Cat 6A UTP and ShieldedCat-6A UTP and Shieldedwith Component Rating
A Simple Perspective
Asef Baddar RCDD, DCDSr Technical ManagerSr. Technical ManagerLeviton Middle East
Category Specifications
AgendaCategory Specifications
Terminology – International & North America
Category 6A and Component Rating
Shielded Solutions compared to UTP solutions for Structured CablingCabling
Shielded System Pro’s and Con’s
Bonding & GroundingBonding & 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 (IEEEIEC 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 TIATIA classification of cabling classes:
Category 3 is specified up to 16 MHzCategory 5e is specified up to 100 MHzg y p pCategory 6 is specified up to 250 MHzCategory 6A is specified up to 500 MHzCategory 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 MHzClass FA is specified up to 1000 MHz
Market Segment by Category 2007 - 2012
Cat-5e and Cat-6 are so far dominatingCat-6A on the increase
TIA Cat-6A
Category 6A
Cabling classification designed to support high-speed applications, such as 10GBase-T, over 100 meter channelsUnshielded or Shielded T isted PairUnshielded or Shielded Twisted PairRequirements are for 4-pair 100 Ω CAT6A cabling, cables, cords and connecting hardware up to 500 MHzSeveral new parameters introduced such as:
o alien crosstalk near and far
Published in Apr 2008Apr 2008
Designing to the Cat 6A StandardThe TIA 568 Standards ensure applications will run, and products from different manufacturers work together.These standards build in extra performance margin than isThese standards build in extra performance margin than is typically required by applications such as 10G Ethernet.A range of performanceis specified individuallyis specified individually for plugs, jacks, cords, and cables.
Designing to the Cat 6A StandardThis 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 dConnectors, cords, patch panels, cablescan be designed to work best together.
Designing to the Cat 6A Standard
Range of Connector Values
A
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 thework together with connectivity that can be anywhere in the performance envelope.Competent manufacturers will design extra margin into component rated products to provide excellent performancecomponent-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 not previously specified in earlier categories for 4pr UTP cables.Other types of Crosstalk, such as NEXT and FEXT, areOther types of Crosstalk, such as NEXT and FEXT, are generated WITHINthe cable jacket, connector cord or panelconnector, cord, or panel.NEXT and FEXT can be predicted, and can therefore be reducedtherefore be reduced through noise cancellation within th ti i tthe active equipment.
Comp. Guarantee Channel Perform.?
In some instances, meeting component requirements for AXT DOES NOT guarantee the resulting channel or link will meet AXT limitsAXT limits. In addition to meeting the component requirements, all connecting hardware and cable should also be verified for link
d h l AXT fand 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 conversionconversion.
Differential Mode Signals
Current flow in UTP cabling induces a magnetic field around the conductorsthe 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 samein 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 tmagnitude 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 LevelAXT testing for hardware includes setups for ANEXT and AFEXT.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 victimport and the surrounding ports are the disturbersport, and the surrounding ports are the disturbers.AXT from eachsurrounding
iport is measured and summed.
AXT Testing at the Component LevelN t ll b t h i ifi t ff t AXT dNot 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’rewall plates they re generally the nearby ports.
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.
UTP & Shielded System
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 6Ao This increase contributed to Cat-6A
Terminology
Terminology – ISO and N. America Flavors
End to End Channel
4-Connector Channel
Channel is the same for UTP and Shielded
Work Area Outlet
Devise or
Field Tester
Telecommunications Closet
Work Area Outlet
HorizontalCable
Patch Cord LengthTester
ActiveConsolidation
PatchPanelPort 2
PatchPanelPort 1
g5m max
Active or
Field Tester
Point
Patch Cord Length
5m max Total
Testing Length328 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 byfrequency (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 corecorrupting 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 thupon the material used, its thickness, and the
frequency spectrum
Shield? STRENGTHSEMI/RFI Protection
o Noise immunity from outside electrical noisenoise
Securityo Data security in secure network
applicationsAlien Crosstalk (Cat 6A)
o Mitigates AXT in high frequencyo 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? WEAKNESSESCost
o Shielded systems generally 30-40% higher vs UTP Shielded Cat-6A ishigher 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 iterminate (cable prep, foil, drain wire, rework)
o Training - May require additional installer training
Availability o Shielded products are stocked ino Shielded products are stocked in
smaller quantities than UTP.
Shield TypesFoil – Most common today
o Better flexibility but not as ruggedo Excellent for mitigating high frequencieso Excellent for mitigating high frequencieso Screen must be folded onto itself for full shield effecto 1.5 or 2.0 mil aluminum foil shield
Braids
o Good flexibility and ruggedo Lower DC resistance than foiled screenso Lower DC resistance than foiled screenso Excellent for mitigating noise at low frequencieso Use higher braid coverage percentage for maximum protection
C bi ti b id/f il t tiCombination braid/foil construction
o Maximum effectiveness of shieldingo More bulky – difficult to work withyo More costly
Shield Market Sector
Financialo Trading desks, high speed data close to other
cablescables. Govt. o Secure network applications, EMI/RFI immunity.
H lthHealthcare o Application near ambient electrical noise; MRI
equipment, etc.GGaming o High concentration of electrical noise
• Lights, slot machines, cameras, ATMs, etc.Industrialo Motors, generator, fluorescent lights
Why Bonding & Grounding ?
Life safety requirementso NEC (NFPA 70) Article 250o NEC (NFPA 70) Article 250Protection of People & Propertyo Life Safety – Prevent severe
injury or possible death for b ildi tbuilding occupants.
o Equipment – Prevent equipment from beingequipment 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)
BondingDefinition
“The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity toconductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely an current likely to be imposed.” (NEC Article 100 definition)
PurposePurpose
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 pto some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.”
PurposePurpose
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 yEarth.
Grounding Patch Panels• Rack Level View of shielded system
A d t th W k A i t i d
Grounding at the Work AreaA ground at the Work Area is not requiredGrounding 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 TRgrounded, the channel is tied to the ground in the TR.
Summary
Component rating is necessary to achieve good channel marginBoth Cat-6A Shielded and Unshielded Cables are used world
idwideMajority of installs are UTPSome regions prefer Unshielded and some prefer just ShieldedI t d ti f C t 6A i d th f hi ld d l tiIntroduction 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 applicationsapplicationsUTP recommended for installations where no noise is present and Shielded is recommended for installations in noisy environments