DIPLOMA IN PC REPAIR and STRUCTURED CABLING (108)

UNIT: Structured Cabling

Describe the importance of designing and installing cables properly

Planning
The purpose of this standard is to provide the minimum requirements
for telecommunications cabling within a commercial building
or campus environment.

All new structured cabling designs and installations should conform to a high-performance
cabling standard, as defined in the Category 5 specifications of the Telecommunications Industry
Association/Electronic Industries Association-568-A standard for commercial building
telecommunications. End-to-end Category 5 systems can deliver the services that users need
today and for the future. Some important issues that you should consider when designing and
installing a system for present and future needs include the following:
Standards that regulate the telecommunications industry and performance requirements

Design and installation specifications for the telecommunications infrastructure

Testing options to ensure maximum system performance.

Before getting started

In the late 1980s, EIA/TIA cabling and related standards were developed to provide guidelines
for designers, installers, end users and manufacturers. Before that time, electrical and building
codes were used; but their main concerns were safety and construction. Four major standards
were developed to address proper infrastructure planning and the overall performance of the
cabling system, as follows:
TIA/EIA-568-A (formerly EIA/TIA-568, first issued in July 1991), commercial building
telecommunications cabling standard. This standard addresses the telecommunications wiring
system requirements for commercial buildings that support various local area network, data,
voice and image/video systems. Canadian Standards Association T529 is the equivalent standard.
EIA/TIA-569, commercial building standard for telecommunications pathways and spaces. This
standard defines the design and construction practices within and between buildings (primarily
commercial establishments) that contain telecommunications media and equipment. CSA T530 is
the Canadian standard equivalent.
TIA/EIA-606, design guidelines for administration of telecommunications infrastructure in
commercial buildings. CSA T528 is the Canadian standard equivalent.
TIA/EIA-607, commercial building grounding and bonding requirements for
telecommunications. CSA T527 is the Canadian standard equivalent
Copper as the horizontal medium
To deliver a high level of system performance, you should use a controlled or approved
communications medium that takes into account such transmission characteristics as attenuation,
near-end crosstalk and structural return loss. Performance criteria for copper twisted-pair cables
are defined as follows:
Attenuation is the loss of signal strength measured in decibels. It is a function of the length of the
cable; that is, the longer the cable, the more the signal is attenuated.
Near-end crosstalk is the crossover of electrical energy between adjacent pairs of wire in the
same cable. A higher value is better.
Structural return loss is a measure of the uniformity of characteristic impedance over the length
of the transmission path. A high value of structural return loss in decibels reflects a uniform cable
impedance.
Capacitance, resistance and other specifications are also important as they directly influence the
performance criteria mentioned above.
Specifications such as these are crucial in determining the ability of a wiring system to deliver
reliable transmission. Indeed, the industry has further classified performance abilities into
categories of wiring components that help users select the proper product for the application,
whether it is voice, data, video, or a combination thereof.
The following categories are currently used:
Category 3 applies to 100-ohm UTP cable configured to carry data up to 10Mbits/s and
associated connecting hardware whose transmission characteristics are specified to 16 MHz.
Popular in early 1990s but now considered obsolete, it decreased in popularity due to the
favouring of the high performing CAT 5.
Category 4 applies to 100-ohm UTP cable and associated connecting hardware whose
transmission characteristics are specified to 20 MHz.
Category 5 applies to 100-ohm UTP cable and associated connecting hardware whose
transmission characteristics are specified to 100 MHz. With category 5 cables are twisted pairs in
a single cable jacket. This use of balanced lines helps keep a high signal to noise ratio and
considerably reduces crosstalk interference.
CAT5e – An improved version of Cat 5 that increases specifications for far end crosstalk and all
new installation should be at least CAT5e
CAT 6 A cable structure for gigabit Ethernet and additional network protocol that is backwards
compatible with CAT3, CAT5 and CAT5e. CAT 6 features stricter blueprints for crosstalk and
system noise. CAT6 provides performance up to 250MHz.
CAT6a – An on CAT6, CAT6a operates at frequencies up to 500MHz and can carry 10 Gbit/s
operations up to a maximum distance of 100 metres. CAT6a also improved conditions
particularly in the area of crosstalk.
CAT 7 –Backward compatible with CAT 5 and CAT 6. CAT 7 introduces even more exacting
specifications for crosstalk CAT 6 or CAT 6a. Shielding has been added for individual wire pairs
and the cable as a whole to archive this. CAT 7 has been created to allow 10 gigabit Ethernet
over 100 metres of copper cabling and is capable of running at frequencies up to 600 MHz.
Note: Levels 1 and 2 cable (specified prior to Category 3) and connecting hardware are not
recognized as part of the standards and should not be used in horizontal cabling systems.
Discussions about using optical-fiber cable connections to the desktop are prevalent in the
telecommunications industry. Some applications, in fact, may require the use of optical fiber
either immediately or in the near future. But most installations today do not have such
requirements. Although the cost of optical-fiber cable has come down, opto-electronic devices
are still expensive enough to make copper the selection of choice for horizontal distribution.
Designing and installing the cabling plant
After you determine applicable standards and make media choices, it`s time to look at an end-to-
end Category 5 system design and installation. To simplify the process, first define the
subsystems of the telecommunications infrastructure. For each subsystem, consider a few basic
design rules and installation recommendations that allow you to maintain performance and
achieve long-term serviceability. The industry has developed a cable structure with distinct
elements such as the work area and telecommunications outlet, horizontal cabling,
telecommunications closet, horizontal crossconnect and backbone cabling.
Work area
Work area components extend from the telecommunications outlet/connector end of the
horizontal cabling system to the station equipment. They typically include modular line cords
and telecommunications outlets.
Using a modular line cord, attach each workstation network interface card to the
