What brand of horizontal cabling does Ausvigor approve for its Category rated systems?
A: Ausvigor recommends and requires the use of Ausvigor premise cable for guaranteed channel/permanent link performance warranties. Some comparable premise cable manufactures include General, Belden, Mohawk, Superior Essex, CommScope, Hitachi and Berk-Tek.For details on Ausvigor performance warranties please click here.
What is the maximum length for horizontal cabling? What is the maximum length of patch cord in the horizontal cabling?
A: The maximum horizontal distance shall be 90m (295ft).
The horizontal distance is the cable length from the mechanical termination of the media at the horizontal cross-connect in the telecommunications room to the telecommunications outlet/connector in the work area. The length of the cross-connect jumpers and patch cords in the cross-connect facilities, including horizontal cross-connects, jumpers, and patch cords that connect horizontal cabling with equipment or backbone cabling, should not exceed 5m (16ft) in length. For each horizontal channel, the total length allowed for cords in the work area plus patch cord or jumpers plus equipment cables or cords in the telecommunications room shall not exceed 10m (33ft), unless a multi-user telecommunications assembly is used.
Note: in establishing the maximum distance for each horizontal channel, an allowance was made for 5 additional meters (16ft) from the telecommunications outlet/connector to the workstation.
Are there any plans for Category 7 cable?
A: At the present time there are no plans to pursue CAT 7 cable production.
Why does Ausvigor use a reel for the CAT 6A UTP Cable?
A: Due to the increased size and weight of the CAT 6A cable we decided to utilize a reel design which allows for faster dispensing, reduces likelihood of kinking, and can be mounted on an installers own dispensing apparatus for even faster or multiple cable pulls.
What is the purpose of the rip cord?
A: The rip cord is a feature that is available for those stripping the jacket from the cable without tools. Ausvigor recommends using either of the items: ASACSTSUCD, ASACSTSUS1, or ASACSCTRS instead to remove the jacket. Using these tools will reduce the amount of cable wasted when stripping the jacket. The rip cord feature is conveniently available with our CAT 5e UTP cable.
What is the difference between CM , CMR , and CMP ratings on the UTP cable?
A: These are different fire ratings that may be required by local authorities in different areas. In most cases CM is general purpose (typically used on same level cable installs), CMR (typically required for cable runs between floor levels though increasing required for use on floor level runs i.e between workstations), and CMP (typically required for cabling runs above ceilings and below floors) areas shared by air ducts. Each fire rating indicates the level of toxic fumes emiited when that cable is burned and self extinguishing features.
What are the six banned substances?
A: The six banned substances are Lead (Pb) Cadmium (Cd) Mercury (Hg) Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE).
Why should I test the cables immediately after pull-in?
A: This simplifies subsequent troubleshooting. By testing the system at this point, should a problem arise after the equipment is installed, the cabling system can be ruled out as a probable cause.
What applications will require 10 Gbps data rates?
A: The primary applications using 10 Gbps data rates are data centers, high-end workstations, and web-enabling applications.
Can I run CAT-5e Ethernet cable outside?
A: CAT-5e cable is not rated for outdoor use, however it can generally be used without a problem. If possible, run the cable through some kind of conduit to prevent moisture or an attractive site for lightning to strike. You should be able to find gray PVC conduit suitable for cable at any hardware store. Remember, 100 Meters is your max distance, without some kind of hub, bridge or amplification.
What are the key electrical parameters of the 10GBASE-T standard?
A: The IEEE has determined that Alien Crosstalk is the main electrical parameter limiting the performance of the structured cabling system when applied to 10transmission lines. Alien Crosstalk is a coupled signal in a disturbed pair arising from a signal in a neighboring cable. Additionally, IEEE has determined that all of the specified Category 6 electrical parameters are to be extended out to 500 MHz with Insertion Loss meeting Class F requirements.
What are the benefits of the RoHS Directive?
A: The extraction and disposal of hazardous raw materials can cause damage to both the environment and to human health. The removal and or reduction of these types of materials at the production level will help reduce health risks associated with exposure and especially so for children and the elderly and pregnant women.
What are the recommended minimum bend radius when installing indoor copper premise cabling?
A: The recommended minimum bend radius for unshielded horizontal cables (6-pair or smaller) is 4 times the cable diameter. The recommended minimum bend radii for unshielded backbone cables (greater than 6-pair) and coax is 10 times the cable diameter. The recommended minimum bend radii for shielded backbone cables is 12 times the cable diameter.
