100% Component Testing

Beyond mated performance and mechanical testing, an additional measure to ensure patch cord performance is to test each patch cord to the TIA/EIA-568-B.2 component requirement. ZION COMMUNICATION implements a strict ISO 9001 quality procedure that 100% tests every patch cord to the electrical transmission requirements per TIA/EIA-568-B.2. Every patch cord assembly produced is tested for Wire Map, NEXT, and Return Loss using a Fluke Digital Cable Analyzer. Each patch cord is then shipped with a quality control label, which is referenced to actual test data verifying high performance.

Know Your Cat.s Cable Categories

The classification of patch cables into categories 1 to 7 follows the general definition of classes A to G for connections and transmission channels in the ISO/IEC 11801 specification. The category, therefore, always designates a single component of a transmission channel. In the case described here, the cables can also be, for example, junction boxes or plugs and sockets, while the class designates the entire channel. Above class F, class G is still defined with subclasses I and II, and, analogously, cabling categories 8, 8.1, and 8.2 are defined. For modern cabling, these are relevant from class D or Cat.5e.

CAT.5e

Standard for Prosumer

Cables of this category are used for class D transmission channels and are most commonly found in existing installations. They can transmit frequencies up to 100MHz and are divided into Cat.5 and Cat.5e. While Cat.5 supported fast Ethernet with 100Mbps, it was not suitable for Gigabit Ethernet and therefore held no critical place within the market. Cat 5e patch cable was a cable standard with improved NeXT and FeXT values used for 1000BaseT networks. This low-cost standard is popular in the home and prosumer markets and is still widely used.

CAT.6

Professional Applications

Category 6 cables belong to connection class E or EA and are therefore divided into Cat.6 and Cat.6A (Cat.6 Augmented) for transmitting frequencies up to 250 or 500MHz. Cat.6 cables are mainly used in data networks with multimedia applications and high network load. To meet the higher bandwidth requirements for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Cat6 patch cord are used. Cat.6A has been chosen for frequencies up to 500MHz over 100m. This means that in modern installations designed for 10GBASE-T, you should always find at least a Cat6 patch cable.

CAT.7

Improved Shielding – Higher Data Rates

Category 7 is divided into Cat.7 and Cat.7A for cables, according to class F and FA. Defined for operating frequencies up to 600 or 1000 MHz, this category relies on a cable structure with four individually shielded pairs and one overall shield. This improved shielding means that the cables in this category are well equipped for future developments. For the first time, new Cat.7 connectors have been added to the standard, the RJ45 downward compatible Nexans GG45 and the fully shielded TERA connector from Siemon. However, both were not able to establish themselves on the market. Cat. 7 cables and modern 10GBASE-T network devices continue to use RJ45.

CAT.8

Professional High-End-Standard

Category 8, which has not yet been fully adopted, is currently in the starting blocks, with class G being divided into the subcategories Cat.8.1 with class I. Cat.8 features RJ45 connectors fully compatible with Cat.6A and Class EA, and Cat.8.2 and Class II, consistent and interoperable with Cat.7A and class FA with RJ45, GG45, or TERA connectors. Cat.8 is designed for a maximum operating frequency of 2000MHz. The cables in this category are suitable for use with the latest Ethernet standards, 25GBASE-T, 40GBASE-T, and 100 GBASE-T. Cat.8 cables are typically found in datacentres as fast connections between switches and routers due to their shorter ranges.

Network Cables & Their Shielding Types

Unshielded Twisted Pair - U/UTP

Unshielded/Unshielded Twisted Pair – a completely unshielded cable, still often used for the lower cable categories Cat.5 and Cat.6 This means that they are usually sufficient for the transmission methods of networks up to Gigabit Ethernet, even if they are not optimal. However, it may be better to use unshielded cables in some cases.

Firstly, if there are significant voltage potential differences between the endpoints of the reference potential and the network devices used, they are connected to earth or ground potential via the PE contact of the power supply cable, a second earth connection, and an earth loop are created. It generates low-frequency compensation currents via the cable shield, which considerably impairs signal quality. Second, some AV or USB extender systems use Cat. X cables depend more on good crosstalk than good shielding and therefore work better with unshielded cables.

Foiled Unshielded Twisted Pair - F/UTP

A F/UTP cable comprises a U/UTP cable core wrapped in a foil screen made of mainly aluminum laminated plastic. This shielding type was the most frequently used for a long time and is more than enough for Cat.5 and Cat.6 cable categories and transmission standards up to Gigabit Ethernet while significantly optimizing the signal quality compared to U/UTP cables.

Screened Foiled Twisted Pair - S/FTP

This shielding type with braided shielding around the cable core and foil shielding around the individual wire pairs is sometimes referred to as PiMF cable (Pair in Metal Foil). It represents the most substantial shielding and must be used for some cable categories (Cat.7, Cat.7A, and Cat.8.2). The wire mesh of the overall shield should have a coverage of more than 30% to achieve enough shielding against the typically low-frequency (and long-wave) interference.

Ethernet patch cable production process

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