telecommunications outlet. The distance should not exceed 3 meters in length (TIA/EIA-568-A,
proposed CSA T529).
Modular line cords consist of 24 American Wire Gauge, or AWG, insulated solid conductors. The
cords must not degrade the required channel performance characteristics of the system. This is
usually one of the most frequent causes of failure in an installation. For example, cords made
from Category 5 horizontal cable will likely fail at some point in time because they typically
cannot withstand the average 600 pounds-per-square-inch pressure generated by the plug
termination.
The telecommunications outlet is the interface between the horizontal wiring and the modular
line cord connecting the terminal. The eight-position modular UTP telecommunications outlet
and its pin assignments should meet the requirements of the EIA/TIA-568-A standard. Label
each outlet on the cover plate with its unique designation.
Horizontal cabling
The horizontal distribution cabling links the crossconnect system to the communication outlets in
the work areas. Typically, horizontal cabling is installed in a star configuration.
Run a minimum of two, four-pair Category 5 cables to each work area. Provide dedicated four-
pair UTP horizontal cable for each application planned. Terminate each four-pair cable on an
eight-position modular connector at the telecommunications outlet. Provide additional
telecommunications closets on large floor areas of a building to limit the horizontal distribution
to 90 meters (295 feet), which is the distance recommended in the standards.
In addition to the crossconnect hardware, telecommunications closets can house such
communications equipment as controllers, multiplexers, bridges, routers, and LAN hubs in
cabinets or on racks.
The closets should be equipped with a minimum of two duplex 110-volt AC power outlets with
grounded receptacles and separately fused at 15 amperes (for North American standard
installations). Climate control should be provided in the closet seven days a week, 24 hours a day
to extend the life of the electronic components and for all mission-critical applications.
Size the copper crossconnect system appropriately to support the telecommunications outlets
served by that closet. In the layout, allow for anticipated growth. Make all terminations on
insulation displacement contact, or IDC, crossconnect or patch-panel systems. Terminate and test
all the horizontal and backbone copper and fiber-optic cables, regardless of the method of
termination.
Use patch cords within each interconnect or crossconnect. You can also use crossconnect wire for
IDC crossconnections, but neither of these cables should exceed seven meters in length,
according to TIA/EIA-568-A.
Backbone cabling
Backbone cabling extends from the main crossconnect to each of the horizontal crossconnects as
well as any intermediate crossconnects between buildings in a campus installation. Designers
determine the type of media--copper or optical-fiber cable--to use in backbone cabling based on
the application and the distance requirements. Backbone cabling is typically installed, with
separate dedicated cables to each horizontal crossconnect and intermediate crossconnect.
Proper grounding and bonding is essential. Refer to the appropriate codes and standards; for
example TIA/EIA-607 (CSA T527). Use 6 AWG copper to ground the metal shields. Backbone
systems must also comply with applicable national, regional or local building and electrical
codes.
Intrabuilding cabling
The intrabuilding backbone provides the connection between the main crossconnect (or, in a
campus, the intermediate crossconnect) within the building, and the horizontal crossconnect in
the telecommunications closets that it serves. When using Category 5 UTP multipair cable in the
backbone, the number of copper cables dedicated to each floor should be sufficient to
accommodate all the horizontal circuits served by the backbone cable--recommended minimum
is two pairs per circuit--plus 25% spare for growth.
Where the distance capability of copper is inadequate, use multimode (or singlemode, where
applicable) fiber in the backbone. Install a minimum of twelve optical fibers for each horizontal
crossconnect to ensure support for new services and provide redundancy.
Place backbone cabling through shafts, conduits, raceways or floor penetrations, and always
provide support for the cable according to the manufacturer`s design guidelines. Vertically align
telecommunications closets wherever practical. If this is not possible, conduit may be required to
link the telecommunications closets with the backbone cable.
The interbuilding backbone provides connection between the main crossconnect and all the
intermediate crossconnects in other buildings that it serves. Use cables rated for the required
outdoor use, for example, aerial, buried or conduit. It is recommended that all copper cable pairs
between buildings be protected at both ends by surge protection devices.
The main crossconnect, or intermediate crossconnect, is the common point of connection for
copper and optical-fiber backbone cabling, the private branch exchange, computers, and
interbuilding cables, as well as connections to telephone-company interfaces. It provides a single
administration point for the entire building/campus telecommunications network. Because of the
large number of cable terminations usually required at the main crossconnect, IDC connection
hardware is typically used.
Testing an installed system
Once you have completed the design and the system has been installed, verify that the cabling
has been installed correctly. For a copper or optical-fiber cabling installation, you need to
perform a certain number of required tests, using various techniques and measuring devices.
For a well-designed installation with a proper performance assurance program, a simple
continuity/wire mapping evaluation may be sufficient. However, more in-depth testing can be
performed if necessary; for example, testing for signal attenuation, near-end crosstalk and noise.
Time-domain reflectometer measurement tests are also useful for troubleshooting.
Because near-end crosstalk measurements can be different at opposite ends of a cable, it is
recommended that you measure the near-end crosstalk from both ends of a cable. If the
measurements differ, always consider the worst-case values for analysis.
By adhering to the appropriate standards, design and installation requirements, and testing
procedures, you can build a structured wiring system that is ready to support your customer`s
present and future needs. Cable is not "just cable"; it is a critical component for successful
business communications. When your cabling system is designed and installed properly, it can
deliver a high level of performance. That level of performance will ensure that the infrastructure
you build today will be able to support the applications of the future, including asynchronous
transfer mode and multimedia networking. This maximizes the useful lifespan of the wiring
infrastructure, significantly increasing its value as a long-term investment.

