Cable category 6

The cable category 6 of class E is an evolution in term of gradation of the performances of wiring for the connections of the Ethernet type using of the drivers to not armor-plated twisted pairs. It is retro-compatible with the cables categories 5 UTP and 5th ftp of class D and makes it possible to transmit data to frequencies up to 250 MHz and flows not exceeding 1 Gbps.

Description

The cable category 6 is of type flexible, protected by a PVC sheath generally and composed of four not armor-plated twisted pairs. Its diameter lies between 5,3 and 5,8 mm consecutive with an increase in the sections of the copper drivers (22 AWG with 24 AWG) with an aim of obtaining an improvement of the characteristics compared to those of the former categories (diameter from 4,8 to 5,5 mm for the cables of category 5 and 5th).

This cable also has a tight step of twist of 12,7 mm or inferior in order to reduce cross talk between the pairs.

Principal characteristics

The principal electric characteristics are consigned in the table of measurements below. Those are carried out with the three following parameters:

length of the cable: 100 meters;
frequency: 100 MHz;
impedance: 100 ohms.

Designation

lost Insertion or loss by insertion: weakening measured by the relationship between emitted energy and received energy. More measurement is small, better is the power of the received signal.

Next (Near End Talk Cross-country race) or paradiaphonie : measure the relationship between the energy emitted on a pair on a side of the channel and the parasitic energy received on another pair on the same side of the channel. More the value is important, better is the channel.

Elfext (Equal Level Far End Talk Cross-country race) : measure the relationship between the far-end crosstalk and weakening. More measurement is large, better is the channel.

Return loss or loss in return : it is about the energy re-emitted towards the source and which is due to a variation of the impedance of the conducting elements constituting the bond. Its measurement is obtained by the relationship between emitted energy and the energy received in return on the same pair. More the report/ratio is large, better is the canal.

Application

The cable category 6 finds its justification (compared to the cables Cat 5 and Cat 5th) in the realization of the liaisions of the Ethernet type using the standards 100BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet), 1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-TX.

An increased category 6th of the same class exists (cable ftp or écranté) allowing the transfer of the data frequencies up to 500 MHz. However, this one tends to being replaced by the 6a category of Ea class being appropriate better for the standard Ethernet 10GBASE-T.

Internal bond

Cross talk

External bonds

Standard ANSI/EIA/TIA-568-B.2-1

Standard ISO/IEC 11801:2002