Should cable slack be included in installations?
A: Yes. Slack may be necessary to accommodate future cabling system changes. The recommended amount of slack is 10 feet, regardless of media, for the telecommunications closet. At the outlet, the recommended optical fiber slack is 3 feet, while one foot is recommended for twisted-pair cables.
Can we get gigabit performance from Category 5 UTP cables?
A: For any new installations, we recommend Category 5e or Category 6 cables and connectivity. On any existing Category 5 installations, you’ll need to re-test and pass PowerSum, ELFEXT, and Return Loss in order to run gigabit. D. Racks & Cable Management
What is the difference between a “Channel” and a “Link”?
A: These terms describe two Category certification tests. These tests differ in how much of a horizontal cabling run is included for testing. The basic difference is that a link includes only the permanent part of the cable run, while a channel includes patching and/or equipment cords as well.
What does Riser rated (CMR)cable mean?
A: Riser rated cable is required for jobs where cable is going to be run vertically up multistory buildings in floor to floor wiring riser.
What is the different between CMP and CMR rated cable?
A:Building codes require fi re rated cabling to provide protection for occupants in the event of a fi re. Fire rated cabling requirements strive to reduce the toxicity of fumes emitted by cabling when burned.
Riser-rated cable (CMR) is typically for general use in vertical spaces
Plenum rated cable (CMP) is typically used in air circulation spaces
Always check with your local, state, and federal laws for fi re code compliance
What type of cable is used in the horizontal cabling system?
A: Three types of cables are recommended for use in the horizontal cabling system: Four-pair 100 Ohm unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) or screened twisted pair (ScTP) cables.Two or more optical fiber multimode cable, either 62.5/125 μm or 50/125 μm. One single mode cable.
What is Horizontal Cabling?
A: The horizontal cabling is the portion of the telecommunications cabling system that extends from telecommunications outlet/connectors and the horizontal cross-connect in the telecommunications room to the workstation. Horizontal cabling includes outlet/connectors in the work area, mechanical terminations, and patch cords or jumpers located in the telecommunications room, and may include multi-user telecommunications outlet assemblies.
What is Bend Radius for Cat 5e, Cat 6 and Cat 6a cables?
A: Per TIA-568 the general rule of thumb as it stands currently is a Bend Radius of about 4 times the diameter of the cable itself for Cat 5e & 6 cables. Refer to manufacturers specifications for the Cable.
What is the difference between Horizontal and Backbone Cabling?
A: Horizontal cabling extends directly from the horizontal cross connect in the telecommunications room to the workstations, with no splices, bridges, taps, or other connections. Backbone cabling connects the telecommunications room with outside services, or connects telecommunications rooms together within, or between buildings.
Which of the two following terms support speed and which is correctly used for bandwidth; MHz and Mbps?
A: Mbps (mega bits per second) refers to the speed of data, whereas MHz (mega hertz) relates to the bandwidth.
What is the difference between Shielded twisted pair and Screened twisted pair cable?
A: Shielded twisted pair cable (STP) is most often known as IBM Type I cable or STP-A. It is defined in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A as two individually twisted pairs separated by a shield with a nominal impedance of 150 Ohms. Screened twisted pair cable (ScTP) can be considered a very close relative of STP. It consists of 4 pairs of 22 or 24 AWG wire enclosed by an out foil. Impedance is 100 Ohms.
What is UTP cable?
A: UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair. It is a cable type with one or more pairs of twisted insulated copper conductors contained in a single sheath. UTP cables are the most common type of cabling used in desktop communication applications.
What will happen if I mix and match different manufacturers’ hardware together?
A: If the components are Category 6 compliant, then you will be assured of Category 6 performance.
What is crosstalk?
A: Crosstalk is the unwanted introduction of signals from one channel or pair to another.
What is return loss?
A: Return loss is the ratio of signal power transmitted into a system to the power reflected. An echo best describe return loss. Changes in or mismatched impedance causes signal reflection.
What is the difference between T-568-A and T-568-B?
A: The pairs 2 (orange) and 3 (green) are interchanged. T-568-A is the original wiring configuration in TIA-568. T-568-B was put in the specification to accommodate the installation base at the time. T-568-B is still more widely used today. T-568-A is typically used in government and residential installations.
What does Plenum (CMP) rated cable mean?
A: Plenum rated cable is required for jobs where cable is going to be run in return air space. In most buildings this area is above drop ceilings or under raised floors. The materials required to pass plenum standards are much more expensive than non-plenum-rated designs.