The ANSI/TIA/EIA- 568 A standards

The ANSI/TIA/EIA- A standard specifies minimum requirements for telecommunications

cabling within a commercial building, up to & including the telecommunications
outlet/connector, & connector & between buildings in a campus environment. According to the
standard, a structured cabling system consists of six functional subsystems
Structured Cabling Design Considerations

Six functional subsystems of ANSI/TIA/EIA- 568 A standards

1. The entrance facility: is the point where outside plant cables & associated hardware are
brought into the building. The entrance facilities may be used for public network services, and
customer, & overvoltage protection devices are located here.
2. The equipment room: is a centralized space for telecommunications equipment, (for examples
PABX, computing equipment, video switch, etc)that serves users in the building.
3. The backbone cabling: provides interconnections between telecommunications closets,
equipment rooms & entrance facilities. It consists of the backbone cables, main & intermediate
cross-connects, mechanical terminations, & patch cords or jumpers used for cross connection.
Backbone may connect closets within a building or between buildings.
4. The telecommunications closet: is where the horizontal distribution cables are terminated. All
recognized types of horizontal cabling are terminated on compatible connecting hardware.
Similarly, recognized backbone cables are also terminated in the closet. Cross-connection is done
with jumpers or patch cords to provide flexible connectivity for extending various services to
users at the telecommunications outlets
5. The horizontal cabling: consist of the physical media used to connect each outlet to a closet. It
includes the telecommunications outlet, an optional consolidation point or transition connector,
horizontal cable, the mechanical terminations and patch cords that comprises the horizontal
cross-connect.
6. The work area components: extend the telecommunications outlet/connector end of the
horizontal cabling system to the station equipment. All adapters, filters or baluns used to adapt
various electronic equipment to the structured cabling system must be external to the
telecommunications outlet & are outside the scope of 568 A.

The industry has subdivided the telecommunications cable system structure into distinct
elements.
Proper Termination is Essential
Installers should follow some basic guidelines when terminating Category 5 cables; for example,
do not untwist pairs more than approximately 13 millimeters. This applies to any individual pair
within the end-to-end link, including terminations at patch panels and outlets. The maximum
cable jacket removal length, however, can vary from 25 mm (1 inch) to approximately 400 mm
(14 inches), depending on the type of product on which the termination is performed.
Also, when dressing unjacketed twisted pairs, prevent any excessive bending of the cable.
Minimum bend radius for a copper twisted-pair cable is approximately 5 mm (0.2 inch), which is
approximately four times the pair diameter. Secure the cable with cable ties, but do not over
tighten the ties on the jacket; maintaining cable geometry maximizes system performance. Also
remember that the maximum pulling tension for four-pair 24 American Wire Gauge horizontal
cables should not exceed 25 pounds to avoid stretching the conductors during installation.
You should also follow the recommendations for minimum separation distances to ensure
adequate protection of the unshielded twisted-pair cable from electromagnetic interference
sources. For power greater than 480 volts and power ratings greater than 5 kilovolt-amperes,
apply engineering calculations to determine the exact electromagnetic interference separation
distances.

Describe the major types of communications media

One of the first choices faced when planning or developing a structured cabling system is the type of
media to be used. 568 A recognizes 3 different media
 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) 4 pair, 24-gauge, 100 Ohm copper cable
 Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) 2-pair, 22-gauge, 150 Ohm copper cable
 Single-mode and multimode optical fiber cables

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Unshielded twisted pair is the most common kind of copper telephone wiring, but are enhanced for data
communications to allow higher frequency transmissions. Short for unshielded twisted pair, a
popular type of cable that consists of two unshielded wires twisted around each other. Due to its
low cost, UTP cabling is used extensively for local-area networks (LANs) and telephone
connections. UTP cabling does not offer as high bandwidth or as good protection from
interference as coaxial or fiber optic cables, but it is less expensive and easier to work with.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and many business computers to the
telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electromagnetic induction between pairs of wires, two
insulated copper wires are twisted around each other. Each signal on twisted pair requires both
wires. Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections, twisted pair
is sometimes installed in two or more pairs, all within a single cable. For some business
locations, twisted pair is enclosed in a shield that functions as a ground. This is known as
shielded twisted pair (STP).

Twisted pair is now frequently installed with two pairs to the home, with the extra pair making it
possible for you to add another line (perhaps for modem use) when you need it.

Twisted pair comes with each pair uniquely color coded when it is packaged in multiple pairs.
Different uses such as analog, digital, and Ethernet require different pair multiples.

Although twisted pair is often associated with home use, a higher grade of twisted pair is often
used for horizontal wiring in LAN installations because it is less expensive than coaxial cable.

Disadvantage of UTP

 UTP is susceptible to radio and electrical frequency interface

  UTP-cable is more prone to electrical noise and interference than other types of networking
media, and the distance between signal boosts is shorter for UTP than it is for coaxial and
fiber-optic cables.

Advantages:

 It is a thin, flexible cable that is easy to string between walls.

 Most modern buildings come with CAT 5 UTP already wired into wall outlet or at least run
between the floors.

 Because UTP is small, it does not quickly fill up wiring ducts.

 UTP costs less per meter than any other type of LAN cable

The following summarizes the features of UTP cable

 Speed and throughput - 10 to 1000Mbps

 Average cost per node –Least expensive

 Media and connector size- Small

 Maximum cable length- 100 meters (short)

Single-mode and multimode optical fiber cables

Singlemode fiber optic cable has a small diametric core that allows only one mode of
light to propagate. Because of this, the number of light reflections created as the light
passes through the core decreases, lowering attenuation and creating the ability for the
signal to travel faster, further. This application is typically used in long distance, higher
bandwidth runs by Telcos, CATV companies, and Colleges and Universities.

Singlemode diameter ratio is 9 microns to 125 microns.

Multimode fiber optic cable has a large diametral core that allows multiple modes of light
to propagate. Because of this, the number of light reflections created as the light passes
through the core increases, creating the ability for more data to pass through at a given
time. Because of the high dispersion and attenuation rate with this type of fiber, the quality
of the signal is reduced over long distances. This application is typically used for short
distance, data and audio/video applications in LANs. RF broadband signals, such as what
cable companies commonly use, cannot be transmitted over multimode fiber.
Multimode fiber diameter ratio is 50 microns to 125 microns and 62.5 microns to 125
microns.

