Class F Cable

Class F cable

Class F cable, (ISO/IEC 11801:2002 Class F), is a cable standard for Ethernet and other interconnect technologies that can be made to be backward compatible with Class D and Class E. Class F features even more strict specifications for crosstalk and system noise than Class E. To achieve this, shielding has been added for individual wire pairs and the cable as a whole. Besides the foil shield, the twisting of the pairs and number of turns per inch causes RF shielding and protects from crosstalk. Class F is recognized for all the country organizations members of ISO.^{[citation needed]}

The Class F cable standard has been created to allow 10 Gigabit Ethernet over 100 m of copper cabling (also, 10 Gbit/s Ethernet now is typically run on Cat 6a). The cable contains four twisted copper wire pairs, just like the earlier standards. Class F can be terminated either with 8P8C compatible GG45 electrical connectors which incorporate the 8P8C standard or with TERA connectors. When combined with GG45 or TERA connectors, Class F cable is rated for transmission frequencies of up to 600 MHz.^{[citation needed]}

As of November 2010, all manufacturers of active equipment have chosen to support the 8P8C for their 10 Gigabit Ethernet products on copper, and not the GG45 or TERA in order to function on Cat 6a. Class F is not currently recognized by the TIA/EIA.

Class Fa

Class Fa (or Augmented Class F) is defined at frequencies up to 1000 MHz, suitable for multiple applications including CATV (862 MHz).^{[citation needed]} Each pair offers 1.2Ghz of bandwidth.^{[citation needed]} Simulation results have shown that 40 Gigabit Ethernet may be possible at 50 meters(164ft) and 100 Gigabit Ethernet at 15 meters(49FT).^{[citation needed]} In 2007, researchers at Pennsylvania State University predicted that either 32 nm or 22 nm circuits would allow for 100 Gigabit Ethernet at 100 meters(328ft).

However, similar studies in the past have shown that Cat5e could support 10 Gbit/s, so these should be read with caution. Furthermore, the IEEE did not include Class Fa for 40 Gbit/s or 100 Gbit/s in the 802.3ba standard ratified in June 2010. It may in the future, but there is absolutely no guarantee that such applications will ever exist.

Class F is currently in ISO standards for channel performance in Amendment 1, recently component performance has been ratified in Amendment 2.^{[citation needed]} The formal names are ISO 11801 Amendment 1 (2008) and ISO 11801 Amendment 2 (2010). Class Fa is not recognized in TIA/EIA-568.