What type of signal degradation might occur if a network cable is poorly terminated?

When a network cable is poorly terminated, one of the most significant issues that can arise is the introduction of errors in the communication process, commonly described as a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) error. This type of error denotes that the data received is different from the data that was sent, indicating that something went wrong in the transmission.

Poor termination can lead to improper impedance matching, which in turn creates reflections of the electrical signal traveling along the cable. These reflections disrupt the intended signal and can result in corrupted data being received. The CRC is a method used to detect these errors in telecommunications and computer networks, so an increase in CRC errors typically signifies an underlying issue with the integrity of the data transmission—often rooted in problems like poor cable termination.

In contrast, while increased latency can occur due to various network issues, it is not a direct result of poor termination. Signal noise can certainly impact data integrity, but it's a broader category that can stem from various sources, not solely poor termination. Frequency attenuation refers to the gradual loss of signal strength over distance, further complicating the scenario—as it relates more to distance and the quality of the medium used rather than just termination quality.

Thus, recognizing that CRC errors are closely tied to the issue of