Which cabling system should you select?

Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A?

Why Performance Matters

The constant drive to meet higher industry standards is pushing Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) media to the limit. Vendors that claim "standards compliance" often base that claim on the fact that individual components were able to achieve this performance, on average, in lab tests, at a specific frequency. But this is not the complete story.

Do you like to gamble?

"Average" performance in lab tests does not take into account real-world conditions such as network congestion, less-than-perfect installation, and imbalance among components.

In the real world, many systems simply will not have enough headroom to cope.

Your PCs double in power every 2-3 years, driven by bandwidth-hungry applications. Your cabling - which represents only about 5% of your network costs - will have to handle massive traffic increases for 20 years to come.

To the uninitiated, the cabling standards jungle is daunting. Even for those with some experience, the choice of which system to select may not be straightforward. This is further complicated by the myriad of claims by various manufacturers on why their product is the best choice.

The pipe may not be as fat as it appears

Most vendors offer mixed cabling systems, built from the bottom up. That is, they begin with a core component (cable, usually) and add components from other vendors to create a "standards-compliant" system. Even if each component is Category 6 compliant, the channel may not be, because of design differences among components.

Slight differences in design can cause signal reflections at the points where they join. These signal "echoes" reduce performance of the entire channel. The only way to achieve peak channel performance and reliability from end-to-end are impedance-balanced components, matched precisely.

Be very wary of any warranty and performance claims; it really is imperative to read the small print and compare systems.

Ask the Tough Questions

In the trade magazines you'll see impressive claims from many companies. Read the ads, then evaluate them by asking a few difficult questions:

• Can the company guarantee significant channel margin over the entire frequency range?
• Are performance claims valid for the entire network channel, end to end, from equipment closet to desktop, guaranteed?
• Does the company design, manufacture and test every component? Every channel?
• The Big Question: Are advertised performance claims guaranteed in the warranty, for existing and future applications, for 20 years?

The Network Development Tools All Other Competitors Envy

Most vendors measure the performance of individual components. But in real-life use, these figures have little meaning. At the ultra-critical tolerances required to run Category 6 applications, even a slight imbalance among Category 6-compliant components can cause frequent slowdowns and network failures.

To build the world's most reliable cabling system, the scientists and engineers of SYSTIMAX Labs developed the most advanced network analysis tools in the world today: Modal Decomposition Modelling, Connector Field Pattern Modelling and Cable Twist Accuracy Technology.

These proprietary tools and techniques allow matching of the performance characteristics of every component with a level of precision no other company can approach. SYSTIMAX believe that this is the only way to assure full Category 6 performance throughout your complete network - closet to desktop - under all conditions.

Reliability is what it's all about. It doesn't happen by chance. It happens by attacking all sources of problems that reduce it. Cabling is one such source, attributed to 40% of all networking problems.

But choosing components mixed and matched together by a vendor can be a risky investment. 100-metre 4-connector channels may perform fine in the lab. But what about shorter channels where the same connectors are spaced closely together? Resonances can and do occur between certain closely spaced connectors under certain conditions. The electrical frequency of the resonance is design dependent and performance degradation is exacerbated with certain cable and cord lengths.

The Modal Decomposition and Modal Cascade Simulation techniques mark the start of a new era for cabling designers and users. Until now, designers had to work with incomplete information on the factors determining the performance of their products. It was also impossible to test enough channel configurations to be totally certain that all of them would meet specifications. That has now changed, and users can buy cabling solutions good enough to give their network infrastructure the reliability that matches its enormous importance to their business.

It's time to take back control of your network. The technology is available today to help you build the reliability your users demand. Why wait any longer?

The choices:

Category 5 (Cat5)	often mis-quoted and obsolete.
Category 5e (Cat5e)	an interim standard designed and introduced to meet the minimum specification to support gigabit Ethernet.
	Although often specified and installed today, a cost-effective solution with little or no real future-proofing.
	Expert opinion concurs that category 5e this is no longer a real contender. No headroom or tolerance for poor installation practices or sub- standard components.
Category 6 (Cat6)	With the inevitable drive to gigabit networking and beyond, transmission technology pushed Category 5e cabling to its limit, signalling the end of Category 5 cabling as we have known it for many years. Category 6 appeared as the saviour, allowing users to specify a cabling system with enough performance for robust and reliable gigabit transmission.

10Gb/s to the desktop... you must be joking!

Category 6A (Cat6A)	Category 6A/Class EA delivers improved cabling specifications to handle the impending move to 10 gigabitcommunications. Now is the right time to re-evaluate your network's long term capabilities and choose Category 6A/Class EA as the minimum corporate infrastructure standard.
	As with most new technologies, the networking industry has jumped on the latest: 10 Gigabit Ethernet over copper cabling. While many seem to be saying 'I'll never need 10 Gb/s to the desktop', beware of the future and learn from the past.

Want the Best Warranty in the Industry?

• Look for an Extended Product Warranty and Application Assurance that covers everything from voice, data and video applications to standards-based complex building management systems by some of the world's leading manufacturers.
• This should specify the performance of each application - not "average," not "nominal," as many companies do, but guaranteed worst-case channel performance - and that will warrant that your certified solution will meet or exceed those specifications for 20 years.

Specifically, a warranty to support any applications introduced by recognized industry standards-settings bodies or user forums that specify TIA/EIA 568B or ISO/IEC 11801 components and link/channel specifications for the pertinent cabling system.

The importance of Installer credentials in the selection of a cabling solution

Fact - you cannot improve the performance of a cabling system during installation - you can only make it worse.

Recognition of structured cabling as the 'fourth building utility' has led to it becoming as critical as a building's power distribution system.

The fundamental ideals of structured cabling go beyond the use of particular cabling products; equally important are the design, installation and management of the system.

Achieving high performance from cabling systems begins with the research and development labs and the quality of manufacturing - key factors in their own right. But the challenge doesn't end there. The systems have to be designed and installed in such a way to fulfil the needs of the particular customer environments, while ensuring that the full performance of the products are realised.

There are many stories from the industry about poor installation, untwisting pairs, damaged connectors, overfilled ceilings and trays, poor power separation. The list goes on. Customers therefore need to consider the 'complete cabling channel', when selecting the installed solution that they will use day by day.

As the cabling market continues to mature throughout the world, two trends are apparent relating to installation.

Firstly end user customers, consultants and for that matter installers are increasingly mindful of the demands made on installers for increased quality in the field. This in turn is reflected in an increased interest, and indeed demand, for installers to have specific vendor backed training qualifications as a pre-requisite to installing.

Secondly, installation companies in an over populated market need to be able to differentiate themselves and demonstrate to customers their experience and expertise. These together with the continued development of Structured Connectivity Solutions (SCS) and the challenge of offering increasingly higher quality to customers are the basis behind the continued development of the training programs.

Ensure that you check these credentials with the company you entrust to deliver your project.

It is a fact that not all cabling performs the same - even if they claim to be "standards compliant" To be sure that you get the full picture and understand the reality of how to make the right IT cabling choice, talk to one of our consultants.

Finding a company that is willing to contribute resource and expert advice, early in the planning process, can have a major impact in the success of a project. If you have an upcoming cabling requirement and would like some free, impartial advice please call one of our consultants.

Call us on 0845 833 1163 or email advice@roycecomms.com

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