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| Cat 5/6 cable testing with a scope and frequency counter? |
| (1/1) |
| Zyvek:
This is just under the "is it possible/just for fun" category. If I needed to do this in a regular basis, I'd buy a dedicated cable certification tester. I have a new box of older Cat 5 cable. My understanding of cat 5, 5e, 6, 6a classifications is largely based on the frequency they can support. (I believe Cat 5 being 100Mhz and Cat 6A being 500Mhz) Is it possible using a equipment that I have in my lab? (Scope, frequency counter, frequency generator) I'm guessing someone has tried this before. Thanks, sorry if this is a silly idea. |
| eloso:
Well I happen to think its a great question - for academic and educational purposes only of course. In reality as you are obviously aware, a cable certifier is the "proper" way to do it. To certify a cable you need to measure its return loss and its crosstalk between the other pairs in the same jacket and compare this with the laid down standards. I reckon as a minimum you need a VNA. A scope and frequency generator isn't going to cut the mustard. The question sent me off on my own internet search and I thought this was quite a nice explanation which touches on an answer to the question. https://www.idealnetworks.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Certification_why_what_how_US.pdf Has anyone ever bothered to attempt this ? It kind of begs the question - if you are a designer of cable certifiers might you use a standard lab VNA to establish baseline measurements to calibrate your LAN certifier design/prototypes against ? Cheers Eloso |
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