Blog, News & Articles

How Does Fibre Optic Cabling Work?

Fibre optic cabling has brought about a major change to the way we make phone calls, link to the internet and create office networks. But exactly how does fibre optic technology work?

Using the medium of glass

At the heart of fibre optic technology is – as you might expect – a fibre. This is made of glass and is as thin as a human hair. It’s also optically pure, which is key to its ability to transmit data in the form of light pulses, which travel through the fibre. Optical cables are usually made up of a bundle of these fibres, allowing them to handle large bandwidths.

Each individual fibre has three elements. There’s an inner core where the light travels, this is surrounded by an outer cladding which bounces light back into the core. Finally, there is an outer coating, known as a buffer, which helps protect the fibre from damage and moisture.

As we’ve said, optical cables are usually made up of bundles of fibres and these are protected by an outer jacket usually made of plastic. Just to make things a little more complicated though, there are three types of optical fibre:

  • Single mode fibres have a core of about nine microns in diameter and are designed to transmit laser light.
  • Multi mode fibres are larger – around 62 microns – and are designed to transmit infrared light from LEDs.
  • Plastic fibres have a diameter of around one millimetre, designed to transmit visible wavelength light from LEDs.

On reflection

Okay, so how do optical fibres transmit data? Well in much the same way that ships used to transmit messages in Morse code to each other from long distances using pulses of light, the transmission of data using optical fibre operates on a similar principle. The difference being that the rate of the pulses of light in fibre optic cable is many millions that of those once used by sailors and seaman.

Signalling in morse code using pulses of light requires you to have a clear line of sight to the person receiving the signal, because light travels in straight lines. One way to get around this would be to position a mirror to reflect the light around the corner. This same principle is used by fibre optics except at very very short distances.

The light pulses in a fibre optic cable travels through the core of the cable, but by bouncing off the cladding at an angle as it goes (fig 1). So in our example above, the cladding represents the mirror, allowing the signal to travel around bends in the cable.

fibre optic cable

Due to slight imperfections in the glass of the fibre, there is a slight degradation of the signal over long distances, although this is much less than the signal loss experienced with copper cables. To get around this, optical networks use a signal booster – called an optical regenerator – to allow the signal to cover longer distances without problems.

Advantages

Now we know how fibre optics work, we can begin to see why they have become so popular. They offer less signal loss than copper cables and because the glass fibres are so much thinner than their copper cousins, many more can be bundled into a given space, allowing the network to carry more traffic (higher bandwidth).

There’s also no interference between fibres as there can be with copper cables, so the integrity of the data is preserved. Finally, since no electricity passes through the fibre, it can be used in hazardous environments without risk.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

Advantages of Fibre Optic Cabling Over Copper Data Cabling?

Copper cabling has been around for a long time because it was historically one of the lowest loss transmission mediums. In recent years, however, there’s been a newer kid on the block in the form of fibre optics, which has begun to challenge copper’s dominance.

But when is the right time to make the switch to fibre? To decide that we need to look at some of the pros and cons of each technology.

Network cabling

Despite the rise in popularity of wireless, most business networks still rely on cabling to operate. Traditionally, this has been twisted pair copper which, in its cat6 spec, can offer transmission speeds of up to 1 Gbps on distances up to 100 metres. It’s also relatively low cost and is easy to install. Over longer distances, however, copper can suffer from signal loss so may require signal boosting if you have a large site.

Fibre optic cable, on the other hand, transmits information as light through a glass filament. It’s able to transmit data far faster – up to 10 Gbps or more – and over longer distances of 2,000 metres before signal loss starts to become an issue.

Fibre is, at the moment, more expensive although its cost has fallen in recent years. Fibre optic networks also need careful installation by experts as the cabling can’t turn sharp corners. It’s becoming increasingly common to use fibre to provide network backbones, even though the cables to individual endpoints may still rely on copper.

