Network Cabling

What is Network Cabling?

Network Cable is the medium through which information usually moves from one network device to another.
There are several types of cable which are commonly used with LANs. In some cases, a network will utilize only
one type of cable, other networks will use a variety of cable types. The type of cable chosen for a network is
related to the network's topology, protocol, and size. Understanding the characteristics of different types of cable
and how they relate to other aspects of a network is necessary for the development of a successful network.

Types of cables used in networks.

 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable

 Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
 Coaxial Cable
 Fiber Optic Cable
 Cable Installation Guides
 Wireless LANs
 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable

Twisted pair cabling comes in two varieties: shielded and unshielded. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the most
popular and is generally the best option for school networks.

Figure 1: Unshielded twisted pair

The quality of UTP may vary from telephone-grade wire to extremely high-speed cable. The cable has four pairs
of wires inside the jacket. Each pair is twisted with a different number of twists per inch to help eliminate
interference from adjacent pairs and other electrical devices. The tighter the twisting, the higher the supported
transmission rate and the greater the cost per foot. The EIA/TIA (Electronic Industry
Association/Telecommunication Industry Association) has established standards of UTP and rated six categories
of wire.
UTP Cable Color Coding
In the Un-Shielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable, digital signal protection comes from the twists in the wire. The
more twists per inch, the farther the digital signal can supposedly travel without interference. For example,
categories 5 and 6 have many more twists per inch than category 3 UTP has. The Twists are given to the wire to
reduce the Cross talk or interference to electrical signals.

There are 4 twisted pairs with four different colored wires. Each colored wire is twisted with white wire with a
strip of same color on it. For example, an Orange color twisted pair would a one wire of Orange color and one
of while color with a strip of orange color on it.
Only Two pairs are used with cable numbers 1, 2, 3, and 6 for Tx (Transmitting signals) and Rx (Receiving Signals)
signals.

There are 3 types of cables

 Straight
 Cross
 Rollover or Console

Identifying the Cable type

Hold both ends/RJ-45connectors of cable with their Jack in downward position. Now start matching the color
coding from left pin of connector towards right. Below is example to identify a cross cable.
Straight Cable

It is used to connect devices having different function. For example:

 Connecting a router to a hub or switch.
 Connecting a server to a hub or switch.
 Connecting workstations to a hub or switch.

Below is the color coding of Straight cable. The color coding is kept same on both ends.
Cross Cable

It is used to connect devices having same functions or roles. For example:

 Connecting uplinks between switches.
 Connecting hubs to switches.
 Connecting a hub to another hub.
 Connecting PC to PC
 Connecting PC to a Router
 Connecting 2 routers together without a hub or a switch.
Below is the color coding for a Cross cable. The only difference with respect to straight cable is that 1st and 3rd
// 2nd and 6th numbered cables are swapped on the 2nd end of the cable.
Console or Rollover Cable

It is used for device configuration. For example you have bought a new router and what to configure it with
initial config. You need a console cable for same. One end of console cable is connected to console port of the
router or a switch and other end would be connected to NIC port of your laptop or PC. Below is the color coding
of Console cable. The color coding of both ends are totally reversed.
Categories of Unshielded Twisted Pair

Unshielded Twisted Pair Connector

The standard connector for unshielded twisted pair cabling is an RJ-45 connector. This is a plastic connector that
looks like a large telephone-style connector (See fig. 2). A slot allows the RJ-45 to be inserted only one way. RJ
stands for Registered Jack, implying that the connector follows a standard borrowed from the telephone
industry. This standard designates which wire goes with each pin inside the connector.

Figure 2: RJ-45 connector

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable

Although UTP cable is the least expensive cable, it may be susceptible to radio and electrical frequency
interference (it should not be too close to electric motors, fluorescent lights, etc.). If you must place cable in
environments with lots of potential interference, or if you must place cable in extremely sensitive environments
that may be susceptible to the electrical current in the UTP, shielded twisted pair may be the solution. Shielded
cables can also help to extend the maximum distance of the cables.

Shielded twisted pair cable is available in three different configurations:

 1. Each pair of wires is individually shielded with foil.
2. There is a foil or braid shield inside the jacket covering all wires (as a group).
3. There is a shield around each individual pair, as well as around the entire group of wires (referred to as
double shield twisted pair).

