Measurement Accuracy in dB

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N E T W O R K S U P E R V I S I O N

maurizio.malinconi@flukenetworks.com

Gli standard per la categoria 6 e i nuovi strumenti di misura

"IL CABLAGGIO IN RAME DI CATEGORIA 6 E LA CERTIFICA SUL CAMPO DEI PARAMETRI

TRASMISSIVI FINO A 250 MHZ"

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What is Fluke Networks, Inc. today?

• A stand-alone company set apart from

Fluke Corporation in May, 2000, to create an even more tightly aligned, customer- needs driven organization

• ~ $200M in annual revenues

• Over 500 associates worldwide

• Combines the best of Fluke’s heritage for

quality and reliability with network know-

how and a strong entrepreneurial spirit

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What we provide

House House

House

Internet /Telephony Network

Servers

Shared Workgroup Router Remote

Office

Router

Switched Workgroup

OSP/Telecom Enterprise Networks

Copper and Fiber Structured Cabling

OSP/Telecom:

Local Loop Recovery Documentation &

Reporting DSL Qualification

Troubleshooting

Enterprise Networks:

Performance Analysis Monitoring & Troubleshooting

Reporting & Documentation Moves, Adds, & Changes

Copper & Fiber Structured Cabling:

Certification Documentation &

Reporting Inspection Troubleshooting

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•48 Countries

•220 Sales Professionals

•1800 Distribution Outlets

•50% of our sales come from outside the US

•75% of 2001 revenue was generated by new products introduced in 2000 and 2001

•Profitable and Growing

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What Does Fluke Networks Do?

We deliver

What is that supposed to mean?

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We offer more ways to look at your network:

Hardware Software

Physical Application

LAN WAN

Portable Distributed

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http://www.flukenetworks.com

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http://www.fluke-net.com/consultants

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568-A Has Changed to 568-B

ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-A-1995

568-A

ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B-2001

=

B.1 General Reqmts

B.2 Copper

B.3 Fiber

568-B.1

=

568-B.3 568-B.2

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What’s going away?

• TIA/EIA TSB67

• ANSI/TIA/EIA 568 A 1

• TIA/EIA/IS 729

B.1 General Reqmts

B.2 Copper

B.3 Fiber

568-B.1

568-B.3 568-B.2

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TIA adopts the “Permanent Link”

TIA harmonizes with ISO

The revised TIA standards

no longer specify Basic Link

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USER’S PATCH CORD

PATCH PANEL

HORIZONTAL CABLE

Telecom Outlet

USER’S PATCH CORD

FLOOR DISTRIBUTOR

FLOOR DISTRIBUTOR WORKWORK

AREAAREA

Channel End

Two transitions at each end

CP

Link Definition: “Channel”

CP: Consolidation Point

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WORK AREA WORK AREA

Link End

TESTER PATCH CORD

Link End

PATCH PANEL

FLOOR DISTRIBUTOR FLOOR DISTRIBUTOR

One transition at each end

Tester patch cables max. 2 m long

Link Definition: “Basic Link”

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We used to test the Basic Link

The Basic Link starts and ends at the tester itself, and it includes the adapter cords

Telecommunication Room Work Area

Patch Panel 90 meter max Outlet

Includes Tester Adapter Cords

Basic Link

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Patch Panel 90 meter max Outlet

Includes Tester Adapter Cords

Basic Link

But the Basic Link is obsolete

Per TIA/EIA-568-B, the Permanent Link

model replaces the Basic Link model

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Basic Link Weaknesses

• Developing new Cat 5e specifications revealed some new challenges

– Return Loss became a critical parameter that had not been considered before

– Stranded UTP used in patch cables (and cable tester cords) was found to be very unstable and major cause of poor Return Loss performance.

– The Basic Link definition included 4 meters of cable tester cords in the performance limits, test methods, and test results!

