Single Connector Permanent Link - DTX CableAnalyzer
| How do I certify a link with an RJ45 plug at the outlet? If you are testing this to obtain a warranty from a cabling vendor, you should consult with them on their requirements, since they are issuing the warranty and not Fluke Networks. Their word is final.
Cabling standards such as ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 defined two definitions for link testing; channel and permanent link. In the case of the link above, it does not fit either the channel or permanent link models. The best test solution is shown below: (Applicable to the DTX CableAnalyzer ONLY)
The above solution is a compromise between what the standards define and the desire by the customer for test results. In this test scenario, no user patch cords are involved. Therefore, we could assume that this resembles a permanent link more than a channel link. Go ahead and set the DTX CableAnalyzer to TIA Cat 6 Perm. Link or other Perm. Link standard. When you run the test you will be prompted with... ...
... ... .since the remote adapter is a channel adapter. The DTX CableAnalyzer is correctly warning that this is not appropriate. Go ahead and press the F3 key to continue. The test will run and complete the Autotest. The affect of the remote channel adapter is removed in the above measurement. The channel adapter will normally add a significant amount of NEXT to the measurement unless it is cancelled out. The DTX CableAnalyzer uses Digital Signal Processing to cancel out the NEXT in the adapter in accordance with ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 and IEC 61935-1. Return loss in the mated connection is also minimized, as the adapters contain RL calibration coefficients representing a nominal RJ45 plug. That would suggest that there is no evaluation of the RJ45 plug termination. Not quite. Due to the unique way the DTX CableAnalyzer works, it will check the mated NEXT in the Channel Adapter. Some may suggest an alternative approach is to select a "golden patch cord", insert this into the patch panel and run a channel test. The user cord quality will impact the test result substantially. Repeatability of the measurement will also be an issue. In addition to this, the channel limit lines are not as strict and the effect of the patch panel is reduced by the introduction of a user cord due to the insertion loss (signal loss) in the user patch cord. If you do not have a DTX CableAnalyzer, this will be your only option. If you choose this option, we suggest you contact the cabling vendor offering the warranty. Fluke Networks does not recommend this method. |
