Category 6 cable: Difference between revisions
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==Maximum length== |
==Maximum length== |
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fuck off |
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When used for [[10/100/1000]]BASE-T, the maximum allowed length of a Cat 6 cable is {{convert|100|m|ft|sp=us}}. This consists of {{convert|90|m|ft|sp=us}} of solid "horizontal" cabling between the patch panel and the wall jack, plus {{convert|10|m|ft|sp=us}} of stranded patch cable between each jack and the attached device. Since stranded cable has higher attenuation than solid cable, exceeding 10 metres of patch cabling will reduce the permissible length of horizontal cable. |
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When used for 10GBASE-T, Cat 6 cable's maximum length is {{convert|55|m|ft|sp=us}} in a favourable alien crosstalk environment, but only {{convert|37|m|ft|sp=us}} in a hostile alien crosstalk environment such as when many cables are bundled together. 10GBASE-T runs of up to {{convert|100|m|ft|sp=us}} are permissible using Cat 6a. |
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==Installation caveats== |
==Installation caveats== |
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Revision as of 08:39, 8 May 2011
Category 6 cable, commonly referred to as Cat 6, is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network Physical Layers that is backward compatible with the Category 5/5e and Category 3 cable standards. Compared with Cat 5 and Cat 5e, Cat 6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet), 1000BASE-T/1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet) and 10GBASE-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet).
Whereas Category 6 cable has a reduced maximum length when used for 10GBASE-T; Category 6a cable, or Augmented Category 6, is characterized to 500 MHz and has improved alien crosstalk characteristics, allowing 10GBASE-T to be run for the same distance as previous protocols.
Category 6
Like most earlier cables, Category 6 cable contains four twisted wire pairs. Although it is sometimes made with 23 AWG wire, the increase in performance with Cat 6 comes mainly from better insulation; 22 to 24 AWG copper is allowed if the ANSI/TIA-568-B.2-1 performance specifications are met. Cat 6 patch cables are normally terminated in 8P8C modular connectors. Attenuation, NEXT (near end crosstalk), and PSNEXT (power sum NEXT) in Cat 6 cable and connectors are all significantly lower than Cat 5 or Cat 5e, which also uses 24 AWG wire.
The heavier insulation in some Cat 6 cables makes them too thick to attach to 8P8C connectors without a special modular piece, resulting in a technically out-of-compliance assembly.[citation needed]
Connectors use either T568A or T568B pin assignments; the choice is arbitrary provided both ends of a cable are the same.
If Cat 6 rated patch cables, jacks, and connectors are not used with Cat 6 wiring, overall performance is degraded to that of the cable or connector.[citation needed]
Because the conductor sizes are generally the same, Cat 6 jacks may also be used with Cat 5e cable.[citation needed]
| Pin | Pair | Wire | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 |  white/green
|
| 2 | 3 | 2 |  green
|
| 3 | 2 | 1 |  white/orange
|
| 4 | 1 | 2 |  blue
|
| 5 | 1 | 1 |  white/blue
|
| 6 | 2 | 2 |  orange
|
| 7 | 4 | 1 |  white/brown
|
| 8 | 4 | 2 |  brown
|
| Pin | Pair | Wire | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1 | white/orange
|
| 2 | 2 | 2 | orange
|
| 3 | 3 | 1 | white/green
|
| 4 | 1 | 2 | blue
|
| 5 | 1 | 1 | white/blue
|
| 6 | 3 | 2 | green
|
| 7 | 4 | 1 | white/brown
|
| 8 | 4 | 2 | brown
|
| Pin | Pair | Wire | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 1 | white/brown
|
| 2 | 3 | 1 | white/green
|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | white/orange
|
| 4 | 1 | 2 | blue
|
| 5 | 1 | 1 | white/blue
|
| 6 | 2 | 2 | orange
|
| 7 | 3 | 2 | green
|
| 8 | 4 | 2 | brown
|
Category 6 cable can be identified by the printing on the side of the cable sheath.[1]
Category 6a
The latest standard from the TIA for enhanced performance standards for twisted pair cable systems was defined in February 2008 in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-10. Category 6a (or Augmented Category 6) is defined at frequencies up to 500 MHz—twice that of Cat. 6.
Category 6a performs at improved specifications, particularly in the area of alien crosstalk as compared to Cat 6 UTP which exhibited high alien noise in high frequencies.
The global cabling standard ISO/IEC 11801 has been extended by the addition of amendment 2. This amendment defines new specifications for Cat. 6A components and Class EA permanent links. These new global Cat. 6A/Class EA specifications require a new generation of connecting hardware offering far superior performance compared to the existing products which are based on the American TIA standard.[2]
The most important point is a performance difference between ISO/IEC and EIA/TIA component specifications for the NEXT transmission parameter. At a frequency of 500 MHz, an ISO/IEC Cat. 6A connector performs 3 dB better than a Cat. 6A connector that conforms with the EIA/TIA specification. 3 dB equals 100% increase of near-end crosstalk noise reduction when measured in absolute magnitudes.[2]
Confusion therefore arises because of the different naming conventions and performance benchmarks laid down by the International ISO/IEC and American TIA/EIA standards which in turn are different from the regional European standard, EN 50173-1. Broadly speaking the ISO standard for Cat6A is the highest, followed by the European standard and then the American.[3][4]
Maximum length
fuck off
Installation caveats
Category 6 and 6a cable must be properly installed and terminated to meet specifications. Incorrect installation practices include kinking or bending the cable too tightly. The cable bend radius should be no less than 4 times the outer diameter of the cable.[citation needed] Incorrect termination practices include untwisting the wire pairs or stripping the outer jacket back more than 1/2 inch.
All shielded cables must be grounded for safety and effectiveness. A continuous shield connection maintained from end to end.[5] Ground loops develop when there is more than one ground connection and the difference in common mode voltage potential at these ground connections introduces noise into the cabling.[6]
References
- ^ Ethernet Cable Identification and Use
- ^ a b "A new Category 6A specification has arrived". Next generation Cat. 6A. Tyco Electronics. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ "Cat. 6A ≠ Cat. 6 A ≠ Class EA". Next generation Cat. 6A. Tyco Electronics. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Cabling: The Complete Guide to Network Wiring, 3rd Edition
- ^ Barry J. Elliott (2002). Designing a structured cabling system to ISO 11801. Woodhead. p. 131.
- ^ "Screened and Shielded Cabling - Noise Immunity, Grounding, and the Antenna Myth". Siemon. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
External links
- "10 Gb/s Over Copper: Horizontal Cabling Choices". The Siemon Company. 2006-01-10. Information on cable construction and alien crosstalk mitigation.
- Schmidt, John (2007). "Determining the Right Media" (PDF). BICSI News. 28 (2).
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) Information on TIA TSB-155 37m versus IEEE 55m limitations. - "What are CAT6 Cables?". KSM Limited.
- "How to Make an Ethernet Cat5e/Cat6 Cable". Cable & Wireless Technologies, Inc. 2009-10-14.
- "How to Terminate Cat6a Shielded Keystone Jacks". Cable & Wireless Technologies, Inc. 2009-12-09.
- "How Category 6 Cable is Made". Cable & Wireless Technologies, Inc. 2009-11-05.
- "TIA/EIA Transmission Standards for CAT6 Cables". CableMaster Europe.