Can you recommend a field tester for wiring set ups?
A: The most commonly used testers are Fluke, Ideal, Microtest, and Agilent.
What are the differences between Category 5 and Category 5e ratings?
A: Both Category 5 and Category 5e consist of unshielded twisted pair with 100 Ohm impedance and electrical characteristics supporting transmissions up to 100 MHz. The difference between Category 5 and Category 5e is in transmission performance. Category 5e components are most suitable for a high-speed Gigabit Ethernet, while Category 5 components may function to some degree in a Gigabit Ethernet. They perform below standard during high-data transfer scenarios:
Channel Performance Characteristics
Parameter CAT 5 CAT 5 CAT 5e
(ISO Class D) 100 MHz 100 MHz 100 MHz
Attenuation 24.0dB 24.0dB 24.0dB
NEXT 27.1dB 27.1dB 30.1dB
PSNEXT 24.0dB N/A 27.1dB
ELFEXT 17.0dB 17.0dB 17.4dB
PSELFEXT 14.4dB 14.4dB 14.4dB
ACR (derived) 3.1dB 3.1dB 6.1dB
PSACR (derived) N/A N/A 3.1dB
Return Loss 10.0dB 8.0dB 10.0dB
What are the differences between Category 6 and Category 6e ratings?
A: Both Category 6 and Category 6e consist of unshielded twisted pair with 100 Ohm impedance and electrical characteristics supporting transmissions up to 350 MHz. The difference between Category 6 and Category 6e is in transmission performance. Category 6e components are most suitable for a high-speed Gigabit Ethernet, while Category 6 components may function to some degree in a Gigabit Ethernet. They perform below standard during high-data transfer scenarios:
What are the UL levels of cable?
A: There are three levels. General Purpose: UL 1581; Riser: UL 1666; and Plenum UL These numbers are all fire and safety rated.
What gauge of wire is specified for use with the 6P6C plug?
A: It would be specified for 24-28 AWG Stranded.
We have UTP cables running horizontally with power cable in the same cable tray. In some areas the cables touch. What is the required distance of separation for these cables?
A: Briefly, Article 800.52 (A) (2) of the 2002 NEC code states “Communications wires and cables shall be separated at least 50 mm (2”) from conductors of any electric light, power, Class 1, non-power limited fire alarm, or medium power network-powered broadband communications circuits.” There are two exceptions: 1) the use of specially designed and rated raceway having separate channels where “all the communications circuits are encased…” and 2) where the cables are “separated by a continuous and firmly fixed nonconductor, such as porcelain tubes or flexible tubing, in addition to the insulation on the wire.” In addition to the NEC code, your installation may be subject to state, county, and local codes and ordinance.
What is affected by RoHS?
A: RoHS will affect anyone who manufactures in the European Union (EU) and sells electrical and electronic equipment under their own brand. It will also affect resellers in the European Union (EU) who sell products under their own brand or products produced by other suppliers.
I am having difficulty with cable snagging/kinking when pulling?
A: Ausvigor premise cable pull boxes are designed with one of the most common patented winding methods in the industry REELEX?.
The REELEX? winding method strives for wire dispersion from the pull box without twists, tangles, snags or overruns.
While this is an effective method for facilitating cable pulls, its performance is susceptible to installation handling.To reduce the likelihood of pulling difficulties - Avoid shipping single cartons by courier services where the cartons may be carelessly tossed about, shifting the organized coiling within the box.Also, be careful when transporting the cartons to minimize turbulent movement impact on the inside coils.Avoid re-feeding wires back into the pull box which can disturb the inner coiling.Avoid stacking or pulling from the dispensing box with the dispensing opening face upward.
What is the different between CAT 6A UTP and FTP?
A: The type of twisted-pair cabling chosen makes a difference in how well a network functions. Electromagnetic and radio waves emitted by electronics or heavy machinery can affect the performance of signals traveling through network.
As a general rule, use FTP cabling in environments with high electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI)
In electrically quiet environments, opt for UTP cable
UTP cable offers cost savings over FTP cable due to the extra manufacturing process that is required for interference protection in a FTP cable
What is the difference in stranded and solid cable?
A: Stranded cable has several small gauge wires in each separate insulation sleeve. Solid has one large gauge wire in each sleeve. Stranded cable is more flexible, making it more suitable for shorter distances and tight bends such as patch cords. Solid cable has better electrical performance.