User guide

MR9600-100 User Guide
86 CommPlete Communications Server
Appendix B - Categories of Ethernet Performance
The telecommunications industry has defined cable and cable component standards in terms of
performance “categories”. The standards cover cable thickness, outer jacket material and thickness, etc.
The categories specify the tests which the cable and components must pass to meet the standards. The two
categories of test standards currently in use are Category 3 and Category 5.
Category 3 (“Cat 3”) cabling is used for voice and data at speeds up to 10M bps (e.g., 10BaseT Ethernet).
Category 5 (“Cat 5”) cabling is used for 100M bps transmissions (e.g., 100BaseT), but is also fully capable
of 10M bps transmission. Both categories use 24 gauge wire.
The self-certifying tests for cabling and components involve a swept-frequency test. Cat 3 must pass all
signals from 1-16M Hz; Cat 5 must pass all signals from 1-100M Hz. All forms of modulation of any carrier
waves within those frequencies, as well as all forms of digital pulses must be supported for any and all
applications. Since handling digital pulses is more difficult than simple modulation, digital pulsing
requires a broader range of frequencies to provide square pulse edges (as compared to AM or FM
modulation).
Category 3 (Cat 3)
Cat 3 cabling and components are designed and tested for 16M Hz of communications bandwidth for 10M
bps voice and data/LAN traffic transmissions. Cat 3 is very common in voice telephone cabling. The Cat 3
technical specifications are defined by FCC Part 68, ANSI/EIA/TIA-568, TIA TSB-36, and TIA TSB-40.
Safety specifications for Cat 3 cabling are covered by UL 1459 (telephone), UL 1863 (wire and jacks), and
NEC 1993 (article 800-4).
Category 5 (Cat 5)
Cat 5 cabling and components are designed and tested for 100M Hz of communications bandwidth for
100M bps voice and data/LAN traffic transmissions. The Cat 3 technical specifications are defined by FCC
Part 68, EIA/TIA-568, TIA TSB-36, and TIA TSB-40. Safety specifications for Cat 3 cabling are covered by
UL 1459 (telephone), UL 1863 (wire and jacks), and NEC 1993 (article 800-4). Cat 5 cabling is required for
use with Ethernet 100BaseTX (Fast Ethernet over Category 5 wiring) networks.
Cat 5 wiring has advantages over Cat 3 in its operation (full-duplex) wire-twist structure (tighter),
insulation (better), and connecting hardware (more versatile). Another advantage with using Cat 5 is that
it works for legacy 10M bps as well as newer 100M bps equipment.