White Paper

To Screen or not to Screen?

– A subject re-visited.

Should Class EA /Category 6A cabling installations be Screened?

Overview
The debate rages on in many sectors of the market concerning Figure 1. 100-Metre Channel PSANEXT
whether ISO/IEC 11801 Class EA, or Category 6A should or in Performance Characteristics
fact NEED to be Screened to effectively support 10Gig Ethernet
transmission.
Each method has its pros and cons; there is a misguided belief
that unscreened is cheaper and easier to install and terminate
and that screened has its own issues in relation to grounding
and bonding.
In this white paper we try to balance a number of these choices
and dispel some of the myths and try to give the reader a
balanced view on what is the best route to follow. In the last
few years there have been a number of studies carried out by
manufacturers in their own right and independent studies that
have been part or wholly funded by manufacturers, we will
look at some of those findings.
The IEEE 802.3an-2006 standard for 10GBASE-T operation was The above shows the TIA limits, it must be noted that ISO/IEC
ratified in June 2006. It defined an application standard for 10 limits are somewhat tighter, meaning the Category 6 and is
Gb/s data transmission over copper twisted pair cabling of up even further from success and whilst Category 6A U/UTP still
to 100 metres, it includes the use of both unscreened twisted passes it is a lot closer to the limits than a screened system.
pair (UTP) and screened twisted pair (STP) copper cabling Coming back to the question of whether to screen are not
systems. there are some basic considerations to weigh up when making
the choice. Some of the benefits for a screened solution are
Detail
clear from the above chart, however there are a number
In 10GBASE-T applications, the noise source that most limits of screening types available, each has a different level of
the ability to transmit 10Gb Ethernet over copper cabling effectiveness and we will look at that in more detail later
is alien crosstalk. Because the 10GBASE-T receiver cannot however the basics remain the same.
compensate for the noise from adjacent channels, this effect
In properly installed and bonded screened cabling, the foil
must be cancelled out wherever possible by the cabling system
screen within the cable prevents signals from coupling which
to ensure reliable data transmission. This noise is measured
reduces alien crosstalk well below the required limits. All the
as Power Sum Alien Near-End Crosstalk (PSANEXT) and as
tests we mentioned in the opening of this paper indicate that
Power Sum Alien Attenuation to Crosstalk Ratio at the Far-End
screened cabling systems provide significant margin over the
(PSAACRF). Both ISO/IEC 11801 Ed 2.2 Class EA and TIA-EIA-
IEEE 802.3an-2006 specification for 10GBase-T PSANEXT and
568-C.2 Category 6A require that crosstalk be measured in
PSACCRF, thereby removing the need for time-consuming
a 6-around-1 cabling configuration that takes into account
and complicated field-testing of alien crosstalk completely.
the worst-case effect on a centre cable with six cables tightly
Therefore ISO 11801 clearly states that Alien Crosstalk testing is
bundled around it.
NOT required for screened systems.
A Category 6 U/UTP system will not meet the alien crosstalk
The standards also state that an unscreened solution may be
limits required for 100 metres of 10GBASE-T transmission
‘compliant by design’ this may be the products or the design
(see Figure 1).
continued overleaf
of the installation or in fact a combination of both, however it Figure 3 – Practical Radiated HF
is clear that much more care must be taken when considering
an unscreened solution. This includes both selection of the
Test System System System System System
product, through to the design of the installation itself, taking
(3m distance) 01 02 03 04 05
into account specific routes the cables take and proximity to
potential sources of external noise.
Walkie-talkies ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓
The client or their representative is fully within their rights to
request proof that the unscreened system complies either by Mobile communication
way of independent certification or if that is not available, by
devices (mobile phone, ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓
GSM card)
carrying out testing of the actual installation itself.

