include natural rubber and a variety of synthetic materials exhibiting rubber-like properties.

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