Installation considerations

When installing new network cabling, therefore, there are a number of factors that you need to take into account:

  • Speed as we’ve already seen, fibre is capable of sustaining higher speeds over longer distances and is, therefore, a good choice for network backbones.
  • Security – increasingly businesses may be subject to industrial espionage or even nation state attacks. If your cable is in a potentially insecure location, such as between buildings, fibre is less easy to tap.
  • Spark hazards – in some industries, such as gas and oil production, sparks can be a major hazard. In these situations copper cable needs to be properly shielded, fibre, however, does not present a spark risk.
  • Durability – fibre cables are able to withstand harsher environments and weather conditions without deterioration and without the need for the protective shielding that copper might need in similar circumstances.
  • Interference – where there is significant electrical noise, such as in factories, power plants or data centres, copper cable can be subject to signal noise and interference if not properly shielded. Fibre, in contrast, is immune to electrical interference and noise.
  • Cost – basic copper cabling is still likely to be cheaper than fibre. However, if you need shielded or other specialist cables then the cost of copper can soon mount up. That said, fibre is becoming cheaper.
  • Future proofing – the greater transmission speeds and reliability of fibre make it a good choice to build a network cable solution that is able to cope with future demands for expansion.

Getting your choice of cabling right is important. If you select the wrong medium, it can result in errors or downtime that cost your business money and time. Taking the time to get it right may seem a more expensive option in the short term, but the resulting robust infrastructure will future-proof your business and should make for a lower total ownership cost over the long term.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

What Types Of Fibre Optic Cable Are There?

Fibre optic cable has gained in popularity in recent years and is becoming commonplace in networks. It’s easy to assume that all fibre cables are the same, but this is not the case. There are, in fact, several different types and it’s important to understand these and what they mean for installations.

Fibre optic basics

Fibre cable is composed of a filament, usually made of glass. This is thinner than a human hair and has a reflective outer coating that allows the light signal to be bounced from side to side so it’s able to go around corners. Outside that is a sheath that protects the cable from damage and moisture. Most cables are made up of a bundle of fibres rather than just one, allowing them to carry more traffic.

There are three types of fibre optic cable in common use and these have key differences that affect how and where they are used. They are:

  • Single mode fibre
  • Multi mode fibre
  • Plastic fibre

There are differences between each and each type suits a different need.

Single mode fibre

Single mode optical fibre is the thinnest, with a diameter of between 8.3 and 10 microns. It’s used in applications where data is sent at multi-frequency – known as WDM Wave-Division-Multiplexing. This means only one cable is needed.

Using single mode fibre means you get a higher transmission rate that can be used over longer distances. The combination of a small fibre and a single light wave helps to eliminate distortion.

Multi mode fibre

Multi mode fibre has a larger diameter, between 50 and 100 microns. Multi mode fibre allows you to have high bandwidth at high speeds, typically between 10 and 100Mbps, over medium distances of up to two kilometres.

In a multi mode fibre, light waves are dispersed into several paths, or modes, as they travel through the cable’s core. The downside of this is that in cable runs over 914 metres, the multiple paths of light can lead to some distortion of the signal by the time it reaches the receiving end. This can compromise the integrity of data transmission. For gigabit networks, therefore, it’s now more common to use single mode fibre to ensure reliability.

Plastic fibre

Plastic optical fibre uses polymer rather than glass to carry the light signal down the cable. Plastic fibre has a much larger diameter of around one millimetre. It is a lot cheaper and more robust than silica-based fibre optic but is only suitable for use over very short distances.

Advantages of Fibre Optic Cable

Each type of fibre optic cable has different advantages over the other, but there are some advantages to fibre which are common to all types. These include:

  • There is no risk of interference or crosstalk between cables.
  • There’s also no risk of interference from outside, so they can be used in electrically noisy environments such as industrial plants.
  • There’s no risk of sparks either, allowing fibre to be used in hazardous environments including oil and gas production.