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Link End

Patch Panel

FLOOR DISTRIBUTOR FLOOR DISTRIBUTOR

Test results do not include

contributions by the tester patch cables

Link End

CP

Link Definition: “Permanent Link”

CP: Consolidation Point

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What is a “permanent link”?

• The fixed cabling in the walls – the

“permanent” part of the building infrastructure

• The link model to be used for testing the “fixed” portion of a cabling

installation

• This excludes users’ patch cables and equipment cords

• This excludes tester adapter cords, too

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A detailed look at the Permanent Link

The Permanent Link is the permanent cabling, and it does not include the adapter cords

Permanent Link

Consolidation Point (optional)

Does NOT include Tester Adapter Cords

Patch Panel

Outlet

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The purpose of field test

• Accurately characterize the fixed portion of the data cabling installation upon completion of the

installation

• Network equipment, patch cables and equipment cables are changed many times during the life span of the fixed portion of the cabling (the infrastructure)

• Provide guarantee that the ‘Channel’ meets the

network’s requirements by connecting good patch cords

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Cat 5e and Cat 6 test problems

Measured Calculated Wire map

Propagation delay Length, Delay Skew Attenuation

NEXT (pair-to-pair) PSNEXT, ACR, PSACR FEXT (pair-to-pair) ELFEXT, PSELFEXT Return Loss

There are two measured parameters that

present serious accuracy problems that are

very difficult for testers to correct

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Return Loss is a major challenge

Permanent Link

Measured separately from both ends, Return Loss is a measure of reflected signal

(undesirable)

The Return Loss that should be measured, which is attenuated by the link, is within the link:

(Reflections occur wherever there are changes in impedance, such as bends, twist

variations, terminations, connectors, etc.)

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Return Loss is a major challenge

Permanent Link

Measured separately from both ends, Return Loss is a measure of reflected signal

(undesirable)

The Return Loss that should be measured, which is attenuated by the link, is within the link:

But Return Loss in the tester’s adapter cords adds measurement error and must be eliminated

– and there is only one solution – the DSP-LIA101S!

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The impact of twisted-pair adapters

• Twisted-pair adapters degrade with handling and use in the field – Return Loss margin can drop significantly

• Permanent links that are good – but close to the limit – can produce false failures

• Permanent links that are very good can still yield poor test results – because

twisted-pair tester adapters contribute to Return Loss!

Use the DSP-LIA101S to PASS!

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Return Loss of twisted-pair adapter

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

CAT6 BL BL +12dB Initial 50 cyc 100 cyc 200 cyc Cable Lim

21-7*LOG(f/20) 26-12*LOG(f/100)

Basic Link BL + 12 dB

Impact of handling and “aging”- Sample 1

Frequency (MHz) Return Loss (dB)

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Correction for adapter cable

Test parameter Effect of tester patch cable Attenuation Stable – Corrected

Length

Propagation delay

Stable – Corrected

NEXT & FEXT High Quality patch cord (PiMF or SSTP) has

negligible crosstalk

Return Loss U ^np ^r ^e ^di cta b ^llll e !!

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Requirements for accurate Return Loss

The tester’s permanent link interface cable itself must have very good return loss

characteristics

1. Impedance very close to 100 Ω Ω Ω Ω

2. Very good Return Loss performance 3. Stability: very stable impedance

characteristic over time (after repeated

uncoiling, testing, and recoiling to pack

with tester)

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What is necessary for return loss Measurement?

Cable with stable properties!

Calibrate here!

Use cable with best possible return loss! Impact from return loss is reduced by the round trip insertion loss (attenuation)!

Direction of measurement

Permanent link starts

Permanent link ends

This requires a high quality interconnect!

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Cable w/ stable properties!

Calibrate here!

Use cable with best possible return loss!

Direction of measurement

Permanent link ends

Permanent link starts

This requires a high quality

interconnect!

Measure in opposite direction!

What is necessary for return loss Measurement?

