Cabling Channel (TIA-568)
Check whether a copper run meets the TIA-568 channel model: a permanent (horizontal) link of up to 90 m plus patch cords, for a total channel of up to 100 m. The real limit depends on category and speed. 100% in your browser.
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Channel limit (m) by category × speed
| Category | 1G | 2.5G | 5G | 10G |
|---|
— = unsupported · the active cell is highlighted.
How it is calculated · the TIA-568 channel model
1. The permanent link is the fixed horizontal
run (rack → outlet): maximum 90 m.
2. The channel is the permanent link plus the
patch cords at both ends: channel = horizontal + patch, with a reference
maximum of 100 m.
3. The real limit depends on category and speed.
E.g.: Cat6 supports 10G only up to 55 m; Cat6A reaches 100 m
at 10G; Cat5e supports neither 5G nor 10G.
4. Verdict: pass if horizontal ≤ 90 m and channel
≤ limit; unsupported if that category cannot run the speed;
exceeds if the channel is over the applicable limit.
5. The real limit also depends on cable quality, connectors,
temperature and alien crosstalk (interference between adjacent cables).
Certify the link to confirm.
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How it works
The tool checks whether a copper run complies with the ANSI/TIA-568 channel model: it adds the horizontal length (permanent link, maximum 90 m) and the patch cords at both ends to get the total channel (channel = horizontal + patch), then compares it against the applicable limit for the cable category (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A or Cat7) and the target speed (1G, 2.5G, 5G or 10G per IEEE 802.3).
The limit is not always 100 m: the category × speed matrix reflects the real cases, for example Cat6 supports 10GBASE-T only up to 55 m, and Cat5e does not support 5G or 10G at any distance. With that data it reports the remaining margin (limit − channel) and a verdict: compliant, exceeded (horizontal over 90 m or channel over the limit) or not supported.
Example: does a 50 m Cat6 run work for 10G?
- Horizontal 50 m + patch cords 5 m =
55 mchannel. - The Cat6 limit at 10GBASE-T is not 100 m but 55 m (category × speed table).
- Margin:
55 − 55 = 0 m. Verdict: compliant, but right at the limit; one extra meter would push it out of spec.