Cable Sharing: An ANSI & ISO Recognized Solution for High Density, Low-Speed Applications Broadband High-Speed LAN Voice Robert Y. Faber Jr., RCDD/NTS
Minimum Port Recommendations TIA/EIA-568-B.1 2 outlets per work area At least 1 port supported by minimum category 3 (category 5e recommended) ISO/IEC 11801 2 outlets per work area At least 1 port supported by minimum category 3 (category 5e recommended) 2 pairs per TO may be used as an alternative to 4 pairs
High density work areas Up to 15 outlets per WA are required for some end-user applications! Call centers Fax centers Classrooms Training centers Monitoring facilities Patient recovery rooms
Applications in high density WA s Analog Voice VoIP Video over IP CATV CCTV 10/100BASE-T 1-pair 2-pairs 2-pairs 1-pair w/balun 1-pair w/balun 2-pairs
Reducing cable congestion Run multiple 1- and 2-pair applications over one cable Cable sharing reduces the number of outlets required to support high-density, low-speed applications You are already utilizing cable sharing techniques!
Is cable sharing Standards allowed? TIA (Commercial) Not excluded Annex B provides guidance on shared sheath multipair UTP cables ISO/IEC 11801 (Commercial) Clause 9.3 provides crosstalk consideration for cable sharing Guidance provided for minimizing sheath sharing incompatibilities ISO/IEC 15018 (Home) Cable sharing may be considered when pathway space is limited
What do NEC and BICSI say? NEC Multiple applications running under one sheath is allowed BICSI Generally only one application per sheath Guidance based upon legacy and UTP considerations
TIA sheath sharing guidelines Issues to consider when running multiple applications over one cable Transmit amplitudes Signal level Robustness of protocols Receiver sensitivity Applications with different frequencies tend not to interfere with each other
BICSI sheath sharing guidance No more than twelve 10BASE-T signals per binder group No signals with significantly different power levels on the same binder group Avoid mixing unbalanced systems with balanced systems Generally 64kb/s baseband signals are compatible with PBX and key system circuits
Full shielding eliminates this problem Category 7/Class F cabling has virtually zero power sum near-end and far-end crosstalk coupling Sheath sharing guidelines provided by TIA and BICSI were not derived using S/FTP cabling crosstalk models and are not applicable
Can class F be used in the USA? Yes, C7/Class F has been an ANSI standard since 1999 ISO/IEC are global and applicable to North America Category 7/Class F cabling complies with the NEC Field testing standards exist
Balanced broadband video 1-pair video applications are perfectly suited for cable sharing Requires the use of baluns Requirements are outlined in ISO/IEC 15018 Specifies 1000 MHz class F cabling The BO shall be the IEC 61076-3 non RJ-style category 7 connector
Media overview: cable 100 Ω S/FTP (braid screened, foil twisted-pairs) 4 Pair, 22 AWG 8.5 mm (.330 inch) typical o.d. Shielding reduces crosstalk between pairs and between cables Conductor Insulation Tinned copper braid Aluminum/ polyester foil tape Jacket
Non RJ-style connector Approved as the non RJ-45 style category 7 interface in ISO/IEC 11801 Mechanical and electrical features called out in IEC 61076-3-104:2002 Characterized to 1.2 GHz Commercially available from 5 manufacturers
Ethernet connections The non RJ-style category 7 outlet connects to RJ-45 Ethernet applications using a 4-pair to hybrid cord The RJ-45 plug is screened
Category 7/Class F cable sharing Fully shielded, quadrant isolated interface 1-pair and 2-pair hybrid cords can be used to access specific pairs
Grounding recommendations Category 7 requires grounding of the overall cable shield A dc ground shall be provided through a 6 AWG wire from the patch panel to the TGB Outlet shields typically automatically ground to the terminating patch panel as inserted
Study: 200 agent call center (CMR) 50 inbound, 150 outbound agents 20,000 calls per week Call center needs 1000BASE-T data port Analog phone Traditional 200 faceplates each providing: 1 Cat 6A UTP outlet 1 Cat 5e UTP outlet 400 outlets total
Study: 200 agent call center (CMR) Cable Sharing - 50 MUTOA s each providing 4 Cat 6A UTP ports 1 Cat 7 port 250 outlets total 12% cost savings 38% fewer outlets 7% less conduit fill Reduced complexity
Study: school classroom (CMR) 50 classrooms 1000/10GBASE-T data 10/100BASE-T data VoIP phone CCTV CATV Intercom Security Camera Traditional 50 faceplates each providing: 1 Cat 6A UTP outlet 2 Cat 5e UTP outlets 3 RG 6 outlets 1 2-conductor 18 AWG 350 outlets total
Study: school classroom (CMR) Cable Sharing - 50 faceplates each providing 1 Cat 6A UTP port 2 Cat 7 ports 150 outlets total 20% cost savings Converged network 57% fewer outlets Reduced complexity CCTV CATV Camera Intercom VoIP 10/100 BASE-T
Other vertical markets Healthcare sometimes 15 services are provided to each patient room! 2 voice 4 clinical Ethernet data 2 ICU remote patient monitoring Ethernet data 1 nurse-call Ethernet 1 auxiliary Ethernet data for non-clinical applications 2 patient entertainment additional outlets for family zone activity
Government TEMPEST rating Classified emissions limits and test procedures A counter-intelligence measure to prevent electronic espionage. Non RJ-style category 7 cabling only balanced cabling system that is TEMPEST rated
Category 7 supports convergence Application sharing is a cost effective means to replace coax and 18AWG with balanced cabling Ethernet supports: BAS Video Audio and Data!
Cable sharing limitations Must know applications to be supported in advance Possible reduced flexibility for support of future applications and upgrades Good news - the life cycle of call centers and most video applications is 15 years!
Recommendations Plan to accommodate 1000BASE-T and 10GBASE-T applications that utilize all 4-pairs Provide at least one dedicated 4-pair augmented category 6A or category 7 port per work station
Conclusions Cable sharing is an ideal solution for low-speed, high-density solutions: Reduced cost Reduced conduit fill Improved cable management Supports application convergence on the data network Standards recognized