What is the result of poor termination on a transmission cable?

Poor termination on a transmission cable leads to the reflection of signals at the point of the termination. This reflection creates standing waves, which are patterns of voltage or current that remain stationary in space along the cable. When signals encounter an impedance mismatch—such as a poorly terminated end—they bounce back towards the source instead of being fully absorbed.

Standing waves can result in fluctuations in voltage and current along the cable, leading to interference that can degrade the quality of the signal transmitted through the cable. This effect can cause various issues, including distortion and potential data loss, making it crucial for cables to be properly terminated to ensure that transmission integrity is maintained.

Other possible outcomes of poor termination, such as low signal strength, are often secondary effects of the standing waves, as the reflection can lead to reduced signal power reaching the receiving end. However, the most direct and immediate consequence of poor termination is indeed the formation of standing waves.