There are some additional considerations to be taken into account too. Fibre can suffer a loss of signal quality over longer distances, which may mean that boosters need to be installed. It also needs care in installation as fibre cables can’t turn sharp corners in the same way as their copper counterparts.

Overall though, fibre optic cable is a far more effective option than traditional copper cabling.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

What Data Cabling Standard Should I Opt For?

No matter how fast your voice and data cabling may be, your network will only ever run as fast as the slowest devices connected to it.

So does the cabling you use really matter all that much?

Well, in short, yes. If you’re refurbishing or moving to a new office then it makes a lot of sense to invest in cabling, as it not only gives you a significant degree of future proofing and ensures that your network data cabling will be able to cope with any speed of device you connect to it.

Considerations when installing a new network

When you are installing a network, the technology isn’t the only consideration. You also need to take account of the current and future needs of the business. There are a number of factors to consider here:

  • How many workstations do you need to connect?
  • What volume of data does the network need to process?
  • What is the longest cable run?
  • What is your budget?

You can measure data throughput on an existing network using an application (there are many free ones available online). You should remember to add additional capacity to cope with any future expansion though. This means that you can introduce extra workstations or more data capacity without having to change the cabling.

Data cable choices

The next step is to decide on the type of cable to use. Until recently, this would have meant deciding between the various Cat standards for copper cables. Now, however, there is also the option of a fibre optic network.

Copper Cables

Copper cables use twisted pairs to improve their performance. The long-established Cat 5e standard can offer speeds of up to one gigabit, which should be adequate for most smaller offices. Cabling distances up to 100 metres are possible without significant signal loss. Cat 6 can deliver up to 10 gigabits, should you need to handle larger volumes of data. In most cases, unshielded cable is fine unless you have an environment that is subject to electrical interference. Read our guide to copper cabling standards here.

Fibre Optic Cables

Fibre optic cable, on the other hand, offers much faster speeds and can cover greater distances (up to 2000 metres without signal loss). Fibre is also more secure as it’s immune to signal eavesdropping and to electrical interference. On the downside, it’s harder to install, as it can’t turn sharp corners, and is significantly more expensive than copper.

Decision time

So, how do you decide? Once again there are a number of factors involved:

  • Speed – the data demands on networks are becoming ever greater so you need to plan for a fast connection, beyond your current needs.
  • Distance – for most LANs this isn’t too much of an issue, but larger companies may need the extra distance offered by fibre.
  • Cost – copper cabling is much cheaper than fibre, although the cost of fibre is gradually coming down. You need to look at the relative performance differences and decide which suits your budget.
  • Interference – copper cables can be subject to interference from items such as industrial machinery or medical scanners. In these environments, you need to consider either shielded cable or fibre.
  • Security – For important and confidential communication, a wired network will always be more secure than Wi-Fi, regardless of whether you opt for fibre or copper cable.
  • Quality – it can be tempting to cut corners on the cost of cabling, but if you buy cheaply the quality is going to suffer. This applies not just to the cable itself but also to the sockets and connectors used.
  • Installation – having chosen your cabling standard you need to ensure that it is installed correctly and is tested to ensure it meets industry standards.

It’s expensive and troublesome to replace an entire structured cabling system, so you should think about the speeds your network will require in the future and make sure that you invest in the cabling that can handle it.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

How Do Copper Network Cabling Standards Work?

Although recent years have seen major improvements in wireless technology, most office networks still rely, at least to some extent, on copper cabling. But there are many different standards for copper cables which can lead to some confusion. So, what are the various different types and what are their pros and cons?

In the early days of networking, the cables used were coaxial – the same type used to connect a TV aerial. But coaxial cables are bulky and stiff, leading to difficulties with installation and so have gradually been superseded by twisted pair cables, which are far thinner and more flexible. These can also be used for other functions besides networking, such as telephone connections.

Structured Cabling

This type of standardised connection is known as structured cabling. This is governed by a set of standards that outline how cabling should be laid, what type of cabling should be used and the different topologies that apply.