Structured wiring components

Patch Cables
Patch cables are used to connect your desktop to the wall plate. This item is often the last thing
checked when something goes wrong but it is most often the cause. L-com carries a wide
selection of patch cables for every installation need.

Wall Plates
The variety of styles and designs of wall plates is always expanding. You can get basic plain
white plates with only one or two jacks or modular systems that can be configured to support
audio, video, telephone and network connections all in one plate. At L-com, we know everyone’s
installation is different which is why we stock a variety of wall plate designs. From the basic
style plates to the modular system, we have what you need.

Horizontal Cabling

Selecting the right cabling for running in the wall may seem like an easy choice until you see
how many different options there really are.

Here are a few rules and questions you should always consider when setting up a network:

 Solid conductor cable should always be used in horizontal runs. Stranded cable is
designed for patch cables only and will not offer the best performance in long runs.
 Check local fire codes to see if you are required to install cable that meets certain burn
ratings. Plenum (CMP) or Riser rated (CMR) cables may be required in particular
installations.
 Do not pull cable sharply around corners and try to avoid runs along power lines. This
can hurt system performance especially with today’s high-speed networks.

To make the installation job easier, L-com has put together a few kits that come with the cable,
tools and most importantly a tester. These kits come in a variety of configurations, depending on
your project.

Voice and Data Cabling Requirements

Information Transport System Infrastructure Standard

Backbone networks for voice and data (including CAT-5E, CAT-6 and fiber optics) will be designed and installed
according to National Standards including TIA/EIA and BICSI, so building infrastructure will meet the needs of
any State tenant that might move into the space.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

 All new voice communications cabling systems installations will utilize CAT-5E components.
Terminations will be in CAT-5E Outlets and on "110 blocks". Cable will be gray.
 All new data communications cabling systems installations will utilize CAT-5E components.
Terminations will be in 24 or 48 port patch panels depending on project requirements and the 4-pair
CAT-5E data communications cable will be green.

 All cabling systems installations and components shall conform to all Category-5E standards and
specifications of TIA/EIA 568A Standard.

 Multi-mode Fiber Optic cable shall be used where distances and bandwidth requirements dictate. This
is normally any distance beyond 100 meters or any connection between buildings with different power
sources. The state is transitioning from using 62.5 micron to 50 micron fiber optic cable. It is imperative
that this be discussed on each order.

 A minimum of six strand multimode fiber-optic cables terminated in locked metal distribution boxes
shall be used in all installations. Strands shall be terminated with ST connectors. The choice of loose
or tight tube buffered cable and the type of jacket shall be based on the environment in which the cable
is to be installed.

 All cable, UTP or fiber-optic cable shall meet building codes for Plenum environment, riser, or
horizontal use.

 All cable should be installed, fastened and/or wrapped with the minimum bend radius and minimum
jacket removal for CAT5E cabling as well as appear neat and orderly. Installation best practices should
be followed in order to avoid bad test results or ambient noise. Best practices include but are not
limited to, routing cables through available cable trays and raceways and never resting on ceiling tiles.

 All cable runs shall be clearly labeled on each end of the cable and on the patch panel and on the
outlet as required by EIA/TIA 568 Standard.

STANDARD CONFIGURATION

 It is recommended that one (1) voice outlet and a minimum of two (2) data outlet be provided at every
 workstation. Modular outlet systems shall be used.

Patch Panels and Rack Cabinets

In the wiring closet, the separate runs come together and are organized on a Patch Panel. Cables
are terminated to the patch panel and then patch cables are used to connect to servers and
switches. Make sure your patch panel matches the performance rating of the installed cable.
Having a category 6 cable installations and a category 5E patch panel means the entire
installation can only be rated to category 5e performance.

Make sure your patch panel is properly installed on a rack or in an enclosure.

Define standards and the different organization that provides specifications

Standards for structured cabling

ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A “Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standards” This standard was

developed and approved by committees of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the Electronics Industry Association (EIA). These
committees are composed of representatives from various manufacturers, distributors and customers in
the networking industry. The ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A standard establishes performance and technical
criteria for various system configurations and components.

ANSI/EIA/TIA-569 Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaceways” This
standard provides guidelines for rooms, areas and pathways through which telecommunications
equipment and media are installed. It also details some of the considerations to be addressed when
designing and constructing a building that will include a telecommunications system

ANSI/EIA/TIA-606 “Administration Standard for the Telecommunications Infrastructure of Commercial

Buildings”. This provides standards for color-coding, labeling and documenting an installed cabling
system. Following this standard allows for better administration of a network by creating a method to
track moves, adds and changes. It also eases troubleshooting by detailing each cable run for such
specifics as type, performance, application, user and layout.

ANSI/EIA/TIA-607 “Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for

Telecommunications,” prescribes practices for installing grounding systems to ensure a reliable ground
reference level for all telecommunications equipment subsequently installed.
Each of these standards works in conjunction with 568-A. Additional standards like the National Electric
Code (NEC) or local provisions and laws also must be reviewed when designing or installing any
telecommunications system. This section concentrates on 568-A and describes some of the basic
elements of a generic cabling system, cable types and some of their advantages and disadvantages, and
installation requirements and practices.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI, is a private non-profit organization that
oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes,
systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards
with international standards so that American products can be used worldwide. For example,
standards ensure that people who own cameras can find the film they need for that camera
anywhere around the globe.

ANSI accredits standards that are developed by representatives of other standards organizations,
government agencies, consumer groups, companies, and others. These standards ensure that the
characteristics and performance of products are consistent, that people use the same definitions
and terms, and that products are tested the same way. ANSI also accredits organizations that
carry out product or personnel certification in accordance with requirements defined in
international standards.

ANSI (American National Standards Institute) is the primary organization for fostering the
development of technology standards in the United States. ANSI works with industry groups and
is the U.S. member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Long-established computer standards from ANSI include the American Standard Code for
Information Interchange (ASCII) and the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).

