Cat 6A UTP and Shielded
Cat-6A UTP and Shielded
with Component Rating
A Simple Perspective
Asef Baddar RCDD, DCD Sr Technical Manager Sr. Technical Manager Leviton Middle East
Category Specifications
Agenda
Category Specifications
Terminology – International & North America Category 6A and Component Rating
Shielded Solutions compared to UTP solutions for Structured Cabling
Cabling
Shielded System Pro’s and Con’s Bonding & Grounding
Bonding & Grounding Summary
International Standards
TIA is the Telecommunications Industry Association (North America)
EIA i th El t i I d t Alli (N th A i )
EIA is the Electronics Industry Alliance (North America)
ISO is the International Standards Organization (TIA equivalent)
IEC i th I t ti l El t T h i l C i i (IEEE
IEC is the International Electro Technical Commission (IEEE equivalent)
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC)
is the standards setting body of the European Union (EU). BICSI equivalent and uses the EN designation.
Category Classification ISO and TIA
TIA classification of cabling classes:Category 3 is specified up to 16 MHz Category 5e is specified up to 100 MHzg y p p
Category 6 is specified up to 250 MHz Category 6A is specified up to 500 MHz
Category 7 – No plans to develop under TIA.
(CAT 7 is referenced in BICSI TDMM and ISO as a Class F and F (CAT 7 is referenced in BICSI TDMM and ISO as a Class F and FA
equivalent)
ISO classifications of cabling classes:
Class C is specified up to 16 MHz (similar to Cat-3) Class D is specified up to 100 MHz (similar to Cat-5e) Class E is specified up to 250 MHz (similar to Cat-6) Class E is specified up to 250 MHz (similar to Cat-6) Class EA is specified up to 500 MHz (similar to Cat-6A)
Class F is specified up to 600 MHz Class FA is specified up to 1000 MHz
Market Segment by Category 2007 - 2012
Cat-5e and Cat-6 are so far dominating
Category 6A
Cabling classification designed to support high-speed
applications, such as 10GBase-T, over 100 meter channels
Unshielded or Shielded T isted Pair
Unshielded or Shielded Twisted Pair
Requirements are for 4-pair 100 Ω CAT6A cabling, cables,
cords and connecting hardware up to 500 MHz
Several new parameters introduced such as:
o alien crosstalk near and far
Published in Apr 2008 Apr 2008
Designing to the Cat 6A Standard
The TIA 568 Standards ensure applications will run, andproducts from different manufacturers work together.
These standards build in extra performance margin than is These standards build in extra performance margin than is
typically required by applications such as 10G Ethernet. A range of performance
is specified individually is specified individually for plugs, jacks, cords, and cables.
Designing to the Cat 6A Standard
This range allows trade-offs in the design process – optimize for all products across the range, or optimize for a specific value within the range.
value within the range.
Most manufacturers, choose to optimize for their own
component values so their system performance is optimized.
C t d
Connectors, cords, patch panels, cables can be designed to work best together.
Designing to the Cat 6A Standard
Range of Connector ValuesA
Range of Connector Values
B
Range of Cable Values Range of Cable Values
A B
When products from different manufacturers are combined, overall performance margin can drop due to the need to work together with connectivity that can be anywhere in the work together with connectivity that can be anywhere in the performance envelope.
Competent manufacturers will design extra margin into
component rated products to provide excellent performance component-rated products to provide excellent performance
margin with their own products, and with those from other manufacturers.
Comp. Guarantee Channel Perform.?
Alien Crosstalk (AXT) is new to Cat 6A. It was notpreviously specified in earlier categories for 4pr UTP cables. Other types of Crosstalk, such as NEXT and FEXT, are
Other types of Crosstalk, such as NEXT and FEXT, are generated WITHIN
the cable jacket,
connector cord or panel connector, cord, or panel. NEXT and FEXT can be
predicted, and can therefore be reduced therefore be reduced through noise
cancellation within
th ti i t
Comp. Guarantee Channel Perform.?