Figure 3: Shielded Twisted Pair

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cabling has a single copper conductor at its center. A plastic layer provides insulation between the center
conductor and a braided metal shield. The metal shield helps to block any outside interference from fluorescent
lights, motors, and other computers.

Figure 4: Coaxial cable

Although coaxial cabling is difficult to install, it is highly resistant to signal interference. In addition, it can support
greater cable lengths between network devices than twisted pair cable. The two types of coaxial cabling are thick
coaxial and thin coaxial.

Thin coaxial cable is also referred to as thinnet. 10Base2 refers to the specifications for thin coaxial cable carrying
Ethernet signals. The 2 refers to the approximate maximum segment length being 200 meters. In actual fact the
maximum segment length is 185 meters. Thin coaxial cable has been popular in school networks, especially linear
bus networks.

Thick coaxial cable is also referred to as thicknet. 10Base5 refers to the specifications for thick coaxial cable
carrying Ethernet signals. The 5 refers to the maximum segment length being 500 meters. Thick coaxial cable has
an extra protective plastic cover that helps keep moisture away from the center conductor. This makes thick
coaxial a great choice when running longer lengths in a linear bus network. One disadvantage of thick coaxial is
that it does not bend easily and is difficult to install.
  Here are some of the different uses for coaxial cable and which type is most suited for the task:

Coaxial Cable Connectors

The most common type of connector used with coaxial cables is the Bayone-Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector.
Different types of adapters are available for BNC connectors, including a T-connector, barrel connector, and
terminator. Connectors on the cable are the weakest points in any network. To help avoid problems with your
network, always use the BNC connectors that crimp, rather screw, onto the cable.

Figure 5: BNC connector

Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber optic cabling consists of a center glass core surrounded by several layers of protective materials (See fig. 5).
It transmits light rather than electronic signals eliminating the problem of electrical interference. This makes it
ideal for certain environments that contain a large amount of electrical interference. It has also made it the
standard for connecting networks between buildings, due to its immunity to the effects of moisture and lighting.

Fiber optic cable has the ability to transmit signals over much longer distances than coaxial and twisted pair. It
also has the capability to carry information at vastly greater speeds. This capacity broadens communication
possibilities to include services such as video conferencing and interactive services. The cost of fiber optic cabling
is comparable to copper cabling; however, it is more difficult to install and modify. 10BaseF refers to the
specifications for fiber optic cable carrying Ethernet signals.

The center core of fiber cables is made from glass or plastic fibers. A plastic coating then cushions the fiber center,
and kevlar fibers help to strengthen the cables and prevent breakage. The outer insulating jacket made of teflon
or PVC.

Figure 6: Fiber optic cable

There are two common types of fiber cables. They are single mode and multimode. Multimode
cable has a larger diameter. However, both cables provide high bandwidth at high speeds. Single mode can
provide more distance, but it is more expensive.
What is Cat6…?
The Cat6 Bare Copper cable is a sixth-generation ethernet cable that is designed to accommodate lightning-fast
data transfer rates of 10 Gbps and 1 Gbps up to a distance of 50 meters and 100 meters, respectively. The cable,
too, comes in 8 conductors that are tightly bundled in 4 twisted pairs.

Where is Cat 6A used?

Today, Cat 6A is a popular specification for data center and other enterprise applications. The move to Cat 6A has
been driven by several factors, including support for 10G networks, long-term planning for workstation areas,
Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications, and new wireless access points.

 Data Centers
 Wireless Applications
 Power over Ethernet (PoE)
 10GBASE-T Networks
 HDBaseT Networks

Standards
Cat 6A requirements are addressed in standards from multiple organizations. Regardless of the standard, all Cat
6A cabling will provide 10 Gb/s data rates, operate at a maximum frequency of 500 MHz, and have a maximum
distance of 100 meters.

 TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association)

 Telecommunications: ANSI/TIA-568.2-D (replaces 568-C.2)
 Defines: Performance requirements for Cat 6A channels, permanent links, and components

 ISO/IEC (International Standards Organization)

 Standard: ISO/IEC 11801-1 Information (Technology — Generic Cabling for Customer Premises;
Class EA Specification)
  Defines: Class EA cabling and component performance requirements for customer premises. ISO
equivalent of Cat 6A

 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

 Standard: IEEE 802.3 an
 Defines: Channel performance for 10GBASE-T Ethernet over balanced twisted-pair cabling
systems

 Standard: IEEE 1911.3

 Defines: Protocol for communicating 5Play™ over a single long-distance Local Area Network (LAN)
cable.

Copper Cable Terms and Types

Cat 6A Testing
Field testing of Cat 6A installations is much like field testing for Cat 5e and Cat 6. However, Cat 6A testing is
performed to a maximum frequency of 500 MHz.
In addition, Cat 6A adds several tests for alien crosstalk (AXT). Use an industry-recognized UL Level 4 or higher
field tester capable of testing to 500 MHz.
Contact the test equipment manufacturer for any necessary hardware or software upgrades, including AXT
testing capabilities, for testing Cat 6A installations.
Perform permanent link or channel tests for all installed drops. Upon completion, provide the customer with all
test results.
Network Cabling Testing
Insertion Loss
Because insertion loss occurs for any type of transmission, it is also a performance parameter in copper cabling
systems. Compared to fiber, copper cabling systems exhibit much more insertion loss. A key difference is also the
fact that signal loss over copper changes with the frequency of the signal—copper links exhibit more loss for
higher frequency signals. For example, the maximum allowed insertion loss for Category 5e specified to 100 MHz
is around 22 dB, while Category 6 specified to 250 MHz is a little over 32 dB.

Return Loss
Return Loss (RL) is a measure of all reflections that are caused by the impedance mismatches at all locations along
the link and is expressed in decibel (dB). It is of particular concern in the implementation of Gigabit Ethernet.

NEXT (Near End Crosstalk)

Near-end crosstalk (NEXT) is an error condition that can occur when connectors are attached
to twisted pair cabling. NEXT is usually caused by crossed or crushed wire pairs.
Two conductors only need to be close enough so that the radiating signal from one of the wires can interfere
with the signal traveling on the other. Most medium- to high-end cable testers are capable of testing for NEXT
errors.

Near-end crosstalk measures the signal coupled from one pair of wires to another and refers to the
ability of twisted wire cabling to reject crosstalk.
Different kinds of twisted pair cables have different NEXT values at the same frequency. For instance,
at 100 megahertz (MHz), a Cat6 and Cat5 cable have a NEXT value of 44.3 decibels and 35.3 dB,
respectively. The twisted rate on each pair optimizes for crosstalk performance, with different twists
for each pair preventing them from picking up crosstalk from other pairs.

 Higher frequencies mean more crosstalk.

 Lower frequencies mean less crosstalk.

 Lower NEXT means more crosstalk.

 Higher NEXT means less crosstalk.

PSNEXT (Power Sum NEXT)

This measures the total crosstalk between one wire pair and all its neighbors. In a four-pair cable, each pair is
affected by the other three pairs, and PSNEXT sums up their crosstalk. It is an important value, especially when
all four pairs are transmitting signals in a network.

It is the calculation that sums the measurement of all four pairs NEXT. It is important to know the PSNEXT because
it tells us how each pair is impacted when used in a network where all four pairs are transmitting signals.

ACR-N (Attenuation to Crosstalk Ratio Near-End)

This is the difference between NEXT and the attenuation for the pair in the link under test. Due to the effects of
attenuation, signals are at their weakest at the receiver end of the link. But this is also where NEXT is the
strongest. Signals that survive attenuation must not get lost due to the effects of NEXT .
Despite the name however, it is not really a ratio, but rather the mathematical difference obtained when subtracting the
crosstalk value from the attenuation value at a given frequency. This value is calculated and ACR can’t be measured
directly. ACR-N is calculated by subtracting the attenuation of the disturber pair from the near-end crosstalk (NEXT) on the
disturbed pair.
Test Results

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Testing Machine

WireXpert 500 (Copper)

WireXpert 500 is an affordable and upgradable cable certification tester that can grow with your cable
certification needs. Invest today only in options that are really needed and upgrade the device later when
necessary. Options are available for just copper cable certification up to CAT 6A/Class EA, a fiber optic multimode
and single mode tier 1 certification tester and a combined copper and fiber certification tester.

