Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 8.12
RJ-Style Category 7 module and patch frame. (Courtesy Kerpen.)
Another consideration with RJ-style Category 7 patch panels is certainly that
they may be confused for lower-category patches. The confusion arises because the
connectors not only resemble normal Category 5e/6/AC6, but are mechanically
compatible. You can easily plug a lower category patch cord into an RJ-style
Category 7 patch panel, but you would not have Category 7 performance, and it is
unlikely that any application that required Category 7 speeds would operate prop-
erly. The rule-of-thumb here is that the category of the link is the category of the
lowest component, including cabling, patches, and cords. Category 7 operation
requires that all of these components be Category 7 certified.
Patch cords for Category 7 operate in the same manner as those for lower cat-
egories. They basically connect between patch panel ports and equipment ports on
servers, routers, and other network equipment. The cable for Category 7 is larger in
diameter than cable for the lower categories, to accommodate the shielding, and you
must plan on a larger bend radius. Patch cords are identical to user cords, and are
described in more detail in Chapter 9.
