Extended-Reach Copper Cabling System Supports 1-Gig and PoE to 225 Meters
Leviton Network Solutions recently introduced the Paradigm Extended Distance System, a twisted-pair copper cabling solution that supports gigabit-speed transmission as well as Power over Ethernet delivery up to 225 meters.
Gel-filled outdoor cable
The company’s Stadion outdoor cable is a key component that enables the Paradigm system to offer its extended-distance capabilities. The Category 6-rated cable, which is gel-filled and features 22-AWG conductors, is “designed for long runs and harsh environments,” the company said when announcing the new cabling system. Leviton further explained that Stadion transmits PoE with 89% efficiency, which minimizes heat buildup in cable bundles. The cable is “an excellent choice for high-power, high-bandwidth applications like HD video and IP security,” the company noted.
“Paradigm is a fully engineered, lab-tested and warranted copper system purpose-built for extended distance Ethernet applications,” Leviton Network Solutions added. The company backs Paradigm with its application-assurance warranty. “The system combines Atlas-X1connectivity, optimized for PoE performance and tool-free termination, with Stadion cable designed for long runs and harsh environments. Paradigm systems provide network flexibility by supporting structured cabling links with up to 4 connectors with a wide array of components.”
The company describes Stadion as “the first Category 6-compliant cable to enable plug-to-plug 1G Ethernet and Type 4 PoE at distances up to 225 meters. As part of the Paradigm Extended Distance System, Stadion supports industry-leading 1G and 2.5G performance in real-world conditions including environments up to 60 deg. C. (140 deg. F).”
Beyond-standard system in a standards-driven world
Mike Good, copper cable product manager with Leviton, commented on Paradigm’s value to its customers in an industry that focuses heavily on standard-compliant systems. “While we continue to recommend that networks be designed to the 100-meter standard, we acknowledge that there is a real need in the industry for reliable products that address today’s expanding network footprints. The Paradigm system with Stadion cable leverage our extensive research and knowledge on Ethernet system performance to achieve the best performance for extended distance links.”
The company further explained that Paradigm’s ability to deliver needed performance at extended distances helps organizations simplify network design, reduce infrastructure costs, and support the growing number of edge devices in enterprise networks. Those devices include IP cameras, wireless access points, access control systems, and IoT devices.
The practical need for copper cabling systems to connect devices at distances farther than the standard-recognized 100 meters has been the direct driver of several occurrences in the structured cabling industry. It has prompted the development of new products like Leviton’s Stadion cable. It has put a spotlight on the issue of manufacturers’ warranties for installed end-to-end systems. Most of those warranties require that the system be installed to industry standards (e.g. the ANSI/TIA-568 series), which cap twisted-pair copper channels at 100 meters maximum.
More recently, it has led to the TIA’s TR-42 Engineering Committee’s current project that will result in the publication of Telecommunications Systems Bulletin TSB-5073 Guidelines for Supporting Extended Distance Over 4-Pair Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling. Leviton’s senior director of global copper cables, Todd Harpel, is serving as editor of TSB-5073. In an interview with Cabling Installation & Maintenance, Harpel and fellow TIA TR-42 committee member Brian Celella explained the difference between a TSB and a standard, and described some of the language that’s likely to be included in TSB-5073. You can watch the full interview, about 22 minutes in duration, below.