Cables are generally run from a central point to individual wall outlets. Using a patch panel, each wall outlet can be patched into a network switch, IP or PBX depending on what it’s to be used for. This makes for easy rearrangement of offices without the need to rewire.

Data Cabling Standards

Copper data cabling standards are divided into categories, usually abbreviated to ‘Cat’ (Cat3, Cat4, Cat5 and so on). The number refers to the specifications and standards to which the cable was manufactured.

Standards have evolved over the years, which means the higher the category, the faster the speeds (measured in bits) and frequencies (measured in hertz) that the cable can cope with.

The copper data cabling standards are laid out below:

Cat 3 Cables

is the oldest standard that was widely adopted, used for many networks in the 1990s. Also known as 10BASE-T, it offers speeds up to 10 Mbps and uses a twisted pair cable.

Cat 4 Cables

supports signals up to 20 MHz but was only used for a short time before being overtaken by Cat 5.

Cat 5 (or 100BASE-T) Cables

increases the number of cables to four pairs – or eight individual wires – and can handle up to 100 MHz. Download speeds are restricted by Ethernet cable length and maximum transmission speeds are measured over 100 meters, after which speed drop off typically begins to occur.

Cat 5e (or 1000BASE-T) Cables

replaced Cat 5 in 2001 and is able to carry Gigabit Ethernet traffic. It can also be used for power over Ethernet applications where electrical power to run devices such as network repeaters is delivered over the Ethernet cable.

Cat 6 Cables

have higher standards to prevent cross-talk of data and can handle transmissions up to 250 MHz, known as 1000BASE-TX. However, Cat 6 has a lower maximum length of only 55 metres.

(Cat 6a (or augmented Cat 6) Cables

can handle 500 MHz, providing 10GBASE-T and increasing the maximum distance back to 100 metres.

Cat 7 Cables

allows frequencies of up to 600 MHz over 100 metres. This means that it can handle Ethernet at speeds of up to 10 Gbps.

Cat 8 Cables

is the newest standard. It can operate at up to 2000 MHz but only over distances of up to 36 metres. It’s designed for use in data centres where distances between devices are short, rather than for general office cabling.

Shielding

Another factor to take into account is whether the cables are shielded. Most network cabling is unshielded twisted pair (UTP) as this is low cost and widely available. However, you can opt for shielded twisted pair (STP) cabling. The latter is preferred in electrically noisy environments – in factories for example – where unshielded cabling could be subject to interference.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

What Is Voice And Data Cabling?

Simply put, voice and data cabling is a system of cabling that can, as the name suggests, handle voice and/or data. This includes basic phone system cabling, data network cabling, coax cabling, server room cabling, surveillance camera wiring, video cabling, wireless network infrastructure cabling. Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a and Cat7 are the major voice and data cabling standards.

In other words, voice and data cabling is the infrastructure that makes up an office or campus network that has the capacity to adapt and expand with future technology and allows the business to expand year upon year.

The quality of cabling is vitally important for all businesses. The initial installation of your voice and data cabling may seem daunting, involving extensive drilling and fixing of cables, but the benefits more than justify this major undertaking. When installing voice and data cabling there are a few essentials to keep in mind.

Planning is essential

As the technology involved is constantly evolving, it is important that businesses future proof with the appropriate wiring choice. The higher the specification of the cabling chosen, the longer the life of that network. As technology changes, it is imperative that your business has space to expand without any constraints needlessly imposed by your cable and wiring network.

Test your network

It is essential that your voice and data cabling is tested on a regular basis. Getting a professional in to ensure that your wiring is still up to spec and allowing your network to perform optimally is hugely beneficial. Testing should occur at least every 10 years, although if any major changes are made, then it is clearly important to test again. Needless to say, it is also essential that your network is tested by certified and experienced engineers that have dealt with the technology before; by no means, all electricians have the requisite experience.