Telecommunications Industry Association - (TIA) An association that sets standards for

communications cabling.

Cables that TIA set standards for include: EIA/TIA-568A and EIA/TIA-568B category three, four and five
cable.

Electronics Industry Association (TIA)

The Electronic Industries Association (EIA) comprises individual organizations that together
have agreed on certain data transmission standards such as EIA/TIA-232 (formerly known as
RS-232 ).

EIA

(Electronic Industries Alliance,A membership organization founded in 1924 as the Radio Manufacturing
Association. It sets standards for consumer products and electronic components. In 1988, it spun off its
Information & Telecommunications Technology Group into a separate organization known as the
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).
The Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA) is an alliance of trade organizations that lobby in the
interest of companies engaged in the manufacture of electronics-related products.

The International Standards Organization (ISO) has initiated work on the definition of Category
6 and 7 cabling. Category 6 cabling will specify transmission parameters up to 200MHz while
Category 7 cable will extend to 600MHz.

The ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 A Standard

Subsystems

The ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 A Standard (Describe Commercial Buildings Cabling standards)

The ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 A standard specifies minimum requirements for telecommunications

cabling within a commercial building, up to and including the telecommunications
outlet/connector, and between buildings in a campus environment. According to the standard, a
structured cabling system consists of six functional subsystems

1. The entrance facility is the point where outside plant cables and associated hardware are
brought into the building. The entrance facilities may be used for public network services,
private network customer, and overvoltage protection devices are located here.

2. The equipment room is a centralized space for telecommunications equipment (eg,

PABX, computing equipment, video switch, etc) that serves users in the building.

3. The backbone cabling provides interconnections between telecommunications closets,

equipment rooms and entrance facilities. It consists of the backbone cables, main and
intermediate cross-connects, mechanical terminations, and patch cords or jumpers used
for cross-connection. Backbones may connect closets within a building or between
buildings.

4. The telecommunications closet is where horizontal distribution cables are terminated.

All recognized types of horizontal cabling are terminated on compatible connecting
hardware. Similarly, recognized backbone cables are also terminated in the closet. Cross-
connection is done with jumpers or patch cords to provide flexible connectivity for
extending various services to users at the telecommunications outlets
 5. The horizontal cabling consists of the physical media used to connect each outlet to a
closet. Various types of cable can be used for horizontal distribution. Each type has its
own performance limitations, size, cost and ease-of-use.

6. The work area components extend the telecommunications outlet/connector end of the
horizontal cabling system to the station equipment. All adapters, filters or baluns used to
adapt various electronic equipment to the structured cabling system must be external to
the telecommunications outlet and are outside the scope of 568 A

Attenuation: refers to the power loss an electrical signal experiences as it travels through
a cable. For a communication system to work, the receiving electronics must be able to
detect a signal. In category 5 system, 568 A limits attenuation to 24 dB for a 100MHz
signal.

Advantages of structured cabling

 Consistency –A structured cabling systems means the same cabling system for
Data, voice and video
 Support for multi-vendor equipment- A standard based cable system will
support applications and hardware even with mix & match vendor.

 Simplify movies/adds/changes- Structured cabling systems can support any

changes within the systems

 Simplify troubleshooting- with structured cabling systems, problems are less

likely to down the entire network, easier to isolate and easier to fix.

 Support for future applications- Structured cabling system supports future

applications like multimedia, video conferencing etc with little or no upgrade
pain.

Comparison of Cable Media

Cable type Cost installation Capacity Range EMI

Coaxial thinnet Less than STP Inexpensive/easy 10Mbps typical 185m Less sensitive

Coaxial thicknet Greater than Easy 10Mbps typical 500m Less sensitive
STP, less than than UTP
fiber
Shielded Twisted Greater than Fairly easy 16Mbps typical to 100m typical Less sensitive
Pair (STP) UTP, less than 500Mbps than UTP
thicknet

Unshielded lowest Inexpensive/easy 10Mbps typical up to 100m typical Most sensitive

Twisted Pair 100Mbps

Fiber Optic Highest Expensive/difficult 100Mbps typical to Tens of Insensitive

as high as kilometers
200,000Mbps

Recommended cabling practices

Do’s Don’ts

Use connecting hardware that is compatible with Do not use connecting hardware that is of a lower
the installed cable category than the cable being used

Terminate each horizontal cable on a dedicated Do not tap a new line from the middle of another
telecommunications outlet. cable as it picks up more noise. Do not leave cables
unterminated.

Locate the main cross-connect near the centre of Do not locate cross-connects where cable distance
the building to limit cable distances will exceed the maximum allowed distance.

Maintain the twist of horizontal and backbone Do not leave any wire pairs untwisted. (Keep the
cable pairs up to the point of terminations twist until the closest possible places to the
terminations)

Tie and dress horizontal cables neatly & with a Do not over tighten cable ties. Never use staples or
minimum bend radius of 4 times the cable make sharp bends with cables.
diameter.

Place cabling at a sufficient distance from Do not place cable near equipment that may
equipment. generate high levels of EMI (i.e electricity wire
(power line) & fluorescent light)

When running cable, it is best to follow a few rules of thumb

 Always use more cable than you need. Leave plenty of slack.
  Test every part of a network as you install it. Even if it is brand new, it may have problems that
will be difficult to isolate later.
 Stay at 1.5 metres away from fluorescent light boxes & other sources of electrical interference
 If it is necessary to run cable across the floor, cover the cable with cable protectors.
 Label both ends of each cable
 Use cable ties (not tape) to keep cables in the same location together.
 The conduit or casing should not be filled completely with the cables. There should be room for
future expansion.

Network Media Type

Network media is the actual path over which an electrical signal travels as it moves from one component
to another.
Common types of network media, includes twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable and
wireless.

