What issue is caused by impedance mismatches in cables?

Impedance mismatches in cables primarily result in return loss. Return loss occurs when a portion of the transmitted signal is reflected back towards the source due to a difference in impedance between the cable and the equipment it is connected to. This reflection can diminish the effective strength of the signal, leading to a weaker reception and potentially impacting overall signal quality. Essentially, when a cable's impedance does not match the impedance of the connected devices, the reflections disrupt the intended transmission of the signal, causing fewer signals to reach their destination effectively.

While other issues like signal attenuation, interference, and noise distortion can negatively affect a cabling system, they are not directly caused by impedance mismatches. For instance, attenuation refers more to the signal loss over distance due to various factors, and interference pertains to disturbances from outside sources. Noise distortion involves alterations to the signal that can also stem from several factors but is not a direct result of the impedance mismatch issue itself. Return loss specifically addresses the phenomenon of reflected signals due to impedance discrepancies, highlighting its importance in maintaining signal integrity in cabling systems.