Cutting corners does not pay off

While it may be tempting to go for the cheaper option, low-cost cables come with a risk of defects and potential downtime for your business. Every component should be of the highest quality; this ensures that the network will function properly and you can be confident that everything will last the lifetime of your network. All components from the cables to routers, hubs and the switches are as important as each other. One weak point could potentially slow down the entire network and even cause downtime for the business and lost revenue.

What do you need voice and data cabling for?

Voice and data cabling is a crucial part of your infrastructure that ensures optimal performance from your network. Conference calls, video chat, VoIP telephone and more all rely on a robust, fast cable network. In addition to requiring high speeds, these technologies all require a great deal of bandwidth to function properly and avoid downtime.

By investing in a proper voice and data cabling system, businesses can future-proof their IT infrastructure and avoid these often costly problems further down the line. A robust voice and data cable system helps to ensure the availability of your infrastructure with a direct impact on the bottom line.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

Why Is Structured Cabling Better Than Conventional Wiring?

There are many reasons why a structured cabling service system is far superior to conventional wiring systems. In a conventionally wired system, you will often find a jungle of tangled wires and cables going from computers to the hubs and then off to a main router. That’s not to mention further wiring snaking off to printers, scanners and webcams. This infrastructure will probably have been installed over a period of time by several different people, on an as-needed basis.

A structured data cabling approach takes a more logical and longer-term approach. It examines where the cabling is needed and organises it cleanly and simply within a network of routers, switches and hubs. This consistency in cabling means that it is far easier to install and troubleshoot everything on your network, from phones and fax machines to servers and desktop computers.

A more Standardised Cabling System

Structured cabling is, therefore, a standardised way of connecting your network, which enables all electronics and computers to communicate efficiently. Structured cabling binds the devices of a modern office together within a unified IT infrastructure.

The separation of data and equipment types into their own discrete outlets makes it easy to streamline your business network infrastructure. A common mistake in many networks, for example, is running power cables in close proximity to data cables. This can cause disruptive noise in your network, reducing efficiency. Structured cabling takes this type of issue into account from the outset.

The Benefits of Structured Cabling

Structured cabling’s benefits are numerous and leave older conventional wired systems in the shade. The advantages of a structured cabling system include:

  • Future Proofing your business – Given the scalability and adaptability of structured cabling, your business infrastructure will be able to grow far robustly than with conventional wiring.
  • Reduced Install time – The simple and organised set up of the cabling allows for quick and easy changes and upgrades.
  • Adopting the Internet of Things – The Internet of Things allows all sorts of devices to be connected to the internet, from speakers to plant machinery. Many businesses are coming to rely on the IoT, with many more looking to integrate it into their day to day operations. Structured cabling is a future-proofed system that is far better equipped than traditional cabling to accommodate the surge of IoT devices coming online.
  • Supporting Simple Upgrading – The modern, modular design enables quick and easy replacements and upgrades, such as multimedia and video conferencing. In addition, it will also allow you to mix and match vendor equipment without any need to rework the cabling to handle new devices.
  • Simplified Problem Diagnosis – With conventional wiring, it can be difficult to work out where a given issue arises. Structured cabling is unified and modular, making it fast and simple to diagnose where the problem lies.

Why is Structured Cabling important?

With the importance of the Internet of Things, businesses are seeing more and more wiring and cabling within their networks, as more and more devices now require their own internet connection. Add to this that fact that VoIP phone systems and video conferencing are rapidly becoming the norm in offices, creating a demand that conventional wiring system often can’t handle.

The effect of poor cabling can be detrimental to productivity. Older, traditional cabling is often too long, as devices are moved around the office without proper planning and preparation. Network cabling efficiency reduces over longer distances, which will have a negative impact on the efficiency and reliability of your network.

A modern, structured cabling system will not only make your business a neater and simpler environment, but it will also make your network far more efficient and reliable.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

What Is Structured Cabling?

