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Cat5e / Cat6 Cabling What's It All About?
Cat5e Cat6 Cabling, What’s it all about?
To begin with the Cat in Cat5e/6 means category, and a cable or component belonging to that category will allow data to pass through it up to a set speed without being corrupted.
The categories have developed over the years Cat3,Cat4,Cat5,Cat5e,Cat6 and the quality has been improved to allow faster speeds by tighter twisted pairs, higher quality copper, separating the pairs by manufacturing a cross member throughout the length of the cable keeping each twisted pair in its own compartment.
Note. Don’t think that by plugging Cat6 cable into all of your existing equipment that you will imiedialtly increase the performance as a network is only as fast as its slowest component.
Cable
The cable is made up of 8 wires, 4 colour coded twisted pairs.
The copper conductors are 24 gauge (AWG)
The sheath is either PVC (polyvinyl chloride ) or LSOH (low smoke zero halogen)
UTP: unscreened twisted pair
STP: screened twisted pair
FTP: foil wrapped twisted pair
Cable Standards
The two major wiring standards for data outlets, RJ45 plugs and connectors are T568A and T568B, the only difference is between the two patterns are the pairs of orange and green are interchanged. Both are permitted under TIA/EIA standards and function the same, just make sure you use the same standard throughout the network.
T568A Standard is used in Canada and Australia
T568B Standard is used in USA and UK
T568A Connections to RJ45 plugs and data outlets
Pin 1. White/Green
Pin 2. Green/White
Pin 3. White/Orange
Pin 4. Blue/White
Pin 5. White/Blue
Pin 6. Orange/White
Pin 7. White/Brown
Pin 8. Brown/White
T568B Connections to RJ45 plugs and data outlets
Pin 1. White/Orange
Pin 2. Orange/White
Pin 3. White/Green
Pin 4. Blue/White
Pin 5. White/Blue
Pin 6. Green/White
Pin 7. White/Brown
Pin 8. Brown/White
Cable Lengths
To ensure that the cable run will meet its category requirement there is a restriction in length to 100 metres, allow 90 metres for the actual run giving 10 metres for patch leads.
What is the difference between 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T and 1000BASE-T?
10BASE-T is the IEEE standard that defines the requirement for sending information at 10 Mbps on unshielded twisted-pair cabling, and defines various aspects of running Ethernet on this cabling.
100BASE-T is the IEEE standard that defines the requirement for sending information at 100 Mbps on unshielded twisted-pair cabling, and defines various aspects of running baseband Ethernet on this cabling.
1000BASE-T (also called gigabit Ethernet) is the IEEE standard that defines the requirement for sending information at 1000 Mbps on unshielded twisted-pair cabling, and defines various aspects of running baseband Ethernet on this cabling
So What Cable Should I Use?
Quite simply if you are using a 10Base-t to 100Base-t system use Cat5e, for a 1000Base-t use Cat6.
However if you can afford Cat6 use it everywhere as it will future proof.
We have come across a Scantronic 9651 but we do not know any of the codes both user and engineer are you able to tell us how to reset these codes?
The Scantronic 9651 engineer programming guide and installation manual is in our manuals section please click here to view Scantronic 9651
If you take a look on page 31 there is the full instructions for returning the panel to factory restore codes without affecting all other programming, I have copied the page here.
Restoring Default Access Codes Scantronic 9651 (first stage reset)
The default (original) access codes are: 4-digit 6-digit Engineer Code 7890 567890 Access Code User 1 1234 123456 Access Code Users 2 to 50 00050
Duress Code 00051 Note: To activate the Access Codes (02 to 50) and Duress Code, which are initially inactive, User 1 must change the defaults to the correct codes. The 9651 User Guide explains how to do this. To restore all access codes to their default settings: 1. Remove mains power. 2. Open the case and disconnect the battery. 3. Identify the NVM Reset pins and Kick Start pins on the main PCB (refer to Chapter 3). 4. Short circuit the NVM Reset pins with a wire link. 5. Short circuit the Kick Start pins with a wire link. 6. Reconnect the battery. 7. Remove the wire links from the NVM Reset pins and Kick Start pins. The control unit will load the factory default access codes listed above. 8. Close the control unit. 9. Apply mains power. 10. Carry out an engineer reset (see next section).
Can you still get parts for the Scantronic 9600 panel
The Scantronic 9600 was discontinued some time ago now and was replaced with the Scantronic 816 then the Scantronic 9750 and now the 9651.
If you search on E-Bay you might find one, these are generally alarm installers who have upgraded a system and removed the old 9600.
However if you are looking to up grade, the Scantronic 9651 is the answer, it is smaller with a more compact 9941 keypad and all of your exsisting detectors bell boxes etc can still be used.
The Scantronic 9651 can be found here http://www.south-eastsecurity.co.uk/store/product.php?id=86
