Researchers
turbocharge Cat 7 data throughput
By Robert
Jaques
16
November 2007 07:17AM
Tags: researchers
| turbocharge
| cat | data | throughput
Engineers at Penn State University have successfully
boosted the data transmission rates of Cat-7 copper cables to
100Gbps..
The researchers
modelled the cable with all its attributes, including crosstalk, using
information on specifications and characteristics from cabling systems firm
Nexans.
A transmitter/receiver was then equipped with an interference
canceller that could transfer up to 100 gigabits using error correcting and
equalising approaches.
"Working with Nexans we have examined the
possibility of sending digital data at a rate of 100Gbps over 100m of Cat-7
copper cable," said Mohsen Kavehrad, a professor of electrical engineering at
Penn State.
Professor Kavehrad explained that all transmission cables are
limited by the distance they can transmit data without degradation of the
signal.
Before errors and interference make the signals non-recoverable,
cable systems use repeaters similar to computer modems to capture, correct or
recover data, and resend it.
The distance between repeaters depends on
the cable and the approach used by the modem to correct errors.
Ethernet
cable like Cat-7 comprises four pairs of twisted wires shielded to reduce
crosstalk. Cat-7 is heavier wire with better shielding than Cat-5 cable.
The amount of data encompassed by 100 gigabits is "amazing", according
to the researchers.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica contains 1GB of
information. A rate of 100Gbps over 100m is the equivalent of more than 12
Encyclopaedia Britannica sets delivered every second.
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