Choosing The Right Cables; Cat5E And Cat6 - PRESONUS StudioLive 24R Networking Manual

3 AVB Networking Basics
3.3

Choosing the Right Cables

Choosing the Right Cables
3.3
3.3.1

Cat5e and Cat6

AVB networks rely on a set of standards for cabling infrastructure to ensure
that network performance is both reliable and consistent. These standards
include specifications for the cable construction itself, as well as specifications
for the termination of cabling and physical connections to devices.
Deviations from these specifications can result in reduced performance
and even data loss, so it's important to use the right cable for the job, and
to use good quality cable that meets the necessary specifications.
Cabling that is out of spec can result in dropped packets and intermittent
connections. For simple data networks, such as those used to stream video or
transfer files, it could just mean increased buffer times or transfer times. For live,
real-time audio, it can mean audible dropouts in audio or loss of audio altogether.
While AVB itself doesn't require gigabit Ethernet, PreSonus AVB product do
require this speed because of the stream- and channel-counts involved.
While this isn't a function of the cables themselves (the devices and AVB
switches handle gigabit Ethernet), it is still an important consideration
to keep in mind when building your AVB network because you must
select Ethernet cable that is capable of supporting Gigabit speeds.
Copper-wire Ethernet networks generally use twisted-pair cable. Twisted
pair cabling is a type of wiring in which two conductors of a single circuit
are twisted together to cancel out electromagnetic interference (EMI) from
external sources, and reducing crosstalk between neighboring pairs.
AVB networks require the use of either CAT5e or CAT6 cables, both of which
support Gigabit speeds at lengths up to 100 meters, as specified by the TIA/
EIA-568 standard. CAT6 is designed to support speeds up to 10 Gb/s (10GBASE-T
or 10 Gigabit Ethernet), but it is backward compatible with CAT5e. The primary
differences between CAT5e and CAT6 cable are the wire gauge of the conductors
and the number of twists per inch in each wire pair. CAT6 cable uses heavier gauge
wire and more twists per inch, providing lower crosstalk, higher signal-to-noise
ratio, and an overall better performance rating than the CAT5e equivalent.
Which type of cable you choose for your application depends on several
factors. Network design, installation type (fixed or mobile), budget, and future
applications should all be considered when selecting the type of cable you
will use. CAT5e cable is usually slightly more cost effective, may be easier to
work with, and still fully supports Gigabit speeds, but Cat6 is generally a better
choice and is well worth the additional investment given its capacity for faster
speeds, especially when considering the future needs from your system.
Power User Tip: Always source your cable from a reputable vendor to ensure you are
purchasing a high-quality product that meets the industry and engineering specifications
it claims by its Category label (CAT5e or CAT6). Never purchase cables labeled CCA
(Copper Clad Aluminum), as it does not meet the TIA/EIA specifications for Cat5e and
Cat6 cabling.
StudioLive™ Series III
AVB Networking Guide
16