For today’s data-driven businesses to keep pace with quickly changing bandwidth needs, IT teams often try to continually improve networking infrastructure by adopting hardware with faster data transmission speeds — which can sometimes push or exceed the limits of existing cabling. Upgrading components like wireless access points and network switches, and ripping and replacing cables, are expensive endeavors. Is there a way to prove cable performance of existing cables before you rip and replace? A lot of time and money can be saved by knowing which cables, if any, need to be replaced.

To avoid a big cable replacement project, there are a few things you need to check. Can the copper or fiber cable, with connectors and SFPs, support the needed bandwidth, i.e., 1Gb, 2.5G or 10 Gb/sec? Are there any electromagnetic interference (EMI) considerations while data is transmitting, or any general EMI issues due to poor cable installation practices, moves, add-ons or changes over the years? Once cable performance has been proven, or cables with issues replaced, you can confidently move forward with your installation of the active network components.

Assessing Electromagnetic Interference

Cable degradation and effects of EMI often appear after years of moving offices, adding components and accidentally damaging cables. It is important to ensure the performance of these aging cables before your network upgrade. Determining the existing cable performance should be part of the initial network assessment and can then become part of a project scope.

The only way to detect the cable's resistance to EMI is through a very complex, direct test called a coupling attenuation test. This test requires laboratory equipment. The best way to test this in the field is through an indirect test called the bit error rate test (BERT). EMI causes interferences in the cabling which distorts bits in the signal transmission if EMI is too high and results in bit errors. For instance, there could still be measurable EMI, but if the bits make it to the receiving end without errors, then the present EMI isn’t strong enough to cause issues.

EMI can also vary depending on the environment. The number of powered machines, when and where they are operating, and how powerful they are, can all influence EMI magnitude.

To gain greater insight, it is best to test for EMI during full operation — when welders, heaters, motors and other devices are running — to represent an EMI environment under normal working conditions. This is where the BERT test shines. BERT, by nature, is a real data test drive.  It’s a data test that lasts for several seconds, several minutes or even continuously if desired. Running a continuous BERT test will enable you to cycle your machines and see exactly how different conditions are affecting bit errors as a result of EMI.

Applications in harsh EMI environments like manufacturing are perfect for BERT testing because BERT proves data transmission and the chosen bit error rate test performance. If you have zero bit errors, you’ve proven cable performance and not just tested cable specs, regardless of how long the cable is or harsh the environment.

Steel Manufacturer Proves Cable Performance in High EMI Environment

Recently, a steel tube manufacturer had been upgrading its old production equipment to modern Ethernet-based machines. Steel tube manufacturers often use electric welding machines that generate a lot of EMI. As an additional challenge, this manufacturer was using M12-D connectors, which are more popular in the industry, instead of the more-common RJ45 connector.

The steel manufacturer used the NetXpert XG2 from Softing for cable testing. The NetXpert XG2 supports a wide range of connectors allowing the manufacturer to use his M12-D connectors while testing the Ethernet cable. In addition, the steel manufacturer was able to perform a continuous BERT test with the NetXpert XG2 while the welding machines were cycled to prove cable performance was not being affected in this high EMI environment.

Next: System Integration With Active Network Components

After proving the cables will perform or replacing faulty ones, IT Administrators and system integrators have their next challenge — installing new active equipment like switches, access points and cameras. This endeavor has its own challenges, including knowing the port to connect to, if there is power over Ethernet (PoE) and enough power at the PoE source, or if a Wi-Fi access point has a dead spot. This application is ideal for LinkXpert Active Network Tester because it allows IT personnel to easily understand the network topology and troubleshoot why a new device may be having connection challenges.

Additionally, system administrators and IT personnel need to manage devices moving within a network — such as when an employee has an office move. To ensure a successful transition, personnel need to regularly connect devices to new ports and understand network characteristics, such as which devices are connected at the port’s other end or if there is PoE for office phone systems. While it’s common for personnel to use multiple devices or laptops as a diagnostic tool, laptops can’t test PoE and wiring, connect to fiber links or be brought to customer sites because of security reasons. As a handheld device, LinkXpert can conveniently troubleshoot why a Wi-Fi network isn’t providing good connection speeds or is experiencing drops.

Addressing these system integration challenges positions LinkXpert as an extremely useful small handheld device for diagnosing copper, fiber optic and Wi-Fi networks

Learn more about LinkXpert or NetXpert XG2.