Independent Testing
Figure 4 – Fast Transients
In a recent independent test a leading testing establishment
selected 5, Class EA Cabling Systems from five different market-
leading suppliers they included 2 x U/UTP systems 1 x F/UTP 400
solution and 2 x S/FTP systems. The test set up involved the use
of real 10GBase-T equipment and live 10Gb/s traffic. 350

Initial Findings
300
The first and most important fact was the basic Class EA
performance in all cases the screened solutions provided 250
greater headroom than the unscreened systems Trace level in kv

The second factor was the U/UTP systems tested demonstrated 200 E1
significantly weaker ANEXT performance and coupling
attenuation in comparison to the screened systems. 150

100 E2
System System System System System
01 02 03 04 05 050 E3

Channel type U/UTP U/UTP F/UTP S/FTP S/FTP

000
E1 = Office Environment
Insertion loss
8.8 8.6 8.6 10.5 15.5
(margin) [db]
Without knowing the full details of the systems selected
PS NEXT and cable constructions used, it would be wrong to jump to
5.5 8.2 7.8 5.8 6.2
(margin) [db] the conclusion that all U/UTP systems will fail to meet the
TCL performance requirements, so we should look to consider
9.2 8.9 9.6 5.45 10.4 some of the other factors that are being discussed.
(margin) [db]

RL Field Testing
8.8 9.5 3.4 6.9 8.2
(margin) [db]
The reason why Alien Crosstalk testing be should avoided
PS ANEXT wherever possible is very simple, it comes down to time and
-7.6 0.93 27.44 31.37 37.92
(margin) [db] money.
Coupling Performing a 100% alien crosstalk test in a cabling plant is
45.0 47.5 78.0 76.0 79.0
Attenuation [db] impractical and virtually impossible in large cabling plants.
Using the specified 6-around-1 method, the formula to
determine the number of tests that would need to be run for
Other tests included immunity against fast transient electrical 100% coverage is (n2+n)/2 where n is the number of links in
disturbances, such as Powering of Fluorescent Lamps and the installation. For example, in an installation with 100 links, a
immunity against radiated electromagnetic fields, such as total of 5,050 tests would need to be run to test every possible
those produced by GSM based mobile phones. Once again combination. In a 500-link installation the total number of
the U/UTP systems performed badly in comparison to the tests climbs to 125,250 tests when testing every possible
Screened Systems. combination. Therefore the ISO/IEC 61935-1 standard provides
guidelines for sample testing.

continued overleaf
ISO/IEC 61935-1 states sample testing should be conducted Power over Ethernet
based upon evaluating links that meet all of the following Whilst not in the original scope of this White Paper (the full
conditions: details are discussed in our ‘Demystifying PoE’ white paper) this
l Links with the Highest Insertion Loss technology has more of an impact on this matter than a lot of
people realise.
l Links with the Lowest Insertion Loss
It is widely accepted that the use of remote powering or
l Links with the Median Insertion Loss PoE has the side effect of heating up bundles of cables. As
l Longest installed lengths the demand for higher levels of power increases the level of
heating is also following on.
l Cables within the same bundle
What some have forgotten is an increase in Temperature is one
l Adjacent ports in the patch panel
of the major contributors for the increase in Attenuation, what
The key weakness of a U/UTP system comes about when you a lot don’t realise is the extent of this and the fact that it differs
have a large quantity of adjacent ports loaded into patch for Unscreened and Screened.
panels, a fact that is highlighted within the measurement of
All the performance criteria for the 100m Channel as outlined
ANEXT within ISO/IEC 11801 ed2.2 as by definition it does not
in EN 50173-2 is based upon it operating at an ambient
meet the criteria of the infrastructure design element.
temperature of 20˚C and for every degree over this level this
distance should be reduced. The following formula provided in
the above standard gives the rate of reduction for unscreened
cables. In short for temperature increases up to 20˚C above
the ambient the Channel should be reduced by 4% and
for temperatures over 20˚C above the ambient, there is an
“Worst case conditions occur where ANEXT
additional 6% that has to be added.
coupling occurs over the full length of disturbing
and disturbed cabling and where all connections
within each link are co-located”.

