Category 8 Performance Testing
Category 8 Performance Testing Ensure your next-generation cabling products meet the standard of the future.
Category 8 is the newest classification for twisted-pair cabling specifications that can enable data transfer speeds up to four times faster than previous generation, and is driven by data center needs. The technology further supports: • Power Over Ethernet • Auto-Negotiation • RJ-45 connector (Class I) • TERA®, GG-45 and ARJ-45 connectors (Class II)
The Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) will publish the TIA-568-C.2-1 standard for Category 8 cabling. It defines performance and testing requirements up to 2 GHz for Category 8 cabling systems to support the operation of IEEE 802.3bq 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T applications up to 30 meters. The TIA TR-42.7 Subcommittee continues to develop and refine and improve this new cabling category standard to meet the everexpanding needs of end-users.
INNOVATION LEADERS TEST THEIR PRODUCTS WITH INTERTEK Intertek demonstrated Category 8 cabling at an early stage and participates in the standard development process from its early vision to publication.
Early Vision In 2011, the TIA TR-42.7 Subcommittee approved a project to create a new standard to support future applications beyond 10GBASE-T. A period of effervescence followed where many ideas were considered to achieve this industry goal: channel bandwidth, number of connectors, number of pairs, connector form factor, channel length, etc. By the end of 2012, most variables were agreed to within the Subcommittee, including its name: Category 8 was born!
Technological Breakthrough Immediately after, leading industry standard participants combined their expertise to demonstrate the technology’s technical feasibility to the IEEE 802.3bq Study Group for 40GBASE-T. Intertek assembled one of the first Category 8 cabling using prototype components developed by CommScope and Belden and tested it using test fixtures designed by Fluke Networks. Category 8 cabling was proven achievable using the RJ-45 connector which allows for backward compatibility, and inter-operability of components (made by different vendors) was also verified at the same time.
Standardization Process
VISIT US AT THE BICSI WINTER CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO, FL. BOOTH # 535
Throughout the standard development cycles, several refinements and accomplishments took place in a number of committees, and Intertek dedicated resources to support the standard development in some of the working groups. -
The ISO/IEC JTC1/SC 25 technical committee is developing the ISO/IEC 11801-1 standard which includes two (2) different requirement subsets. Class I limits are based on the RJ-45 connector and Class II limits are based on TERA®, GG45 and ARJ45 connectors.
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The TIA TR-42.7 Subcommittee agreed to adopt Class II requirements.
-
Round robin testing was done between eleven (11) laboratories, including Intertek.
-
Alien crosstalk performance specifications were improved by more than 20 dB, and testing done at Intertek demonstrated the necessity to maintain the end-to-end integrity of the cabling shield to achieve such performance.
-
Direct attach configurations are recognized in the standard and have their own limits.
-
The ANSI/TIA-1183-1 standard was approved on January 12, 2016 to standardize BalunLess test methods and fixtures to support measurements up to 2 GHz.
-
The IEEE 802.3bq committee adopted a project to also create the 25GBASE-T protocol.
Outlook The imminent publication of the Category 8 standards will drive cabling products innovation to support 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T, and the possible 50GBASE-T standard on the horizon. Look ahead for more third-party testing and ETL Verification of Category 8 products.
Intertek 545 E. Algonquin Road Arlington Heights, IL 60005
For more information please visit www.intertek.com/cabling-products, contact us at [email protected], or call 1-800-WORLDLAB (967-5352). To find an office or laboratory in a particular country, please visit www.intertek.com/contact.
www.intertek.com CAT8.1.16
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Category 8 is the newest classification for twisted-pair cabling specifications that can enable data transfer speeds up to four times faster than previous generation, and is driven by data center needs. The technology further supports: • Power Over Ethernet • Auto-Negotiation • RJ-45 connector (Class I) • TERA®, GG-45 and ARJ-45 connectors (Class II)
The Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) will publish the TIA-568-C.2-1 standard for Category 8 cabling. It defines performance and testing requirements up to 2 GHz for Category 8 cabling systems to support the operation of IEEE 802.3bq 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T applications up to 30 meters. The TIA TR-42.7 Subcommittee continues to develop and refine and improve this new cabling category standard to meet the everexpanding needs of end-users.
INNOVATION LEADERS TEST THEIR PRODUCTS WITH INTERTEK Intertek demonstrated Category 8 cabling at an early stage and participates in the standard development process from its early vision to publication.
Early Vision In 2011, the TIA TR-42.7 Subcommittee approved a project to create a new standard to support future applications beyond 10GBASE-T. A period of effervescence followed where many ideas were considered to achieve this industry goal: channel bandwidth, number of connectors, number of pairs, connector form factor, channel length, etc. By the end of 2012, most variables were agreed to within the Subcommittee, including its name: Category 8 was born!
Technological Breakthrough Immediately after, leading industry standard participants combined their expertise to demonstrate the technology’s technical feasibility to the IEEE 802.3bq Study Group for 40GBASE-T. Intertek assembled one of the first Category 8 cabling using prototype components developed by CommScope and Belden and tested it using test fixtures designed by Fluke Networks. Category 8 cabling was proven achievable using the RJ-45 connector which allows for backward compatibility, and inter-operability of components (made by different vendors) was also verified at the same time.
Standardization Process
VISIT US AT THE BICSI WINTER CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO, FL. BOOTH # 535
Throughout the standard development cycles, several refinements and accomplishments took place in a number of committees, and Intertek dedicated resources to support the standard development in some of the working groups. -
The ISO/IEC JTC1/SC 25 technical committee is developing the ISO/IEC 11801-1 standard which includes two (2) different requirement subsets. Class I limits are based on the RJ-45 connector and Class II limits are based on TERA®, GG45 and ARJ45 connectors.
-
The TIA TR-42.7 Subcommittee agreed to adopt Class II requirements.
-
Round robin testing was done between eleven (11) laboratories, including Intertek.
-
Alien crosstalk performance specifications were improved by more than 20 dB, and testing done at Intertek demonstrated the necessity to maintain the end-to-end integrity of the cabling shield to achieve such performance.
-
Direct attach configurations are recognized in the standard and have their own limits.
-
The ANSI/TIA-1183-1 standard was approved on January 12, 2016 to standardize BalunLess test methods and fixtures to support measurements up to 2 GHz.
-
The IEEE 802.3bq committee adopted a project to also create the 25GBASE-T protocol.
Outlook The imminent publication of the Category 8 standards will drive cabling products innovation to support 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T, and the possible 50GBASE-T standard on the horizon. Look ahead for more third-party testing and ETL Verification of Category 8 products.
Intertek 545 E. Algonquin Road Arlington Heights, IL 60005
For more information please visit www.intertek.com/cabling-products, contact us at [email protected], or call 1-800-WORLDLAB (967-5352). To find an office or laboratory in a particular country, please visit www.intertek.com/contact.
www.intertek.com CAT8.1.16
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
