By Valerie Coffey
Global cabling systems company Nexans (Paris) has approved the LANTEK 7 cable tester for certification of the LANmark-7 GG45 Category 7 cabling system, according to the EN50173-1, Class F standard. The announcement clears the way for the installation of future-orientated network cabling solutions.
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The Nexans LANmark-7 GG45 system uses the GG45 connector as recommended by EN50173-1, Class F, resulting in a future-proof Cat 7 cabling system that offers maximum performance with a high degree of investment protection. The cabling system is capable of handling future 600-MHz applications and is backward-compatible with Cat 6/ISO E installations. The GG45 is a "2-in-1" connector, an invention of Nexans, which contains a new interface for 600-MHz transmission, as well as an
RJ-45 interface to allow backward compatibility with existing Cat 5 and Cat 6 components, and if required can be upgraded to Cat 7/Class F by exchanging patch cords.
Currently, LANTEK 7 is the only LAN cable certifier on the market that is able to test and certify Cat 7/Class F installations according to the ratified EN50173-1, Class F standard. The approval of LANTEK 7 by Nexans for certification of the LANmark-7 GG45 system solidifies its market-leading position. The basis of the approval was matching comparison tests between a Nexans network analyzer and the LANTEK 7 tester.
For the first time, LANTEK 7 allows onsite testing and certification of the LANmark-7 GG45 cabling system over the entire 600-MHz frequency range and in accordance with procedures defined in the standard. Until now, field measurements were only possible up to 300 MHz. Previously, complex laboratory equipment was required to perform field measurements up to 600 MHz.
The GG45 connector was ratified by the International Electrotechnical Commission in April 2002 as the standard international interface for Class F cabling systems. The emerging class of copper cabing with an upper limit to 600 MHz is known as ISO F and is currently used in Europe. When it is approved for use in the North American market, it will be known as Cat 7.
To support the GG45 connector, Ideal Industries (Sycamore, IL) offers a new permanent-link adapter equipped with 600-MHz technology. These GG45 test and calibration kits became available in January.
This approval signals a breakthrough for Nexans and Ideal Industries. Other manufacturers are sure to follow now that the final obstacle to the full Cat 7/Class F implementation has been overcome.
