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FEATURE TEST & MEASUREMENT


How to Prepare for Future Standards Standard Procedure By Brian Phillips, Communications Test Business Unit Manager, Megger


Terms like Cat 5, 6 and 7 are often tossed around without a second thought. But what do these terms really mean, where do they come from, and what are their implications when investing in network test equipment?


Many people are undoubtedly familiar with the product standards that relate to their particular area of work, but when it comes to data networks, there seems to be a surprisingly widespread lack of understanding of the relevant standards in the sector. This lack of understanding has significant implications when choosing a LAN certification tester. The components and cable chosen will affect the performance capability of the final system. So, to ensure that a minimum performance level can be achieved, the choices have to be made on the basis of the specification and design of the network. This presupposes a good


understanding of the network specification and design, which means that it’s essential to know, when terms like Cat 7 and Cat 7A are used, how much of what is said is fact and how much is myth. Let’s investigate.


The categories


Network installation categories come from the American TIA standards. These categories correspond (sometimes indirectly) with European and International classifications such as Class D, E or F. Further problems can arise with


the inclusion of future standards. For example, many data communications companies freely talk about Cat 7, but the responsible standards body, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), is not actively reviewing this category at present, so no standard even exists for Cat 7. The European and International classifications have, however, moved beyond the level of performance offered by TIA Cat 6A, and there are now standards for Class F and Class FA installations. These classes have been defined to address real and perceived needs for higher data transfer rates.


Whose standards?


We’ve already seen that more than one set of standards apply to data communications networks. Now let’s take a look at the bodies that produce these standards, starting with the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). The TIA is the North American


trade association that supports the global information and communications technology industries through standards development. The TIA 42.7 committee develops the premises wiring standards for the certification of copper networks. ISO is the world’s largest developer of international standards. The ISO JTC1/SC 25 committee also develops premises wiring standards that are used, most often outside the Americas, to certify copper networks. Another body involved with network standards is the Institute of Electrical


With future requirements for very high-speed data networks in mind, there is much talk about new standards. 34 NETCOMMS europe Volume II, Issue 1 2011 www.netcommseurope.com


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