Connectronics, Inc.

CAT5e and CAT6 Testing and Certification

Connectronics, Inc. employs the use of the latest Fluke DTX-1800 Cable Analyzer.

Network Patch Cable Testing

We use the Fluke DTX-1800 Cable Analyzer for testing and certifying our CAT5e and CAT6 Cable Assemblies. All cables are tested in both directions to make sure each cable exceeds, not just meets, all the TIA/EIA standards. Worst case certification documentation is included with each cable.

We reject cables that do not exceed TIA/EIA standards in both directions. This stringent testing insures that our cables have enough head room for both return loss and NEXT to exceed TIA/EIA Standards and allow for realistic handling during installation.

We are currently using firmware version 2.12.

CAUTION: CAT5e and CAT6 cables must be properly handled. Sharp bends or kinks can disturb the internal pair geometry and destroy the cable's ability to pass data at rated speed. Tie wraps and binders must be kept loose so as not to damage or disturb the internal pairing as well.

We test the following parameters when applicable:

CROSSTALK: Interference from an adjacent channel.

NEXT (Near End Cross Talk): A measurement of crosstalk between two wire pairs. It is the difference in signal strength between the interfering pair and the interfered pair. The higher the number, the less the crosstalk.

FEXT (Far End Crosstalk): A measurement of crosstalk between two wire pairs taken at the far end of the line.

PSNEXT (Power Sum NEXT): In a four-pair cable, it is the algebraic sum of the NEXT of the three pairs as they affect one pair and return loss.

ELFEXT: Equal Level ELFEXT, a calculation that normalizes the results of a FEXT measurement, because it takes attenuation into account. It is derived by subtracting the attenuation of the interfering pair from the far end crosstalk (FEXT) that it has caused in the interfered pair.

PS-ELFEXT: Power Sum Equal Level Far End Cross (X) Talk. Measures the summed cross talk from 3 pairs on the remaining pair having compensated for the known attenuation of the cable.

RETURN LOSS: It is a ratio, expressed in decibels, of the power of the outgoing signal to the power of the signal reflected back.

DELAY SKEW: Is the differences in the propagation delay between the fastest and the slowest pairs in the same cable sheath.

Comparison Chart
	CAT5	CAT5e	CAT6
Frequency	100 MHz	100 MHz	250 MHz
Attenuation (min. at 100 MHz)	22 db	22 db	19.8 db
Characteristic Impedance	100 ohms + 15%	100 ohms + 15%	100 ohms + 15%
NEXT (min. at 100 MHz)	32.3 db	35.3 db	44.3 db
PS-NEXT (min. at 100 MHz)	(no specification)	32.3 db	42.3 db
ELFEXT (min. at 100 MHz)	(no specification)	23.8 db	27.8 db
PS-ELFEXT (min. at 100 MHz)	(no specification)	20.8 db	24.8 db
Return Loss (min. at 100 MHz)	16 db	20.1 db	20.1db
Delay Skew (max. per 100m)	(no specification)	45 ns	45 ns