continue to push user
demand for faster
network connections
like 100 Megabit Fast
Ethernet and Gigabit
Ethernet. The necessity for improved
structured cabling systems able to
perform up to the requirements of
these high-speed connections has
become more important than ever before.
Integral to the success of improving the performance
of structured cabling systems is the precise and effi-
cient management of individual conductor pairs at all
cable termination points. The engineers at KRONE™
recognized this new demand early and set out to
create a system for managing the way individual
conductor pairs in the cable are terminated at
various points along the entire length of a structured
cabling system.
Historically, one of the most popular issues regarding
cable management within local area network com-
munities, is how well cables and patch cords are
managed at the rack or cable tray. Even though
conductor management, as a part of overall cable
management, has been given increased attention in
recent years, the strength and quality of individual
conductor terminations is an important factor that
requires closer consideration as Cat 6 and Gigabit
Ethernet systems become increasingly popular.
When it comes to the components within a
structured cable system, managing the quality of
the terminations has relied heavily on individual
installer technique and work practices, rather than
the attributes of the components themselves.
The need for more carefully controlled terminations
has not existed for currently ratified Cat 5 or Cat 5e
installation standards. More often then not, differ-
ences in installation techniques and work practices
resulted in differing degrees of performance variation.
Existing installation and testing standards provide
sufficient headroom, which ensures an adequate
buffer for various performance anomalies that nullify
installation errors. But when the new Cat 6 installa-
tion standards from TIA/EIA are finalized, it will be
paramount that the structured cabling system of any
high-speed network is capable of minimizing or
eliminating inconsistent installation methods that
cause costly performance variations.
Taking the guesswork
out of Cat 6 installation.
Because of the challenging standards that are pro-
posed for Cat 6 performance, several issues come to
light from a manufacturing and installation prospective.
The installer will no longer have a sufficient buffer to
allow for the expedient installation of traditional types
of connectors. More stringent requirements for link
and channel testing mean more time has to be taken
when punching down traditional RJ45 type jacks.
This coupled with the need to revisit terminations
when failures occur makes for tedious and frustrating
installations that cost time and money.
KRONE has developed an advanced conductor
management system that is incorporated into the
company’s new TrueNet™ Category 6 products
including the new KM8 Jack and Category 6 Patch
Cord. Not only is the new conductor management
system in these innovative products important for
Cable Management
at the Conductor Level
NETWORK
DATA
TRANSFER
RRAATTEESS
decreasing installation time and testing, but also for
ensuring that a high level of repeatability, reliability,
interoperability and backward compatibility is achieved.
The advanced technology of KRONE’s conductor
management system provides further assurances to
installers, end-users and distributors. The installer
knows that KRONE™ products can be installed easily
and efficiently the first time and do not need to be
revisited. The end-user knows KRONE products will
work to the level of performance equal to that of the
investment made. And the distributors know, that by
supplying both of the above, they are capable of
making all parties involved happy and productive.
KRONE™ meets the challenge.
With its experience, knowledge and global research
capabilities, KRONE has again introduced products
with cutting edge technology that have revolutionized
the cable and connector industry. The company’s
TrueNet™ Category 6 series of products not only
meet, but routinely exceed all of the current require-
ments of TIA/EIA568 B.2-1 Draft 10 for Cat 6. No
longer do installers need to be concerned about
how well each and every termination will perform
during post installation tests, because the connec-
tors themselves significantly reduce installation
variation as a factor of network performance.
For example, when a standard RJ45 jack is terminated,
a variation of around 3 to 4dB of NEXT headroom can
occur from jack to jack. While the typical product
utilized in a Cat 5e system would accommodate such
a variation, the much stricter TIA/EIA standards for
Cat 6 simply don't allow for such disparity in NEXT
levels and thus a variation of 3dB would likely create
subsequent test failures.
Introduction of an advanced conductor management
system into the KRONE KM8 Jack has eliminated
approximately 66% of the potential variation.