 Certify up to 10 Gbit/sec cabling in a few seconds

 1 Local & 1 Remote unit with 500 MHz copper test license
 2 CAT 6A Link adapters including cables
 2 CAT 6A Channel adapters
Cat 6 UTP Patch Cord

Overview

The Signamax Category 6 28 AWG Unscreened Patch

Cords have been designed to meet the need for
today’s high-bandwidth applications. These patch
cords incorporate a slim profile snag-free boot
design which protects the plug latch and offers
greater flexibility. The cords are 100% transmission
tested and support category 6 component level
performance.
Manufactured using ETL verified 28 AWG stranded
cable design to support a greater service life.
Assembled in a controlled environment to ensure
consistent quality, these patch cords provide
reliable performance when mated with any category 6 connecting hardware and deliver supreme performance
for network cabling systems.

Key Features

 Supports the high-density demand applications

 100% factory tested per ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 to ensure category 6 component performance
 ETL verified unscreened 28 AWG stranded cable
 Standard RJ-45 connectors with 50 μin gold plated contacts
 Nine standard lengths & eight jacket colors
 Snagless design protects the plug latch & offers greater flexibility

Patch Cable Color Standards

As we’ve come to expect, patch cable color standards may be published by ANSI/TIA but within these
recommendations, there has yet to be universal adoption. With patch cable color standards, the University of
Wisconsin Network Services Department is leading the way through example by helping to define what colors are
to be used for every cable system.
The standard colors used with patch cord jackets by the University of Wisconsin include:

 Grey – used for standard ethernet connections

 Green – used for crossover ethernet connections
 Yellow – used for POE connections
 Orange – used for analog non-ethernet connections
 Purple – used for digital non-ethernet connections
 Blue – used for terminal server connections
 Red – used for IP cameras
 Black – used as a general color
 Pink – used as an additional color option
 White – used as an additional color option
 Specifications

 TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE
ANSI/TIA-568-C.2: meets or exceeds category 6 (1-250 MHz) specifications
 TRANSMISSION MEDIA
4-pair, 7 strands 28 AWG unscreened twisted pair (UTP)
 WIRING SCHEME
ANSI/TIA-568-C.2: T568A & T568B
ISO/IEC 11801 2nd Ed.: 8-position pin/pair assignment (1-2/3-6/4-5/7-8)

 ELECTRICAL
Insulation Resistance: Min 500 MOhm @ 100 Vdc
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage: 1,000 Vdc/ac peak contact-to-contact @ 60 Hz for 1 min
Contact Resistance: Max 20 mOhm
Current Rating: Refer to downloadable spec sheet.
 CONSTRUCTION
Assembly: 4 pairs, 7 strands 28 AWG, UTP
Insulation: High density polyethylene
Plug Housing: UL listed 94V-0 flame retardant polycarbonate
IDC Blades: Phosphor bronze, min 50 μin of gold plating over 100 μin of nickel in contact area
Jacket:
Dimensions: Diameter < 0.25 in (6.35 mm)
Material: Flame retardant PVC compound
 MECHANICAL
Retention: 50 N (11 lbf) for 60 ± 5 s
Mating Cycle Life: Min 750 cycles
Tensile Strength: ≥ 20 N per wire
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Operating Temperature: 14 °F to 140 °F (-10 °C to 60 °C)
Storage Temperature: -40 °F to 158 °F (-40 °C to 70 °C)
Operating RH: 93% Max (non-condensing)
 COMPLIANCE
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-C.2, IEEE 802.3 ab, FCC Part 68, UL 1863, UL 94V-0
 APPLICATIONS
X.21, V.11, S0, ISDN, CSMA/CD 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 100BASE-T4, 100BASE-T2, 1000BASE-T,
10GBASE-T, TR 4/16/100, 100BASE-VG, ATM LAN 25/51/155, TP-PMD
 WARRANTY
5-year Limited Component
10-year Signamax Base Trunk
15-year Signamax Extended Component
25-year Signamax Cabling System