Unscreened
Lt>20˚C=L/(1 + (T-20) x 0,004)

Lt>40˚C=L/(1 + (T-20) x 0,004 + (T-40) x 0.006)

“Simple models assume equal lengths of

disturbed and disturbing links and co-location of
connecting hardware (patch panels)”. This could potentially have a dramatic effect to the
performance of installed cabling as recent research shows that
the level of heating can be significant in some cases 30-40˚C
above the ambient.
Again Screened Cabling performs much better, firstly research
has proved it does not heat up as much as an unscreened cable
and when it does the de-rating formula is much simpler as it is
based upon 2%.

Screened
Lt>20˚C=L/(1 + (T-20) *0,002)

continued overleaf
On this basis what are the real differences and myths.

Unscreened Screened Conclusions

No Screen, Simpler and quicker to terminate. Most manufacturers offer either a termination It is clear that all the evidence
Yes and No; more care is needed in the aid or have toolless products which lead to shows that Screened is best, while
preparation to ensure twist ratios are the overall time taken being quicker than U/
Unscreened can be a viable option
maintained etc. Most U/UTP solutions are UTP. Certainly the cable pulling time will not
very tightly twisted pairs and a large plastic change for those who choose to take that
separator. route, when they understand the
implications highlighted in this
Cable pulling time for an unscreened Most screened cables have a relaxed twist on
solution can vary from slightly to a lot worse each of the pairs meaning that the cable itself
paper.
depending on the actual construction of the is much less stiff and easier to handle and One thing that is becoming clear
cable install
is the number of companies
Does not require Bonding – This is a Myth, A small amount of additional time is required choosing a screened solution is
all metal panels within a cabinet whether to ensure all the outlets within each panel dramatically increasing across
Screened or Unscreened need to be bonded have a clean contact with the frame. the globe, even in markets that
within the cabinet in accordance with BS/
have been firmly unscreened
EN50310
historically, as they start to
UTP cables are smaller – Again a myth, some Average size of an Excel F/FTP solution is understand the benefits while
U/UTP cable have an elliptical design and 6.9mm U/FTP is 6.7mm. at the same time the myths of
overall OD which is on average anywhere The U/FTP cable is also available in a 305m screening have been dispelled by
between 7.3 - 9.3mm, depending upon the box, thereby reducing set up time for cable
manufacturer , however they are all bigger
better education.
pulling by as much as 75%.
requiring more containment, larger bends
For the same physical space, it is possible
and larger back boxes.
to get as many as 15% more cables in the
same space based upon the smallest U/UTP
available from a leading manufacturer.

Field Testing although not common Alien Field Testing – ANEXT testing is not required,
Cross Talk testing can be requested requiring typical test time for a permanent link is approx
a 6 around 1 test method. A number of field 14-22 seconds, although there are next
testers make assumptions for this and rely on generation testers on the market that can test
the manufacturer to back them up. If the full 6 a Permanent Link less than 10 seconds.
around 1 test is called for the additional time
for testing is a minimum 10-15mins per link.
This is separate and on top of the Permanent
Link Testing

Separation distances between Power and The separation distances between the same
data are greatly increased with an unscreened number of power circuits is at least halved
cable e.g. for 10 circuits of 20A there has to be with foil screening requiring a distance of only
a physical separation between the Power and 40mm and a S/FTP construction requiring
the Data cables of 80mm even less.

Increased attenuation caused by temperature. Increased attenuation caused by temperature.

Unscreened cable has a higher and more Screened cable has a lower and simpler de-
complex de-rating factor rating factor

This Technical Note has been produced by Paul Cave, Technical Manager, on behalf of Excel.

European Headquarters Middle East & Africa Headquarters

Excel House Office 11A
Junction Six Industrial Park Gold Tower
Electric Avenue Jumeirah Lake Towers
Birmingham B6 7JJ Dubai
England United Arab Emirates

T: +44 (0) 121 326 7557 T: +971 4 421 4352

E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

www.excel-networking.com

MF959_06/14