The Z-Max 6A shielded connector from Siemon has been independently verified by ETL to be component-compliant to the recently published Amendment 2 to ISO/IEC 11801 2nd Edition, as well as IEC 60603-7-51. Siemon says the testing, conducted by Intertek, assessed the following performance parameters -- all of which the Z-Max 6A hardware passed with headroom.

• NEXT loss
• Return loss
• Insertion loss
• FEXT loss
• TCL
• TCTL
• DC resistance
• DC resistance unbalance
• PSANEXT loss
• PSAFEXT loss

In addition to component compliance to the stringent ISO/IEC requirements, other independent testing by Underwriters Laboratories verified that the Z-Max 6A shielded end-to-end system exceeds Category 6A/Class EA channel requirements specified by TIA-568-C.2 and Amendment 1 of ISO/IEC 11801 2nd Edition. The full Z-Max 6A channel comprises outlets, shielded cable, patch panels, and patch cords that feature a design integrating tuned PCBs into each plug. The precisely tuned PCB enhances signal integrity and system performance, according to Siemon.

Siemon says the Z-Max 6A shielded connector's performance is driven by a termination module that eliminates split and crossed pairs. The module, for which there is a patent pending, allows quick conductor lacing without crossing pairs and therefore maintaining cable-pair geometry. The Z-Max 6A shielded outlet also features diagonally oriented IDC contact technology, the company says, adding that the configuration maximizes distance between contacts within side-stacked outlets when compared to traditional rectangular contact layouts. The distance between the contacts minimizes alien crosstalk.

Watch Siemon's David Valentukonis describe the development of the Z-Max Category 6A system and demonstrate its termination.