In cabling, what does impedance mismatch primarily lead to?

Impedance mismatch is a critical factor in cabling systems, particularly in network environments. When there is a mismatch in impedance between the transmission line and the connected devices (such as network interfaces or cables), it leads to a scenario where part of the signal is reflected back towards the source instead of being completely transmitted to the load.

This reflection of signals occurs because the impedance of the source and the load are not aligned, causing an inefficient transfer of energy. As a result, some of the signal energy that would ideally propagate along the cable instead bounces back, contributing to what is known as signal loss or degradation. This loss can adversely affect the overall performance of the network by reducing the integrity of the signal, leading to issues such as increased error rates or reduced effective data rates.

In contrast, options like signal amplification and increased data transfer rates do not occur with impedance mismatch; rather, those are goals that a properly designed cabling system seeks to achieve. Similarly, reduced installation time is unrelated to the technical issues caused by impedance mismatches, as installation speed depends on factors such as labor efficiency and equipment used rather than the electrical characteristics of the cables.