Hi Peter, this is just a side note relating to the switchpoint release, itself, and no reflection on your post. It is probably inconsequential in the grander scheme of things, but the following statement appears to be founded on an invalid assumption, hence, it represents an invalid assertion:
"Common Cat5e wiring schemes can then connect the network to a subscriber's home or business."
By definition, Cat5e, or "any" Category of cabling under ANSI/EIA/TIA commercial and residential building wiring system parameters, is limited to a 90 meter "link" length, plus 10 meters of patch cords at the desk and closet, and other closet wiring, to define the outer bounds of an overall channel length (100 meters).
(Actually, 5e discourages the use of all cross-connects entirely. The new standard sanctions only an "interconnect" between the link and the port on the switch. So, the part about "other closet wiring" that I just stated above doesn't even apply to 5e in the same way it would to 5.)
Field test parameters for Cat-xy would not pass the pass-fail criteria if distances exceeded the 90 meter link limit, and all other parameters would be reduced to meaningless, because they, too, are dependent on the 100 meter overall length factor not being breached.
The term Cat5e, therefore, doesn't apply to this situation, even if the cable used was manufactured and rated for Cat5e use (when it is installed in the proper lengths), unless all homes served are within a football field from the field node or attachment point. Or switchpoint, as it were.
The "e" following Cat5 in "Cat5e" stands for "enhanced," for lurkers who may be wondering. The enhancement spells out tighter performance limits on crosstalk and other effects of "em coupling" that takes place mostly at the pin level, at the 8-pin modular connector (jack and plug) arrangement. |
