Quabbin Wire & Cable Co., Inc. has begun a test program to evaluate Category 6 channel component interoperability.

At this time, fourteen different premise hardware systems will be included in the evaluation.

Most Category 6 premise hardware manufacturers now offer "end-to-end" channel warranties contingent upon installing only approved components. However, the TIA's Category 6 standard is written around the principle of component interoperability, making this study very timely.

Permanent links are being installed in Quabbin's lab using the same nominally compliant Category 6 horizontal cable. This cable meets Category 6 requirements. However, the cable is not a "select component" for any OEM's Category 6 system.

After link testing, patch cords are added to each link resulting in a channel. The patch cords are also not OEM specific cords, but rather compliant cords assembled with stranded Category 6 cable and Category 6 plugs from a major connector vendor. All cord assemblies are tested to meet the TIA's Category 6 cord requirements. The channels are then tested and the results compared to published requirements.

To replicate field-testing, all link and channel measurements are being made with four different hand- held field testers. This enables Quabbin to gather data on tester consistency. If a component, tester, link, or channel performs questionably, Quabbin is duplicating the test using a network analyzer.

As Category 6 market share continues to grow through the next months, there will be increasing end user pressure for component interoperability, especially since many premise hardware vendors say that less than 25% of their Category 6 sales end up with a formal "end-to-end" channel warranty. This is a clear indication that most customers consider Category 6 permanent links to be vender-specific, but they want the channel to have more flexibility. They would prefer not to be tied to one vendor for all future "Moves Adds and Changes."

After learning of this test program, almost all OEMs provided their hardware. In return, they will be given their specific performance data compared to the "benchmark" of all other channels. The remaining hardware was purchased through normal distribution channels. The findings from this study will also be used in trade magazine articles, has been proposed as a BICSI presentation, and will be posted on Quabbin's web site.

Quabbin Wire & Cable Co. is based in Ware, Mass. For more information visit www.quabbin.com.