Breaking the Distance Barrier
February 2023
The success of implementing a reliable intelligent building depends on an efficient structured cabling infrastructure. The network cable and connectivity provide the critical link for the operation of all integrated IP applications. With one cable to provide both data and power (Power over Ethernet), significant CAPEX and OPEX costs can be reduced. The most obvious benefits include ease of installation with one cable replacing many disparate cables combined with labor cost reduction by eliminating AC outlets though PoE. However, the biggest barrier in implementing data and PoE over Category copper cable is the 100m distance limitation specified by industry standards.
ANSI/TIA-568 cabling standards have long specified a 100m distance limitation for horizontal twisted-pair copper cabling channels, which includes a 90m permanent link with a total of 10m of patch cable. This has been a fixed universal horizontal channel length defining performance parameters even with increasing transmission speeds carried through generations of twisted-pair copper cables − from Category 3 capable of supporting 10 Megabits per second (Mb/s) to Category 6A capable of supporting 10 Gigabits per second (Gb/s).
The 100m distance limitation worked fine for data and voice applications over the years. But with many unique applications now tied through IP addresses using structured cabling, the location of the end devices are further than 100m from the telecom room (TR). These include the location of security cameras, wireless access points, sensors, building controls and many more. Cabling standards-compliant options for connecting and powering devices beyond 100m include adding a new TR, using a decentralized extender, connecting the device with fiber optic cable and separately delivering power, or using a hybrid copper-fiber optic cable to deliver data and power. Each of these standards-based options has its pros and cons. Although these are methods that comply with standards, they come at greater costs with additional maintenance and component issues that could degrade the system.
The practical and cost-effective solution is to select a Category 5e or greater cable, depending on the required bandwidth and location of the applications to perform beyond the 100m distance. This approach requires no extra space, equipment or points of failure. Whereas this currently does not meet industry standards, the reliability is dependent on the construction and performance of cable and its corresponding connectivity, which can be backed through 3rd-party testing.
Long-distance copper cable has been a choice for extended distance, but network specifiers and system designers need to understand that not all cables are created (or manufactured) equal. Concern is over performance and minimizing signal strength and loss, such as Insertion loss, DC resistance, propagation delay skew, and signal-to-noise ratio that can affect the distance a twisted-pair copper cable can support. These factors are impacted by several influencing issues from speed and PoE level,
to cable construction and other installation variables. All of these contribute to why current industry standards haven’t been able to address extending the distance of twisted-pair copper cables beyond 100m. Until now.
The nCompass Advantage
The nCompass advantage includes certified and warranted solutions combining Superior Essex’s PowerWise®1G and PowerWise® 10G 4PPoE with Legrand’s high-performance patch cords and connectors to deliver clear data and suitable power extending beyond 100m, which provides substantial savings over the other system options. The nCompass system performance is backed by third-party (UL) verification based on rigorous testing meeting IEEE application standards (i.e., Ethernet, PoE, etc.) and various other conditions such as topology, ambient temperature, and end device requirements. In addition, laboratory bit error rate (BER) testing was successfully performed using specific device network interface cards (NICs) for distances beyond 100m in three configurations – permanent link, one connector channel and two-connector channel.
Minimally compliant cables are prone to marginally pass or even fail at 100m distances due to cable construction, as well as installation variables. Since compliance with cabling standards does not indicate whether the cables will support applications beyond 100 m, the PowerWise cables matched with Legrand connectivity were put to rigorous testing under different environmental conditions. The results show that these cables outperform others when breaking the 100m barrier with distances by showing distances of up to 160m for 1G and 107m for 10G applications.
When considering the use of twisted-pair copper cabling to extend distances beyond 100m, it’s important to navigate the claims by different manufacturers. Understand the testing requirements and verifications provided and ask the right questions. While industry standards are being updated to match the proper performance and testing methods based on applications, which will eventually redefine copper cabling distances, the choice is clear. All components in the nCompass warranted systems are matched to the specific application to assure maximum performance and exceed today’s standards with headroom to spare.