Structured cabling refers to any infrastructure that uses a number of standardised cabling elements. It can (and often does) include cables, computers, phones, printers and all other essential hardware that makes up an office/business network. Structured cabling is a more organised approach than conventional wiring and will manage the cabling for your entire infrastructure. It has the benefits of not only being neat and tidy but also incredibly easy to maintain and service.

What makes up Structured Cabling?

Structured cabling is governed by a set of standards that outline how cabling should be laid, what type of cabling is to be used (such as Cat5, Cat6, fibre optic, etc.) and the different topologies that apply. This is achieved using a central patch panel through which each outlet can be connected into a network switch, IP or PBX.

While your system will, of course, be bespoke and tailored to your company needs and requirements, it is still important that it adheres to these principles in order to adhere to the standards and ensure the best possible structured cabling solution.

Benefits of Structured Cabling

Not only does a structured cabling installation system make life easier for the business, but it has a number of additional benefits including:

  • Cost Effective – Structured cabling ensures that your network will be scalable and flexible to any demands that your business may place upon it. It future proofs your system and gives you peace of mind that your infrastructure will not become outdated as your business expands.
  • Reduced Downtime – With traditional wiring, there is a far greater chance of human error, with wiring stretched across the office. Such a disorganised infrastructure leads to faults which can be complex and expensive to resolve. Structured cabling allows for simple fault detection and quick and easy repair.
  • Simple to Upgrade – Rather than having to spend hours running new wiring through an office and working out what is connected and to where, with structured cabling, it is simply a case of connecting your new appliance into the hub and you are ready to go.
  • Increased Office Safety – The replacement of messy wiring will mean that your office becomes a safer environment. Electrical fires, trips and falls are also far less likely with a structured cabling setup.
  • The Internet of Things – As the modern workplace evolves more and more of the everyday devices we rely on are becoming part of what is known as the Internet of Things. With an ever-growing number of IoT devices, it’s increasingly important that your network is compatible and capable of handling them. With a structured cabling system, it is far easier to ensure that your network will be able to take advantage of the Internet of Things, allowing for the proper cybersecurity, energy management and the automation of additional business operations.

Structured cabling systems have become ever more popular and are now seen in the majority of well run office spaces. Office infrastructure has come a long way since people began moving away from traditional wiring systems and, if installed with foresight, structured systems will outlive older networks by many years.

In essence, structured cabling has simply become an essential component of any successful business network.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

What Are The Different Data Cable Standards & What Do They Mean?

Wired connections are generally a lot faster and more reliable than Wifi connections but it’s important to get the right data cables for your business. As the need for more bandwidth increases, the cables that form the arterial systems of your networks need to be able to keep up the demands of your business for many years to come.

With the many different standards available for data cabling, it can be difficult to tell them apart and make the right choice for your network installation. While all Ethernet cables serve the same purpose (i.e. connect devices to networks like the internet), not all Ethernet cables are created equal.

Understanding which cable standard will best suit your business needs isn’t easy. To get you started, here is a brief guide to the main cabling standards.

Category 5 (CAT5) Cable

CAT5 Ethernet was introduced in 1995 as a successor to CAT3 cabling (now only used for telephone-grade connections as it can only support up to 10 Mbps speed and 16 MHz of bandwidth).

By using a higher grade of copper and rearranging the cable twists inside the shielding, CAT5 became the first cable to offer 10/100 Mbps speed at bandwidths of up to 100 MHz. It’s also referred to as “Fast Ethernet”.

Although both CAT3 and CAT5 are considered obsolete, it’s not unheard of to still find the latter in use (e.g. distributing video and telephone signals at distances of up to 100 metres).

Enhanced Category 5 (CAT5e) Cable

Introduced in 2001, CAT5e is the improved version of the CAT5. Although they look physically similar, the CAT5e comes with the following improvements:

  • Supports up to 1 Gbps of speed at distances of up to 55 metres, allowing it to accommodate Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet
  • Adheres to more stringent testing standards to cut down crosstalk (the undesired transfer of signals among data channels)
  • Supports up to 100 MHz of bandwidth

CAT5e is the most commonly preferred type of cable, thanks to its low production costs and greater speed/bandwidth support. However, whilst Cat5e cable can run at, or very close to, gigabit speeds, it is not certified for this use.