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• A rugged, high-

performance link interface adapter for the DSP-4000 Series testers

• Very accurately measures the performance of an

installed twisted-pair cabling system

DSP-LIA101S Permanent Link Interface Adapter

A major improvement!

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0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0

0 50 100 150 200 250

Frequency in MHz

Measurement Accuracy in dB

Cat 6 Return Loss Accuracy– Level III

Permanent Link Level III per Standard (with adapter attached to tester)

This is what tester manufacturers try to meet!

But how accurate is the DSP-LIA101S Permanent

Link Adapter?

More Accurate

Less Accurate

Tester Baseline Level III per Standard (no adapter attached)

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0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0

0 50 100 150 200 250

Cat 6 Return Loss Accuracy– Level III

DSP-4000 Series with DSP-LIA101S

Out-of-the-box, our Permanent Link Adapter solution is far more accurate than any other

tester with a twisted-pair adapter!

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But you can do better yet...

Field Calibration of the

Permanent Link Interface

Adapter

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A simple calibration of the adapter cable

This is a “Network Analyzer” Calibration.

DSP-PLCAL

Calibration Artifacts

OPEN LOAD

SHORT

• Apply a technique used in the laboratory:

one-port calibration

• The Personality Module is simply replaced

with “Calibration Artifacts”: Open, Short, and

100 Ω Ω Load Ω Ω

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Overview of adapter calibration process

• Main and remote units are originally calibrated

• Calibration for Return Loss can be executed by customer with DSP-PLCAL kit (optional equip.)

– A highly automated process – takes only minutes

– Cal constants are stored in the adapter Flash EPROM – The adapters must be used with the DSP-4X00 with

which they have been calibrated

Calibrate only twice a year

for “better-than-new” performance...

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0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0

0 50 100 150 200 250

Cat 6 Return Loss Accuracy– Level III

DSP-4000 Series with DSP-LIA101S

This is exceptional performance!

DSP-4000 Series with DSP-LIA101S – AFTER FIELD CAL –

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Advantages of DSP-LIA101 with calibration

• Extend the life of the DSP-LIA101S indefinitely – Restore the measurement performance of the

adapter to better than “new”

– Any aging effect due to coiling and uncoiling is compensated

– “The last adapter you’ll ever buy”

• Increase the accuracy of the RL measurement

– Much lower probability of any “false failures”

– More accuracy = more PASS results

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NEXT Interoperability is a challenge

Cat 6 plugs and jacks remain proprietary designs

• The jack compensates the electrical performance of the plug NEXT performance

• Vendors have implemented unique combinations to achieve Cat 6 performance for the ‘connection’

• Many combinations from different vendors perform worse than vendor-matched components

• This is the reason for the many Cat 6 Basic Link Adapters in use

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The DSP-LIA101S solution for NEXT

• The Permanent Link Adapter plug is modular

• The removable 8-pin plug can be replaced with different “Personality Modules”

• You need only one adapter set

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What is in the Personality Module?

The location of the reference plane of calibration is as close as practically possible near the plug.

• A small circuit

board connecting to leads to the 8- pin modular plug.

• A PROM to

identify the probe tip.

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Personality Module interoperability matrix

• NEXT performance is excellent

• Each Personality Module covers many vendors

• Other modules are under development

• Check the website…

www.flukenetworks.com

for the latest matrix update!!

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Advantages of Personality Modules

• You only need one set of Link Interface Adapters: the DSP-LIA101S

• The standard module DSP-PM01 delivers Cat 6 performance with at least 10 types of Cat 6

jacks

• The modules meet all of the requirements for Cat 6 and Cat 5e (and Cat 3)

• Easy to store and carry

• A set costs only half as much as a Basic Link

Adapter set

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Standards for field test

Level of Performance

Applicable Standards

Cabling System to be tested

Level I and II TIA TSB-67 (*) TIA category 5

TIA TSB-95 (*) Minimum Gigabit Ethernet (TIA category 5 with RL, ELFEXT and PSELFEXT) TIA/EIA-568-A-5