In some instances, meeting component requirements for AXT DOES NOT guarantee the resulting channel or link will meet AXT limits
AXT limits.
In addition to meeting the component requirements, all
connecting hardware and cable should also be verified for link
d h l AXT f
and channel AXT performance.
This is because Alien Crosstalk coupling can take several different forms.
The most significant of these forms are common mode and differential mode noise, and differential to common mode conversion
Differential Mode Signals
Current flow in UTP cabling induces a magnetic field around the conductors
the conductors.
The spiral form created by the twisted pairs to some extent keeps the magnetic field contained within the spiral.
The containment is not perfect, and a magnetic field also exists outside the spiral.
Common Mode Signals
Common mode noise flows in both conductors in the same in both conductors in the same
direction, and returns to ground via parasitic capacitance. Both conductors generate a magnetic field with equal
it d d l it d d t l h th t
magnitude and polarity, and do not cancel each other out. The spiral wound pair acts just like an antenna.
Common to Differential Conversion
The better the electrical balance of the cable, connector, and cord, the better they are able to reject these forms of AXT, and the better the AXT margin of the entire channel.
AXT Testing at the Component Level
AXT testing for hardware includes setups for ANEXT andAFEXT.
To understand the tests, we need to introduce two terms: To understand the tests, we need to introduce two terms:
“disturber” and “victim”.
In this photo, the “V” marks the victim
port and the surrounding ports are the disturbers port, and the surrounding ports are the disturbers. AXT from each
surrounding i
port is
measured and summed.
AXT Testing at the Component Level
N t ll b t h i ifi t ff t AXT d
Not all nearby ports have a significant effect on AXT, and are not included.
The standards define what’s called “significant disturbers”. For the curious - defined as 90-20log(f/100)
In panels and
wall plates they’re wall plates they re generally the
Show Me the Channel
A typical worst-case Cat 6A channel as defined in the standards includes 4 connectors,
standards includes 4 connectors, in a 6-around-1 topology.
Growth of Shielded System (US)
In 2006, Shielded Systems were about 1% of the US business. o All Categories (5e/6/6A)
Shielded solutions business increased in 2009 but still expected to be the same in 2012
Thi i t ib t d t C t 6A o This increase contributed to Cat-6A
4-Connector Channel
Channel is the same for UTP and Shielded
Work Area Outlet
Devise or Field Tester Telecommunications Closet
Work Area Outlet
Horizontal Cable Patch Cord Length Tester Active Consolidation Patch Panel Port 2 Patch Panel Port 1 g 5m max Active or Field Tester Point Patch Cord Length 5m max Total Testing Length 328 ft (100m) Maximum
What is the Noise all About
EMC - Electromagnetic Compatibilityo Immunity - Susceptibility to interference from outside noise sources.
outside noise sources.
o Emissions – Potential to disturb outside sources EMI / RFI – Electromagnetic Interference / Radio
Frequency Interference
o The disruption of operation of an electronic device when it is in the vicinity of an
electromagnetic field (EM field) in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum that is caused by frequency (RF) spectrum that is caused by another electronic device.
o Causes an undesirable response, malfunctioning or degradation in the performance of electrical equipment.
What is a Shield?