Category 6 (CAT6) Cable

In 2002, CAT6 was introduced to the market with features that supersede its predecessors.

It can easily handle Gigabit Ethernet-like CAT5e, but it comes with more tightly wound cables which are often outfitted with foil or braided shielding. This shielding then adds more protection to the wires inside, further minimising crosstalk and noise interference.

Moreover, the CAT6 can support up to 250 MHz of bandwidth over distances of 55 metres.

A lot of consumers find themselves in a dilemma when choosing between CAT5e and CAT6. This confusion often stems from believing that CAT6 cabling can provide an “all gigabit” network.

However, your speed is not entirely dependent on your cables. While CAT6 cable or above is designed to run at speeds of a gigabit or more, it’s worth remembering that your network will only ever be as fast as the slowest device in it.

Augmented Category 6 (CAT6a) Cable

Introduced in 2008, CAT6a improved upon the features of CAT6, as it can support speeds of up to 10 Gbps at 500 MHz bandwidth. With CAT6a, you can transmit data over distances of 100 metres.

CAT6a cables are always shielded (as opposed to CAT6 that’s available in UTP and STP) and come with much thicker sheathing that can eliminate crosstalk completely. This, however, makes it denser and less flexible than CAT6. Given this, it’s better suited for industrial environments.

Category 7 (CAT7)/Class F Cable

Unveiled in 2010, CAT7 is an Ethernet standard that allows for 10-gigabit speeds over 100 meters of copper cabling. It also comes with an extra bandwidth capacity of 600 MHz.

Unlike previous standards, CAT7 has added shielding on individual wire pairs inside the cable to reduce crosstalk and system noise. This additional shielding, however, makes it less flexible than CAT6a. You also have to ground each layer individually and use special GG45 connectors to maximise its features.

Considering how difficult it is to work with, CAT7 is best suited for large enterprise networks and data centres.

Its successor, the CAT7a, was introduced in 2013. It offers the same 10 Gbps speed but with a bandwidth capacity of 1.2 GHz.

Choosing The Right Cabling Standard

To the casual observer, structured cabling differences may be invisible. But the technology has evolved through the years to include more categories that can support higher bandwidths (therefore increasing download and connection speeds).

At TV Net, we believe that it always pays to opt for the best possible cabling standard today, in order to future-proof your network for the business demands of tomorrow.

Contact us to find out the best cabling standard to use for your business network.

Date posted: 1 September 2017  –   Categories:

Accreditations
BigDog Future Economy Network Logo Ruckus Ready Partner Program Excel Cabling Accreditation Connectix
Contact Details

TVNET Limited
21 Station Road Workshops, Station Rd, Bristol, BS15 4PJ

T 0117 970 8181
E webenquiries@tvnet-ltd.co.uk

Climate_Positive_Website_Badge_by_Global_Bay
See what our customers say
"I am writing to thank TVNET for the excellent work on installing the cabling at our new offices. Although the job turned out to be more complex than initially thought, TVNET stuck to the original quote and undertook the work professionally and with minimum fuss and disruption. This led us to having everything we needed installed before moving in to the new offices knowing that our internet connections would be reliable going forward. I will not hesitate to recommend TVNET in the future."

Kevin Edenborough, Eden Chartered Accountants

TVNET
2018-08-21T15:46:39+01:00

Kevin Edenborough, Eden Chartered Accountants

"I am writing to thank TVNET for the excellent work on installing the cabling at our new offices. Although the job turned out to be more complex than initially thought, TVNET stuck to the original quote and undertook the work professionally and with minimum fuss and disruption. This led us to having everything we needed installed before moving in to the new offices knowing that our internet connections would be reliable going forward. I will not hesitate to recommend TVNET in the future."
0
0
TVNET
Top