Category 6 Cable: A Category on top of the Rest!

Today's bandwidth expectations mean that Categoryand may be difficult to attach to 8P8C connectors
5 is strategically dead. The Category 5 Enhanced (5e)without a special modular piece and are technically
standards, which should have been ratified in Augustnot standard compliant. If components of the various
and may be finalized at November's committeecable standards are intermixed, the performance of
meeting, specify new measurements that providethe signal path will be limited to that of the lowest
more margins for 100BaseTX and ATM-155 traffic.category. As with all cables defined by TIA
Critically, Category 5e standards make reliable GigabitEIA-568-B, the maximum allowed length of a Cat-6
Ethernet connections possible. But many structuredhorizontal cable is 90 meters (295 feet). A complete
cabling suppliers argue that Category 5e is only anchannel (horizontal cable plus cords on either end) is
interim solution on the road to Category 6, which willallowed to be up to 100 meters in length, depending
support at least 200 MHz; in the interests ofupon the ratio of cord length: horizontal cable length.
sufficient operating margin, the IEEE is requesting aThe cable is terminated in either the T568A scheme
250-MHz Category 6 specification. Despite the factor the T568B scheme. It doesn't make any
that the Category 6 standards are only at draftdifference which is used, as they are both straight
stage, manufacturers are offering a host of productsthrough (pin 1 to 1, pin 2 to 2, etc). Mixed cable types
and claiming that these products comply with theshould not be connected in serial, as the impedance
draft proposals. What is a category 6 cable? Out ofper pair differs and would cause signal degradation.
the three cable categories (Cat-5, Cat-5e & Cat-6),To connect two Ethernet units of the same type
Category 6 is the most advanced and provides the(PC to PC, or hub to hub, for example) a cross over
best performance. Just like Cat 5 and Cat 5e,cable should be used, though some modern hardware
Category 6 cable is typically made up of four twistedcan use either type of cable automatically. Return
pairs of copper wire, but its capabilities far exceedloss measures the ratio of reflected-to-transmitted
those of other cable types because of one particularsignal strength and is the single most difficult test to
structural difference: a longitudinal separator. Thisrepeat with consistent results; at Category 6 levels,
separator isolates each of the four pairs of twistedthe difference between a pass and a fail can be the
wire from the others, which reduces crosstalk, allowsamount of bend in a test cord. Return loss is also
for faster data transfer, and gives Category 6 cablecausing headaches for connector manufacturers,
twice the bandwidth of Cat 5! Cat 6 cable is ideal forbecause the RJ-45 system isn't up to the job. The
supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and is able to operatefinal stumbling block with Category 5e ratification
at up to 250 MHz. Since technology and standardsconcerns the RJ-45 hardware; Category 6 is
are constantly evolving, Cat 6 is the wisest choice ofcommitted to RJ-45 for backward compatibility, but
cable when taking any possible future updates tothe ISO's proposed Category 7 system will have a
your network into consideration. Not only is Categorynew and as-yet-unspecified connector to accompany
6 cable future-safe, it is also backward-compatibleits revised cabling. Today, the return loss problem
with any previously-existing Cat 5 and Cat 5e cablingexplains why manufacturers of Category 6 hardware,
found in older installations. Category 6, (ANSI/TIAwhich is supposed to be interoperable, claim Category
EIA-568-B.2-1) is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet6 performance only if you use the manufacturers'
and other network protocols that is backwardmatched parts throughout a channel link. The
compatible with the Category 5, category 5e andTelecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is
Category 3 cable standards. Cat-6 features moreworking to complete a new specification that will
stringent specifications for crosstalk and systemdefine enhanced performance standards for
noise. The cable standard is suitable for 10BASE-T /unshielded twisted pair cable systems. Draft
100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) andspecification ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-10 specifies cable
is expected to suit the 10000BASE-T (10Gigabitsystems, called "Augmented Category 6" or more
Ethernet) standards. It provides performance of upfrequently as "Category 6a", that operates at
to 250 MHz. The cable contains four twisted copperfrequencies up to 500 MHz and will provide up to 10
wire pairs, just like earlier copper cable standards.Gbit/s bandwidth. The new specification has limits on
Although Cat-6 is sometimes made with 23 gaugealien crosstalk in cabling systems. Augmented
wire, this is not a requirement; the ANSICategory 6 specifies cable operating at minimum
TIA-568-B.2-1 specification states the cable may befrequency of 500 MHz, for both shielded and
made with 22 to 24 AWG gauge wire, so long as theunshielded. It can support future 10 Gb/s applications
cable meets the specified testing standards. Whenup to the maximum distance of 100 meters on a
used as a patch cable, Cat-6 is normally terminated in4-connector channel.
8P8C often incorrectly referred to as "RJ-45"Information on hypoallergenic cat food can be found
electrical connectors. Some Cat-6 cables are too largeat the Hypoallergenic Diet site.