Used to block RF Electromagnetic radiation from corrupting data signals traveling on core
corrupting data signals traveling on core conductors
Used to prevent the leakage of signal from core conductors onto other channels in close
proximity
Reduction of RF/E radiation depends very much
th t i l d it thi k d th
upon the material used, its thickness, and the frequency spectrum
Shield? STRENGTHS
EMI/RFI Protection
o Noise immunity from outside electrical noise
noise Security
o Data security in secure network applications
Alien Crosstalk (Cat 6A)
o Mitigates AXT in high frequency o Mitigates AXT in high frequency
applications (500 MHz) Smaller Cable O.D. (Cat 6A)
Fill it i P th & S (
o Fill capacity in Pathways & Spaces (vs. Cat 6A UTP cable)
Shield? WEAKNESSES
Cost
o Shielded systems generally 30-40% higher vs UTP Shielded Cat-6A is higher vs. UTP. Shielded Cat-6A is typically higher by about 10%
o Labor - Additional labor/cost to
t i t ( bl f il d i i
terminate (cable prep, foil, drain wire, rework)
o Training - May require additional installer training
Availability
o Shielded products are stocked in o Shielded products are stocked in
Shield Types
Foil – Most common todayo Better flexibility but not as rugged
o Excellent for mitigating high frequencies o Excellent for mitigating high frequencies
o Screen must be folded onto itself for full shield effect o 1.5 or 2.0 mil aluminum foil shield
Braids
o Good flexibility and rugged
o Lower DC resistance than foiled screens o Lower DC resistance than foiled screens
o Excellent for mitigating noise at low frequencies
o Use higher braid coverage percentage for maximum protection C bi ti b id/f il t ti
Combination braid/foil construction
o Maximum effectiveness of shielding o More bulky – difficult to work withy o More costly
Shield Market Sector
Financialo Trading desks, high speed data close to other cables
cables. Govt.
o Secure network applications, EMI/RFI immunity. H lth
Healthcare
o Application near ambient electrical noise; MRI equipment, etc.
G
Gaming
o High concentration of electrical noise
• Lights, slot machines, cameras, ATMs, etc. Industrial
Why Bonding & Grounding ?
Life safety requirements
o
NEC (NFPA 70) Article 250
o
NEC (NFPA 70) Article 250
Protection of People &
Property
o
Life Safety – Prevent severe
injury or possible death for
b ildi
t
building occupants.
o
Equipment – Prevent
equipment from being
equipment from being
damaged or destroyed.
Who will do Bonding & Grounding?
The electrician on a project is responsible for Bonding &Grounding as part of the building infrastructure
o National & local codes should always be followed. o National & local codes should always be followed. o Contact AHJ if there is question on a specific project. This is typically done before the communications installer
arrives on the job site. arrives on the job site.
“A primary responsibility of the designer is safeguarding personnel, property, and equipment from foreign electrical voltages and currents”. (BICSI TDM, 10th edition, page 10-2)
Bonding
Definition“The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically
conductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity to conductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely an current likely to be imposed.” (NEC Article 100 definition)
Purpose Purpose
o Eliminate voltage potentials across all systems which can cause: • Equipment damage
• Electrical noise
• Intermittent operation • System degradation • System degradation
Grounding (Earthing)
Definition“A conducting connection, whether intentional or incidental, between an electrical circuit or equipment and the earth, or q p to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.”
Purpose Purpose
o Establish and maintain the potential of the earth on conductors connected to it.
o Conducting ground current to and from the earth
A ‘floating’ ground system is one that is not connected to g g y Earth.
Grounding Patch Panels
A d t th W k A i t i d
Grounding at the Work Area
A ground at the Work Area is not required Grounding is done when shielded patch cord connect PL to PC (NIC). The computer is grounded through the
electrical receptacle.
If shielded patch cord is not used or the PC is not grounded the channel is tied to the ground in the TR grounded, the channel is tied to the ground in the TR.
Summary
Component rating is necessary to achieve good channel margin Both Cat-6A Shielded and Unshielded Cables are used world
id wide
Majority of installs are UTP
Some regions prefer Unshielded and some prefer just Shielded I t d ti f C t 6A i d th f hi ld d l ti
Introduction of Cat-6A, increased the use of shielded solutions as it was easier to meet alien crosstalk in early
Both Shielded and UTP Cat-6A solutions supports 10G applications
applications
UTP recommended for installations where no noise is present and Shielded is recommended for installations in noisy