Twisted Pair Cable

Twisted pair cable: is a type of cabling that is used for telephone communications and most modern
Ethernet networks. A pair of wires forms a circuit that can transmit data. The pairs are twisted to provide
protection against crosstalk, the noise generated by adjacent pairs. When electrical current flows
through a wire, it creates a small, circular magnetic field around the wire. When two wires in an
electrical circuit are placed close together, their magnetic fields are the exact opposite of each other.
Thus, the two magnetic fields cancel each other out. They also cancel out any outside magnetic fields.
Twisting the wires can enhance this cancellation effect. Using cancellation together with twisting the
wires, cables designers can effectively provide self-shielding for wire pairs within the network media.

Two basic types of twisted pair cables:

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) & Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

UTP Cable
Is a medium that is composed of pairs of wires and is used in a variety of networks. Each of the eight
individual copper wires in UTP cable is covered by an insulating material. The wires in each pair are
twisted around each other. UTP cables relies solely on the cancellation effect produced by the twisted
wire pairs to limit signal degradation caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency
interference (RFI). To further reduce crosstalk between the pairs in UTP cable, the number of twists in
the wire pairs varies. UTP cables must follow precise specifications governing how many twists or braids
are permitted per meter of cable. UTP cable often installed using a Registered Jack 45 (RJ-45) connector.
The RJ-45 is an eight wire connector used commonly to connect computers onto a local area network
(LAN), especially Ethernets. When used as a networking medium, UTP cable has four pairs of either 22-
24 gauge copper wire. UTP used as a networking medium has an impedance of 100 ohms, this
differentiates it from other types of twisted pair wiring such as that used for telephone wiring, which has
impedance of 600 ohms.
UTP offers many advantages, because UTP has an external diameter of approximately 0.43 cm, its small
size can be advantageous during installation. Because it has such a small external diameter, UTP does not
fill up wiring ducts as rapidly as other types of cable. This can be an extremely important factor to
consider particularly when installing a network in an older building. UTP cable is easy to install and is less
expensive than other types of networking media. In fact, UTP costs less per meter than any other type of
LAN cabling and because UTP can be used with most of the major networking architectures, it continues
to grow in popularity.
Although UTP was once considered to be slower at transmitting data than other types of cable, this is no
longer the true. In fact, UTP cable is considered the fastest copper based medium today, with the
following features
 Speed and throughput of 10 -1000Mbps
 Average cost per node- least expensive
 Media and connector size - small
 Maximum cable length - 100metres (short)

Commonly used types UTP cabling are as follows:

 Cat 1 - Used for telephone communications. Not suitable for data.
 Cat 2 – Capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 4 megabits per second (Mbps)
 Cat 3- Used in 10BASE-T networks. Can transmit data at speeds up to 10 Mbps
 Cat 4 – Used in Token Ring networks. Can transmit data at speeds up to 16 Mbps.
 Cat 5 – Can transmit data at speeds up to 100Mbps.
 Cat 5e- Used at networks running at speeds up to 1000Mbps (1 Gigabit per second)Gbps.
 Cat 6 –Typically, Category 6 cable consists of four pairs of 24 American Wire Gauge (AWG)
copper wire

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cable combines the technics of shielding, cancellation and wire twisting. Each
pair of wires is wrapped in a metallic foil. The four pairs of wires then are wrapped in an overall metallic
braid or foil, usually 150 ohms cable. As specified for use in Ethernet network installations, STP reduces
electrical noise both within the cable (pair to pair coupling, or crosstalk) and from outside the cable (EMI
and RFI). STP usually is installed with STP data connectors, which is created especially for the STP cable.
However, STP cabling also can use the same RJ connectors that UTP uses.
Although STP prevents interference better than UTP, it is more expensive and difficult to install. In
addition the metallic shielding must be grounded at both ends. If it is improperly grounded, the shield
acts like an antenna and picks up unwanted signals. Because of its cost and difficulty with termination,
STP is rarely used in Ethernet networks. STP is primarily used in Europe.
The features of STP cable
  Speed and throughput – 10 to 100Mbps
 Average cost per node- moderately expensive
 Media and connector size - medium to large
 Maximum cable length - 100metres (short)

When comparing UTP & STP, consider the following points in mind.

 The speed of both types of cable is usually satisfactory for local area distances
 These are the least-expensive media for data communication. UTP is less expensive than STP.
 Because most buildings are already wired with UTP, many transmission standards are adapted to
use it, to avoid costly rewiring with an alternative cable type

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable consists of a hollow outer cylindrical conductor that surround a single inner wire made of
two conducting elements. One of these elements, located in the center of the cable, is a copper
conductor. Surrounding the copper conductor is a layer of flexible insulation. Over this insulating
material is a woven copper braid or metallic foil that acts both as the second wire in the circuit and as a
shield for the inner conductor. This second layer, or shield, can help reduce the amount of outside
interference.
Coaxial cable supports 10 to 100Mbps and is relatively inexpensive, although it is more costly than UTP
on a per unit length. However coaxial cable can be cheaper for a physical bus topology because less
cable will be needed. Coaxial cable can be cabled over longer distances than twisted pair-cable. For
example Ethernet can run approximately 100 meters using twisted pair cabling. Using coaxial cable
increases the distance to 500 meters
For LAN coaxial cable offers several advantages. It can run with fewer boosts from repeaters for longer
distances between network nodes than either STP or UTP cable. Repeaters regenerate the signals in a
network so that they can cover greater distances. Coaxial cable is less expensive than fiber-optic cable,
and the technology is well known, it has been used for many years for all types of data communication.

Thicknet coaxial cable

Coaxial cable comes in a variety of sizes. The largest diameter 1 centimeter was specified for use as
Ethernet backbone cable because historically it had greater transmission length and noise rejection
characteristics. This type of coaxial cable is frequently referred to as Thicknet. Thicknet cable can be too
rigid to install easily in some situations because of its thickness. The general rule is that the more difficult
the network medium is to install, the more expensive it is to install. Coaxial cable is more expensive to
install than twisted pair cable. Thicknet
A connection device known as a vampire tap was used to connect network devices to Thicknet. The
vampire tap then was connected to the computers via a more flexible cable called the attachment unit
interface (AUI). Although this 15 pin cable was still thick and tricky to terminate, it was much easier to
work with than Thicknet.

