Handbook for Sound Engineers

412 Chapter 14

the video, much as the clock is embedded with the audio
bit stream in AES digital audio, so the distance limita-
tions on DisplayPort are less likely to involve clock tim-
ing problems.

However, display port is also a nonlocking
connector, of 20 pins, and is intended for maximum
distance 15 m (50 ft). These cables are, like HDMI and
DVI, only available in assemblies. Raw cable and
connectorization in the field do not currently look like
an option for the professional installer. All these factors
make it less likely to be embraced by the professional
broadcast video arena.

14.9.3.6 Premise/Data Category Cables

While premise/data category cables were never intended
to be audio or video cables, their high performance and
low cost, and their ubiquitous availability, have seen
them pressed into service carrying all sorts of nondata
signals.
It should also be noted that high-speed Ethernet
networks are routinely used to transport these audio and
video signals in data networks. The emergence of
10GBase-T, 10 gigabit networks, will allow the trans-
port of even multiple uncompressed 1080p/60 video
images. The digital nature of most entertainment
content, with the ubiquitous video server technology in
use today, makes high-bandwidth, high-data-rate
networks in audio, video, broadcast, and other entertain-
ment facilities, an obvious conclusion.

14.9.3.6.1 Cabling Definitions

• Telcom Closet (TC). Location where the horizontal
  cabling and backbone cabling are made.


• Main Cross-Connect (MXC). Often called the equip-
  ment room and is where the main electronics are
  located.


• Intermediate Cross-Connect (IXC). A room between
  the TC and the MXC are terminated. Rarely used in
  LANs.


• Horizontal Cabling. The connection from the telcom
  closet to the work area.


• Backbone Cabling. The cabling that connect all of
  the hubs together.


• Hub. The connecting electronic box that all of the
  horizontal cables connect to which are then
  connected to the backbone cable.


• Ethernet. A 10, 100, or 1000 Mb/s LAN. The
  10 Mbps version is called 10Base-T. The 100 Mbps

version is called Fast Ethernet and 1000 Mbps

version is called Gigabit Ethernet.

14.9.3.6.2 Structured Cabling

Structured cabling, also called communications cabling,

data/voice, low voltage, or limited energy is the stan-

dardized infrastructure for telephone and local area net-

work (LAN) connections in most commercial

installations. The architecture for the cable is standard-

ized by Electronic Industries Association and Telecom-

munications Industry Association (EIA/TIA), an

industry trade association. EIA/TIA 568, referred to as

568, is the main document covering structured cabling.

IEEE 802.3 also has standards for structured cabling.

The current standard, as of this writing, is EIA/TIA

568-B.2-10 that covers all active standards up to

10GbaseT, 10 gigabit cabling.

14.9.3.6.3 Types of Structured Cables

Following are the types of cabling, Category 1 though

Category 7, often referred to as Cat 1 through Cat 7. The

standard TIA/EIA 568A no longer recognizes Cat 1, 2,

or 4. As of July 2000, the FCC mandated the use of

cable no less than Cat 3 for home wiring. The naming

convention specified by ISO/IEC 11801 is shown in

Fig. 14-3.

Table 14-16 gives the equivalent TIA and ISO classi-

fications for structured cabling.

Figure 14-3. ISO/IEC 11801 cable naming convention.

Table 14-16. TIA and ISO Equivalent Classifications

Frequency

bandwidth

TIA ISO

Components Cabling Components Cabling

1–100 MHz Cat 5e Cat 5e Cat 5e Class D

1–250 MHz Cat 6 Cat 6 Cat 6 Class E

1–500 MHz Cat 6a Cat 6a Cat 6a Class EA

1–600 MHz n/s n/s Cat 7 Class F

1–1000 MHz n/s n/s Cat 7A Class FA

XX/XXX

Balanced element TP = twisted pair

Element shield U = unshielded

F = foil shielded

Overall shielding F = foil shielded

S = braid shielded

SF = braid and foil shielded