Component vs. channel testing
Channel Testing
When using a Category 6 system, the full specification includes the testing of each part individually and in an end-to-end-channel. Because CAT6 is an open standard, products from different vendors should work together.Channel testing includes patch cable, bulk cable, jacks, patch panels, etc. These tests cover a number of measurements, including: attenuation, NEXT, PS-NEXT, EL-FEXT, ACR, PS-ACR, EL-FEXT, PS-ELFEXT, and Return Loss. Products that are tested together should work together as specified. In theory, products from all manufacturers are interchangeable. But, if products from different manufacturers are inserted in a channel, end-to-end CAT6 performance may be compromised.
Component Testing
Component testing, on the other hand, is much stricter even though only two characteristics are measured: crosstalk and return loss. Although all CAT6 products should be interchangeable, products labeled as component are guaranteed to perform to a CAT6 level in a channel with products from different manufacturers.
NOTE: In Attenuation testing, the lower the number, the better. In NEXT, EL-FEXT, and Return Loss testing, the higher the number, the better.
CAT5e vs. CAT6 Cable |
|
CAT5e |
CAT6 |
Standard |
TIA-568-B.2 |
TIA-568-B.2-1 |
Frequency |
100 MHz |
250 MHz |
Attenuation (min. at 100MHz)
Cable
Connector
Channel |
22 dB
0.4 dB
24.0 dB |
19.8 dB
0.2 dB
21.3 dB |
NEXT (min. at 100MHz)
Cable
Connector
Channel |
35.3 dB
43.0 dB
30.1 dB |
44.3 dB
54.0 dB
39.9 dB |
PS-NEXT (min. at 100MHz) |
32.3 dB |
42.3 dB |
ELFEXT (min. at 100MHz)
Cable
Connector
Channel |
23.8 dB
35.1 dB
17.4 dB |
27.8 dB
43.1 dB
23.3 dB |
PS-ELFEXT (min. at 100MHz) |
20.8 dB |
24.8 dB |
Return Loss (min. at 100MHz)
Cable
Connector
Channel |
20.1 dB
20.0 dB
10.0 dB |
20.1 dB
24.0 dB
12.0 dB |
Characteristic Impedance |
100 ohms ± 15% |
100 ohms ± 15% |
Delay Skew (max. at 100m) |
45 ns |
45 ns |
Learn more:
Insertion loss