Thinnet coaxial cable

In the past, coaxial cable with a an outside diameter of only 0.35 cm (referred to as Thinnet) was used in
Ethernet networks. Thinnet was especially useful for cable installations that required the cable to make
many twists and turns. Because it was easier to install, it was also cheaper to install. Thus, it was
sometimes referred to as Cheapernet. However because the outer copper or metallic braid in coaxial
cable comprises half the electrical circuit, special care has to be taken to ensure that it was properly
grounded. Grounding was done by ensuring that a solid electrical connection existed at both ends of the
cable. As a result, poor shield connection was one of the biggest sources of connection problem in the
installation of coaxial cable. Connection problems resulted in electrical noise, which interfered with
signal transmittal on the networking medium. For this reason, despite its small diameter, Thinnet no
longer is commonly used in Ethernet network.
The most common connectors used with Thinnet are BNC, short for British Naval Connector or Bayonet
Neill Concelman, connectors. The basic BNC connector is a male type mounted at each end of a cable.
This connector has a center pin connected to the center cable conductor and a metal tube connected to
the to the outer cable shield. A rotating ring outside the tube locks the cable to any female connector.
BNC T-connectors are female devices for connecting two cables to a network interface card (NIC) A BNC
barrel connector facilitates connecting two cables together

The features of coaxial cables

 Speed and throughput – 10 to 100Mbps
 Average cost per node - Inexpensive
 Media and connector size - medium
 Maximum cable length - 500metres (medium)

What is Fiber-Optic cable & how does it works

Fiber-Optic cable uses optical rather than electrical pulses to transmit signals. Fiber-optic cable consists
of pure silicon glass cylinders or strands surrounded by cladding. Each strand can pass a signal in only
one direction so fiber-optic cable on a network typically consists of at least two strands, one for sending
& one for receiving. Electronic signals generated by the computer are converted to optical signals in the
form of photons which are transmitted down the cable by a laser or light –emitting diode. A photo-
detector on the other end, collects the optical signals & they are converted back to electrical signals.
Unlike copper cable, the signals on fiber-optic cable are not subject to the problems of attenuation,
capacitance, or crosstalk. This greatly increases the potential transmission distance. In addition fiber-
optic cable is more secure than copper cable. It does not generate electromagnetic signals & any
external tap is easily detected by a reduction in signal strength. Fiber-optic cable is generally more
expensive than copper cable
 Characteristics of fiber-optic cable
 Transmission rate of 100Mbos.
 Cable length of 2 kilometers or more.
 Not affected by electrical interference
 Supports voice, video, & data
 Provides the most secure media
 Most expensive cable
 Not very flexible, difficult to work with
 Commonly used in backbones between buildings & Token Ring networks
 Specifications for fiber include the IEEE’s 10BaseFL (Ethernet) & ANSI’s FDDI or Fiber Distributed
Data Interface (Token Ring)

Plenum Cable
Plenum cable is the cable that runs in plenum spaces of building. In building construction, a plenum is a
separate space provided for air circulation for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, typically in the
space between the structural ceiling and a drop down ceiling. In buildings with computer installations,
the plenum space often is used to house connecting communication cables. Because ordinary cable
introduces a toxic hazard in the event of fire, special plenum cabling is required in plenum areas.

Comparisons of the features of common network media

Media Maximum Speed Cost advantage Disadvantage

Type segment length

UTP 100m 10Mbps to Least expensive Easy to install, widely Susceptible to interference can
100Mbps available &widely used cover only a limited distance

STP 100m 10Mbps to More Reduced crosstalk, Difficult to work with, can cover
100Mbps expensive than more resistant to EMI only a limited distance
UTP than Thinnet or UTP

coaxial 500m (thicknet) 10Mbps to Relatively Less susceptible to EMI Difficult to work with (thicknet),
185m (thinnet) 100Mbps inexpensive interference than other limited bandwidth, limited
but more costly types of copper media application. (Thinnet), damage
than UTP to cable can bring down entire
network.

Fiber-optic 10km & further 100Mbps to Expensive Cannot be tapped, so Difficult to terminate.
(single-mode) 2km 100Gbps security is better, can be
& further (single used over great
(multimode) mode) distances, is not
 100Mbps to susceptible to EMI, has a
9.92Gbps higher data rate than
(multimode) coaxial & twisted –pair
cable

Advantages of twisted pair cable: (UTP & STP)

 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Structured Premise Cabling permits many communication
protocols to reside in the same wire bundle. Examples include voice, data and CCTV
video & control.
 UTP system is Color-coded cabling.
 A good UTP system gives better interference rejection than coaxial cable
 TP is less expensive than dedicated coaxial or fiber
 TP is physically smaller than coax & many other cable types.
 TP is a very easy media to terminate
 In many cases, the wire is already installed
Disadvantages of twisted pair cable: (UTP & STP)
 Because there can be different kind singles wired to different outlets & all outlets look the same,
the user needs to be careful not to wire a device to an outlet where a wrong type of signal is
wired. Wiring connection can lead to situation that the system does not work correctly or even
to equipment damages.
 The application originally designed for some other type of cabling need usually special adaptors
which cost money
 The current UTP systems (CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6) have quite limited high frequency performance, so
they do not suit well for transmission of very high frequency signals like cable TV, TV antenna &
radio antenna signals. There are product for this available, but the performance which can be
got with those is generally quite limited.

