Proper methods for field testing Cat.6 will help to ensure interoperability

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Proper methods for field testing Cat.6 will
help to ensure interoperability

• Christian SchillabProduct Manager Media
  TestFluke Networks Europechristian.schillab_at_fluk
  enetworks.com

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Field Certification Confidence

• Testing the right thing
• The correct connections
• The proper test criteria (test standard)
• The proper measurement technique
• Testing it correctly
• Use the proper equipment
• Carefully follow all the rules defined by the
  proper technique (test standard)
• A PASS assures that the cabling will not cause
  transmission problems

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Purpose of industry Standards(TIA, CENELEC ISO)

• Define an application independent, open system
• Provide guidance for building professionals to
  allow for a cabling infrastructure before
  specific requirements are known
• Define a flexible cabling scheme such that
  modifications are both easy and economical
• Define a cabling system that supports current
  applications and that is a basis for future
  development of network products

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Cat 6 Standard has been Approved

• TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1 (Addendum 1)
• The last challenge Fine tune the performance
  specification of the Cat 6 connecting hardware
• Component measurement methodology
• Plug characterization amplitude and phase
  specification of NEXT disturbance signals
• Fluke Networks has actively contributed to
  standards RD efforts
• Goal achieve interoperability (as well as
  backwards compatibility)

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Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
(CENELEC)

• CENELEC EN 50173-1, Information
  TechnologyGeneric Cabling SystemsPart 1
  General Requirements and Office Areas
• CENELEC EN 50173-2, Information
  TechnologyGeneric Cabling SystemsPart 2
  Industrial Premises
• CENELEC EN 50173-3, Information
  TechnologyGeneric Cabling SystemsPart 3 Small
  Office Home Office (SOHO)

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Future 50173 Structure

• 50173-1, General Requirements
• 50173-2, Commercial Premises
• 50173-3, Industrial Premises
• 50173-4, Residential Premises
• 50173-5, Data Centres

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ISO/IEC 11801 Ed.2 2002

• Information Technology Generic Cabling for
  Customer Premises
• Joint Technical Committee of ISO and IEC (ISO/IEC
  JTC1 SC25 WG3)
• Generally adopted around the world

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Classes/categories of copper cabling

• Class A is specified up to 100 kHz
• Class B is specified up to 1 MHz
• Class C/category 3 is specified up to 16 MHz
• Class D/category 5/5e is specified up to 100 MHz
• Class E/category 6 is specified up to 250 MHz
• Class F/category 7 is specified up to 600 MHz

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...what testers test what
250 MHz
NOTE For Class F a Level IV tester is required
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Status Level IV Requirement

• Level III limits are far from being sufficient
  due to the much more demanding limits in Class F
• IEC 61935-1 Ed.2 is since July in DRAFT
• Fluke Networks is actively driving the issue and
  supplied suggested limits for all models (BL, PL
  and CH)
• other contributions only provided BL limits and
  ffs (for further study) !!!

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Lets step back to get in sync .
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An installed Horizontal Cabling Link
HUB or SWITCH
TO
CP
PATCH CORD
Cross-connect Panel
HORIZONTAL CABLE
PATCH CORD
WORKSTATION
Consolidation Point (Optional)
TELECOMMUNICATIONSROOM
WORK AREA
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Testing the Channel
TO
CP
PATCH CORD
Cross-connect Panel
HORIZONTAL CABLE
PATCH CORD
WORKSTATION
Consolidation Point (Optional)
TELECOMMUNICATIONSROOM
WORK AREA
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Testing the Permanent Link
Test results do not include contributions by the
tester patch cables
TO
CP
TESTER PATCH CABLE
HORIZONTAL CABLE
TESTER PATCH CABLE
Consolidation Point (Optional)
WORK AREA
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A detailed look at the Permanent Link
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NEXT Variability in connections
Variability from the patch cord plug mating
Significant for NEXT, much less for Return Loss!
The PL test model renders worst case test !
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..De-Embedded ? ...Compliant ?? ...Centered
??? ..Universal ???? explained in 5 minutes

• An attempt !!!

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Category 6 Connector family affairs
?
poor poor good
OR
poor poor not good enough
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The balancing act for connector NEXT
37 dB ? dB
37 dB 0.6 dB
gt54dB
Jack
Plug
Point of observation
If the plug and jack like each other they can
achieve a Mated NEXT of gt 54 dB
NOTELarge dB value GOODSmall dB value POOR
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NEXT Performance of different Plug Jack
combinations
cat.6 Limits(54/52.5db _at_ 100 Mhz)
NEXT _at_ 100 MHz (Pair 1-3) for 4 Cat.6 Systems
Cat.5 Limit
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Courtesy NEXANS
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Conclusions

• Using the right plug is crucial
• Today only a standads compliant TIA compliant
  plug can be right plug
• Using a compliant as well as centered plug is
  beneficial
• A universal plug is electromechanical voodoo

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How does one determine the de-embedded values

• Its complex !
• It can be done in the lab only
• Only a few are up todo it
• An ongoing round robinis backing results up

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De-embedded Values

• Describe the performance of the plug by itself
• The name de-embedded refers to the method used
  to discover these values
• Alternate method direct probing
• Pioneered by Fluke Networks
• Obtains very good correlation in a round-robbin
  evaluation by several laboratories
• Yields the de-embedded values
• The HOW is not important in this presentation
• The What, Why and benefits follow...

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Cat 6 Plug NEXT Loss
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How is it possible to pick a centered plug ?