TIA/EIA-568-B.2 TIA Enhanced category 5 Level IIe

IEC 61935-1 ISO/IEC 11801-2000 Class D TIA/EIA-568-B Addendum 1 TIA category 6

Level III

Rev. 1 to IEC 61935-1 ISO/IEC 11801-2000 Class E (*) These TSB documents will be obsolete with the approval of TIA-568-B

Entries in red are draft specification

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DSP-LIA101S Benefits for End-Users

• Get an accurate picture of performance of the Permanent Link configuration

– Only the cabling that is part of the infrastructure – fixed and permanent.

• Get assurance that investment in cabling

infrastructure will deliver reliable long-term service

• Add good patch cords and/or equipment cords to obtain high performance channels

• Certify the cabling installation in perfect compliance

with the new industry standard

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Benefits for Contractors and Installers

• Carry only one set of tester interface adapters that will last virtually indefinitely

• Save time and money by measuring NEXT and Return Loss with the accuracy of lab equipment

– Get more PASS results; reduce false failures

• If the plug is damaged, replace only a Personality Module

• Restore the performance to “better than new

condition” with a simple calibration procedure

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Which tests must be execute ?

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CAT 5e / 6 Cable Certification CAT 5e / 6 Cable Certification

WIRING CLOSET WIRING CLOSET

HORIZONTAL CABLE WALL OUTLET

PATCH PANEL

DSP-4300

Smart Remote

Just Push Test!

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Autotest Results

• Indication of overall pass or fail

• Summary of all tests

performed and required by the chosen standard

Push the “View Result”

button to review individual tests Remember to push “SAVE”

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If the tests fail Push Fault Info

Time Domain X-Talk Analyzer Automated Fault Info

Find the fault and then analyze the fault

Unique Digital Test Technology

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Test Results Management -- Removable Memory Card

• Utilizes standard Sandisk MMC’s

– Standard card:

16 Mbytes, 300 complete tests – Optional card:

32 Mbytes, 600 complete tests

• Separate card reader included in package -- Keep the DSP in the field, not the office!

• Eliminate the need to re-test!

Store every measurement value for every applicable test parameter with the DSP- 4300.

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Test Results Management -- Cable Manager

^TM

Software

• CableManager shareware allows you to quickly

and easily:

– Organize

– Merge (append) – Sort up to

5000 Reports – Find

– Edit – Export – Print

Works in Windows 95, 98, NT4.0, and Windows 2000

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Test Results Management -- Printed Reports

• DSP Cable Management Software supports several alternatives to provide test results information to your customer:

– Graphical color report with measured test points over full frequency range (1 - 350 Mhz) – Text format with worst case

and worst value data – Summary report which

provides a list of the cabling links tested and key

information

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Fiber Optic Test Adapters

• Productivity:

Automatic and Fast

• Test two fibers in a link at two wave-lengths

• Automatically calculates pass/fail limits based on fiber test standards

• Provides documented

certification of test results

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Fiber Test Adapters

Fiber Application Standard Sources Test Tool

Multi mode

100BaseFX 10 BaseFL FDDI

ATM

Token Ring

Demand Priority

LED 850

LED 1300 DSP-FTA420S

1000BaseSX (GbE) ATM

Fibre Channel (GbFC) VCSEL 850nm FP Laser 1310nm

DSP-FTA440S

Single mode

1000BaseLX (GbE)

Fibre Channel (GbFC) FP Laser 1310nm

FP Laser 1550nm DSP-FTA430S

NEW!

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DSP-FTA440S

Green Band

• VCSEL 850nm

• 1310nm Laser

DSP-FTA420S

Solid Grey

• 850 nm LED

• 1300 nm LED

DSP-FTA430S

Yellow Band

• 1310nm Laser

• 1550nm Laser

Fiber Optic Test Adapters

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N E T W O R K S U P E R V I S I O N

We have our eye on the future for you.

Thank you !

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