Cat 6A cabling Benefits, cautions and use-cases
Simply
put, the ANSI/TIA-568-C.1 specification cable standard – otherwise known as
CAT6A – is the solution to the distance shortcomings of CAT6 when working with
10GBASE-T Ethernet.
Video
Surveillance Network and cabling professionals are likely to come across
different Ethernet cabling standards over the course of their career. These
range from legacy installs of CAT3 and CAT5e — to the modern
ultra-high-performance data center CAT8 standard. Yet, for most access-layer
installs, CAT6 and CAT6A are the two most common standards to choose from. This
cabling will be responsible for connecting end devices such as PC’s, laptops,
WiFi access points and a plethora of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
When
considering Ethernet cabling install options for access-layer deployments,
there are several things to look at. One of the more important decisions is
whether endpoints will require the higher speed and PoE performance of CAT6A –
while being willing accept a few inconveniences that come with the deployment.
In this article, we’ll walk through the benefits and drawbacks of CAT6A
compared to CAT6. Additionally, we’ll point out real-world circumstances that
justify the added cost and installation hurdles that come with running and
certifying the higher-performance cabling.
CAT6A Benefits
One
key benefit of CAT6A over CAT6 is speed. A CAT6 cable can run 10/100/1000BASE-T
Ethernet at speeds up to 1000 Mbps and a maximum length of 100 meters. The same
is also true for 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T running at 2.5 and 5 Gbps,
respectively. However, when moving up to the newer 10GBASE-T standard that
operates at speeds of 10 Gbps, CAT6 cabling is only supported up to a maximum
distance of 37 to 55 meters, depending on the levels of alien crosstalk in the
installation environment.
Considering
that most building access-layer networking closets are built around a 100-meter
maximum distance, 37- and 55-meter runs would end up leaving many cables pulls
short.
The
ANSI/TIA-568-C.1 specification cable standard – otherwise known as CAT6A – is
the solution to the distance shortcomings of CAT6 when working with 10GBASE-T
Ethernet. In addition to the speed/distance benefits, CAT6A is defined for
frequencies up to 500 MHz and improved noise canceling properties. Both
translate into improved Ethernet performance with fewer chances of external
interference.
A
second benefit of CAT6A that is growing in importance is that it can handle higher
levels of power over Ethernet (PoE) output without any performance degradation.
Endpoints such as WiFi access points, surveillance cameras, intelligent
lighting and monitoring/automation sensors are growing increasingly power
hungry. The latest 802.3bt PoE specifications support 60W (Type 3) to 100W
(Type 4) of output per cable run. That’s as much as three times the maximum
Wattage specified in the 802.3at (PoE+) standard.
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| Example: Cat 6A PoE Test Results |
Even
though 802.3bt utilizes all 4 pair of wires as opposed to two, more power
output translates into more heat on the wire. When cables get hot, they become
susceptible to what’s known as insertion loss. Transmitting added power to end
devices also causes an increased chance of DC resistance unbalance. Both
problems are more likely to occur when running CAT6 cabling as opposed to
CAT6A. CAT6A conductors are thicker – which can help dissipate the heat.
Additionally,
DC resistance unbalance is less likely to occur in high-quality CAT6A cabling
due to the likelihood that the cabling conductor diameter will not vary as much
compared to lower cost CAT6 alternatives. Ultimately, the only way to verify
that cabling runs adhere to 802.3bt standards is to perform cable certification
tests using a tool such as the AEM TestPro CV100 combined with the AD-NET-CABLE
adapter.