• Method ASelect from a large number of
  conventional IDC based plugs
• Time consuming (expensive)
• Bad yield - only a few will be centered on
  allwire pairs

• Method BUse a printed circuit board based
  solution
• close to neglect able variation
• All pairs are centered

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PM06 Endorsements

• Introduction Mai 2003
• Recommended by 26 manufacturer

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PLA Solution for NEXT

• Implement the solution to test the Permanent Link
• The removable 8-pin plug can be replaced with
  different Personality Modules
• You need only one set of interface adapters and
  a few sets of Personality Modules

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PM25 A Cat 6 plug

• PM25 meets the range requirements for all wire
  pair combinations
• Test component level compliance
• A single PM25 plug may fall anywhere within the
  Cat 6 range and is not especially centered
• If link passes with PM25 interoperability
  with Cat 6 compliant patch cables
• Connect Cat 6 compliant patch cables to a passing
  Permanent Link and the Channel will meet Cat 6
  specifications. No need to retest the channel
• This is an unshielded plug!

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Personality Modules (PM01 PM03)

• Selections were made on empirical basis
• Achieve interoperability with the largest number
  of existing Cat 6 jacks on the market
• Minimum number of items to be maintained in
  production and inventory (factory and channel )
• Not selected on basis of de-embedded values
• This exercise pre-dates the de-embedded
  definitions in the standards
• continue to Show at www.flukenetworks.com/pmmatrix
  under Legacy Systems
• Final selection
• 3 8-pin modular plug models
• PLUS 5 IDC-type models (T568A and T568B)

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PM06

• Cat 6 center definition for all wire pairs
• Universal/shielded solution
• Limit the variability between PMs
• Increase repeatability (perceived accuracy)
• Provides optimum result with compliant jack

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Patch Cord and Spool Test Solution
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Problem Solution
Compliant Link Compliant Patch
Cord Compliant Channel

• Field test paradigm
• Test permanent link model
• If pass, add compliant patch cords to complete
  end-to-end channel connection
• This channel is compliant without re-certifying
  with a Channel test
• Key issue
• Do you know whether your patch cords comply with
  the standard?

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Patch Cord Performance is very Important to the
Channel

• Proximity to the transmitter
• Impact of NEXT in Patch cord and mated connection
• Impact of RL in patch cord cable

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A Patch Cord

• Most important is the mated NEXT performance of
  the plugs at the end of the patch cord
• Major impact on RL of the channel
• Test must include full evaluation of both of
  these parameters

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Standards Define Patch Cord Test

• TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1
• Paragraph 7.2.1.3 NEXT Loss
• NEXT Loss of near-end connection
• Worst-case addition of the NEXT Loss of the
  remote connection compensated for the round trip
  attenuation of the cable
• Plus NEXT of patch cord cable
• Plus an allowance for reflected FEXT (0.5 dB)
• NEXT Loss test limits of patch cords is
  length-dependent
• Very similar to latest draft of IEC 61935-2

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NEXT Measurement

• NEXT measurement
• Modular jacks must be selected to meet the Cat 6
  component-level definition
• These jacks can also be used to certify Cat 5e
  patch cords

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Return Loss Measurement

• Main unit is (factory) calibrated using one-port
  calibration (Open, Short and 100 O load)

• To diminish effect of far-end termination5 dB
  attenuation circuit in remote adapter

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Testing the Channel
The channel excludes the end-connection
WALL JACK
CP
PATCH CABLE
HORIZONTAL CABLE
PATCH PANEL
PATCH CABLE
Consolidation Point (Optional)
TELECOMMUNICATIONSROOM
WORK AREA
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Can I test Patch Cords like a Channel ?
End of Channel

• Channel test excludes the end connector
• Limit line assumes
• Up to 90 m of horizontal cable
• Up to 10 m of patch cord
• Up to four (4) connecting points
• In the knowledgebase is a detailed article on the
  issue

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Can I test a patch cord in a channel model with
a golden link ?

• Common practice inthe past
• Was o.k. for proprietary systems
• Also here one of the two connectors is excluded
  (would require a second test
• Exceptionally performing or proprietary
  (non-centered) Jack would compensate for non
  compliant patch cords
• Exceptional performing horizontal cable (NEXT
  RL) would hide under performing cords

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Spool Test

• Verify the quality of the cable before installing
  or processing
• Supports solid core horizontal cable and stranded
  cable to construct patch cords

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Test Options

• Qualify cable on the spool against Cat.5e and
  Cat.6 limits for Cable Spool lengths 300 m, 500
  m and 1000 m
• Test a 100 m cable without connectorizing
• Test all link parameters per TIA/EIA-568-B.2 and
  Addendum 1
• Requires 2 adapters or termination
• The adapter is constructed for 24 gauge cable
  (0.511 mm)
• Wires larger than 24 gauge may damage the
  connectors to make them unsuitable for 24 gauge

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Test Setup
Select appropriate standard in the Setup mode
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Spool Test Results
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Conclusions

• Test the Permanent Link with the standard plug
• PM06 is THE standard
• Test the patch cord with the standard jack
  (socket)
• Jack in the DSP-PCI-6S patch cord adapter is THE
  standard
• Qualify the cable-on-the-spool to avoid problems
  later
• Test the permanent link at installation time
• Test patch cords as needed
• The Channels will comply without re-testing in
  the field

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Any Questions?
Thank You forYour Attention !
Christian SchillabProduct Manager Media
TestFluke Networks Europechristian.schillab_at_fluk
enetworks.com