Category 5e represents an incremental improvement over Category 5 with tighter
specifications designed to support full-duplex Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet.
Most current MICROS terminals support Gigabit Ethernet.
Category 5e cable performance characteristics and certification methods are
defined in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-2001.
• Category 6
Category 6, ratified in June 2002 (ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1), provides higher
performance than Category 5e with more stringent specifications for crosstalk and
system noise in addition to supporting a bandwidth up to 250Mhz. Category 6
cable is standardized for Gigabit Ethernet, a port included on all current MICROS
workstations.
Category 6a cable, or Augmented Category 6, was defined in February 2009 in
ANSI/TIA-568-C.1 and is characterized to operate at 500 MHz with improved alien
crosstalk characteristics.
Ensure the installation and termination of Category 6 or 6a cables and connection
hardware meet the required specifications.
In sites with a high amount of electromagnetic interference (EMI), shielded cables
are required. The shielding reduces the effect of EMI on data carried by the cable.
Maintain the shielding from one cable end to another using a drain wire in the
same sheath as the twisted pairs.
Mechanical and Electrical Considerations for Cable
Installation
• UTP Cable Installed in Metal Conduit
If you want to install UTP cabling in a grounded metal conduit, consider the
following:
– Use conduit composed of ferrous metal. Aluminum conduit is unacceptable as
it provides little or no protection from EMI.
– Use conduit throughout the system from junction box to junction box to ensure
an adequate ground return path.
• PVC Conduit
When cables are buried below the floor level, the use of PVC Conduit is permitted.
When using PVC conduit in concrete flooring, the following guidelines apply:
– Locate the PVC conduit at least six inches below the surface of the floor.
– Locate the PVC conduit at least six inches from other nearby conduits.
• Cable Damage
The possibility of mechanical damage to cables is generally apparent at the time of
installation. This includes outdoor runs of cable, as sunlight, rain and mechanical
flexing due to wind causes the cable to deteriorate. Do not kink or tightly bend the
cable; the bend radius should be at least four times the outside cable diameter.
• Lightning
Lightning does not need to directly strike the cabling to cause damage or
disruption to the system. Nearby lightning strikes produce strong electromagnetic
fields that can induce voltages on the data transmission cables causing disruptions
Chapter 26
Mechanical and Electrical Considerations for Cable Installation
26-8
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