Characteristics of coaxial cable

 Transmission rate of about 10Mbps
 Maximum cable length of 185 meters for Thinnet, 500 metres for Thicknet
 Good resistance to electrical interference
 Less expensive that fiber-optics but more expensive than twisted pair
 Flexible & easy to work with (Thennet)
 Wire type is 20 AWG for Thinnet (R-58) & 12 AWG for Thicknet.
 Ethernet designation is 10base2 (Thinnet) or 10 base5 (Thicknnet, also referred to as standard
Ethernet)
The following designations are used to distinguish the different types of coaxial cable
 RG-58 -Thinnet, stranded wire core, 50 ohms
  RG-58 /U- Thinnet, solid wire core, 50 ohms
 RG-59 – Thicknet, cable television, broadband
 RG-62 – ArcNet, 75 ohms

What is a backbone?
A backbone is a generic term used to describe media that interconnects a number of computers,
segments or subnets. A backbone is used to connect hubs. Each hub represents a segment on which
individual workstations are connected via UTP cable. The hubs from different segments are then
connected to each other with thinnet cable. In this case, the thinnet cable functions as the backbone
that links the hubs.

In another example, a backbone may be a length in cable that serves as a trunk. Drop cables are attached
from the backbone to connect individual workstations.
A backbone is often used to connect networks in separate buildings; organizations typically use fiber
optic cable for this type of backbone. Thicknet is also used as a backbone

What connectors are used with UTP

UTP uses a connector called the RJ-45 connector. It looks similar to a common telephone connector (RJ-
11) except that it is slightly larger. The RJ-45 has 8 pins while the RJ-11 has only 4. UTP cable typical runs
from a computer’s NIC & plugs directly into a wall plate much like a regular telephone. It is not
uncommon to find wall plates in newer buildings labeled as Voice (for telephones) or Data (for UTP). The
cable running from the wall jack is rarely attached directly into a hub. Instead the individual cables are
collected & organized with patch panels located in a wiring closet.

List the Prons & Cons of the basic cable types

Coaxial Cable
PRO: Flexible & easy to install, relatively good resistance to electronic interference, electronic support
components are relatively inexpensive.
CON: Short cable length, more expensive than UTP, unsecure, hard to change configuration, thinnet
generally not good for use between buildings

UTP
PRO: Most flexible, cheapest cable (but requires expensive support components), easy to install, easy to
add users, may be able to use existing phone cable if data grade.
CON: Shortest usable cable length, susceptible to electrical interference, unsecure, generally not good
for use between buildings.

Fiber-Optic
PRO: Fastest transmission rate, not susceptible to electrical interference, secure, good for use between
buildings.
CON: Most expensive, relatively difficult to work with.

Describe the following potential problems with copper wire transmissions: attenuation, Impedance,
Capacitance & Crosstalk

Attenuation:
 Attenuation refers to the degradation of signal strength (amplitude) that occurs in transmission
over long distances. Shortening the transmission distance or using repeaters can help solve this
problem.

Impedance:
 Impedance is resistance & it affects a signal made up of various frequencies. The resistance
changes at different frequencies, resulting in distortion of the signal. Shortening the transmission
distance or lowering the frequency can help solve this problem.
Capacitance:
 Capacitance is the measure of stored electrical charge in a cable. This charge can distort
transmissions by changing the shape of the signal (as opposed to amplitude). Thick or bundled
cables contribute to capacitance. Unbundled, thin cable over shorter distances will reduce
capacitance.
Crosstalk:
 Background noise is a form of electrical interference that is generated by external sources.
Crosstalk is more common in UTP than in coaxial cable. Ambient noise is a form of background
noise generated by shop equipment, fluorescent lights, etc. Unlike copper wire cable, fiber-optic
cable is generally not susceptible to the problems described above.
The following factors should be considered when choosing the type of cable for your network:
Size:
 How many nodes (computers) & what are the total distance between them.
Cost: what is the budget & how much can be spent on cabling
Reliability: How dependent are your organization’s operations on the network?
Speed: How many concurrent users are there & how critical is response time
Security: How important is it to protect data from possible interception
Growth: What are the organisation’s plans for growth?
Administration: How will the network be administered?
Electrical Interference: What is the physical environment in which the network will operate?
Existing cable: Are there conduits or cabling already in place that might be useable eg data grade phone
lines for UTP

Describe the functions of Repeaters, Hubs, Bridges, Switches and Routers

Repeaters: Devices that are used to regenerate the signals to its original form. Because of the distance
limitations, such as a 10BaseT is limited to 100 meters, so after every 100 meters, the signal will degrade.
Since it is a baseband technology, the signal is either strong, which is a one, or it is off and that is a zero.
If the signals degrades, ones and zeroes can become garbled, there by resulting in data corrupts.

Hubs: Devices used to connect network components. Hubs are based on the star topology, where you
have a central concentrator that your computers connect to and operate from. Hubs fall in two
categories, passive and active. Active hubs have a plug so that it has an outside power source, while
passive hubs do not.
Bridges: Devices that were used to connects two Local Area Networks (LANs) or two segments of a LAN
in order to segment it, because the collision domain is too large. Bridges served one major purpose, it
acted as a switch but it segmented a LANs that may have been all hubbed and have a large amount of
collisions and broadcasts of such a large area that all computers must occupy.

Switches: Switches operate by filtering and forwarding packets between LAN segments or from
computer to computer. Switches operates at data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model and sometimes the
network layer (layer 3) of the OSI model, which means that there is an integrated router function into
the switch. Switches are the step up from the hubs and operate at faster speed.

Routers: Routers move up one layer in the OSI model to the network layer. On this layer, IP packets are
sent to destination networks based on routing decisions made by routers across paths in which they
connect and help control. Either via static or dynamic routing decisions, packets are sent from one
network segment to another. As a packet enters the router, it is examined, a router is looked up for the
destination address requested and it is either forwarded or it was not. A router takes data in and sends it
out to where it is intended to go. Routers can connect multiple Ethernet LANs, Token Ring, Frame Relay,
internet connections to use for internet access, the media types and connections are almost limitless as
routers become more and for modular over time. Routers use headers and forwarding tables to
determine the best path for forwarding the packets, and they use protocols such as ICMP to
communicate with each other and configure the best route between any hosts.