Multiple terminations of the same KM8 Jack now
only vary by 1dB of NEXT headroom, as a component.
This provides a more consistent result when testing
links and channels.
Eliminating installation errors.
Here’s how standard punch down type jacks affects
network performance:
1. When standard jacks are terminated, the conductors
can be laid into the product several ways (Figure 1-a).
2. The amount of untwist for each pair is dependent
upon installation technique (Figure 1-b).
3. When the conductor is terminated into the IDC
slot a certain amount of buckling occurs (Figure 1-c).
4. Pair relationship is not controlled.
Here’s how conductormanagement in the
KM8 jack works:
1. The cable always exits the back of the jack from
the same point. This ensures uniform termination
and conductor dressing (Figure 2).
Figure 1
a.
b.
c.
Figure 2
2. Untwist is addressed to within one half of a twist.
Because the cable is pulled into the manager,
twist is maintained all the way up to the IDC
turret. This ensures the impedance of the
termination will remain as close to the cable
impedance level as possible (Figure 3).
3. The conductors aren’t terminated using an inser-
tion/punch down type tool and are pulled tighter,
eliminating instances of conductor buckling (Figure 4).
4. Pair relationship is completely controlled, for all
combinations, by the advanced technology of the
conductor management piece. Terminations are
now repeatable and always reliable (Figure 5).
Patch cords no longer a weak link.
KRONE’s new conductormanagement system doesn’t
stop with "in the field" terminations of the KM8
Jack. Management of all conductor pairs is equally
important on the plug side of the termination.
Management of conductors on both sides of a patch
cord is essential for maintaining a high level of
network performance in the Cat 6 environment.
It is important to remember that when a cable is
terminated on both sides, one side becomes a mirror
image of the opposing side (Figure 6). For this
reason it is important to manage the individual
cable pairs to eliminate instances of pair crossing
at the termination point.
The advanced technology plug used on the new
TrueNet Cat 6 Patch Cord has two different conductor
management pieces, which compensate for the
natural lay of the individual cable pairs, (Figure 7).
This ensures that a consistent level of headroom and
throughput are maintained at both ends of the
patch cord.
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Both of the man-
agement pieces
are laying contact
side up. The blue
pair in the blue
management
piece is managed
through to pins
4 and 5.
The green pair
in the white
management
piece is managed
through to pins
3 and 6.
Figure 7
Conclusion.
Previous TIA/EIA standards for Cat 5 and Cat 5e
installation and testing were flexible enough to
compensate for errors in network performance and
throughput due to installation errors and variations.
But now as the demand and necessity for Gigabit
Ethernet and future high-bandwidth technology
increases, these installation errors and variations
are no longer an acceptable part of the network
performance equation. The new demands placed
on a structured cabling system, by these higher
speed connections requires a conductor management
system that is capable of sustaining a superior level
of network throughput and performance.
KRONE™ has not only identified this challenge,
but has developed a conductormanagement system
that is unrivaled in the industry. The end result of
KRONE’s revolutionary design is well-controlled
terminations throughout the entire structured
cabling system that not only meet but also exceed
Category 6 standards. Greater control of both the
plug and jack terminations through KRONE’s system
now ensure complete component compliance,
repeatability, interoperability and backward
compatibility after installation.
Installers, distributors and end-users now have
the peace of mind that installations will be done
correctly the first time, every time. Not only do
the significant reductions of installation and testing
times produce a cost effective end-to-end solution,
but network administrators can automatically elimi-
nate their structured cabling system as the source of
bit-error rates and/or a decrease in throughput levels.
This boost in transmission performance will allow
end-users to increase overall productivity while at the
same time reducing the level of frustration, as well as
the amount of lost time and money associated with
slow network transmissions.
. new conductor management
system in these innovative products important for
Cable Management
at the Conductor Level
NETWORK
DATA
TRANSFER
RRAATTEESS
decreasing. regarding
cable management within local area network com-
munities, is how well cables and patch cords are
managed at the rack or cable tray. Even though
conductor