Insertion Loss (Attenuation) and Power Sum NEXT (PSNEXT) Loss in UTP Backbone Cable


What are Network Backbone Cable Runs?

Network backbone cable runs connect entrance facilities where the outdoor cabling enters the building to an equipment room, connect an equipment room to telecommunications rooms on different floors of the building, and can also be used to connect between buildings.

What is Insertion Loss?

Insertion Loss, also known as Attenuation (ATTN), occurs when a cable's signal strength weakens as it travels to another device.

What is Crosstalk?

Crosstalk measures undesired changes to the communication signal in a wire pair caused by signals in other wire pairs or cables.

What's the Difference Between NEXT and PSNEXT?

Near End Crosstalk, NEXT, measures interference at the near end caused when a signal from one twisted pair is received electromagnetically in an adjacent unenergized twisted pair.
Power Sum Near End Crosstalk, PSNEXT, measures the cross talk on the near end in an unenergized twisted pair with multiple adjacent twisted pairs in the cable transmitting.

Insertion Loss / PSNEXT Chart
for Cat 3 Backbone Cabling

Frequency
(MHz)
Cat 3 Cable
(dB)
Insertion Loss*/PSNEXT**
0.772 2.2/43.0
1.000 2.6/41.0
4.000 5.6/32.0
8.000 8.5/27.8
10.000 9.7/26.3
16.000 13.1/23.2
20.000 ---/---
25.000 ---/---
31.250 ---/---
62.500 ---/---
100.000 ---/---
200.000 ---/---
250.000 ---/---
300.000 ---/---
400.000 ---/---
500.000 ---/---

*Insertion Loss for 100m cable @ 20°C
**PSNEXT for 100m (328 feet) cable

Insertion Loss / PSNEXT Chart
for Cat 5e Backbone Cabling

Frequency
(MHz)
Cat 5e Cable
(dB)
Insertion Loss*/PSNEXT**
0.772 1.8/64.0
1.000 2.0/62.3
4.000 4.1/53.3
8.000 5.8/48.8
10.000 6.5/47.3
16.000 8.2/44.2
20.000 9.3/42.8
25.000 10.4/41.3
31.250 11.7/39.9
62.500 17.0/35.4
100.000 22.0/32.3
200.000 ---/---
250.000 ---/---
300.000 ---/---
400.000 ---/---
500.000 ---/---

*Insertion Loss for 100m cable @ 20°C
**PSNEXT for 100m (328 feet) cable

Insertion Loss / PSNEXT Chart
for Cat 6 Backbone Cabling

Frequency
(MHz)
Cat 6 Cable
(dB)
Insertion Loss*/PSNEXT**
0.772 1.8/74.0
1.000 2.0/72.3
4.000 3.8/63.3
8.000 5.3/58.8
10.000 6.0/57.3
16.000 7.6/54.2
20.000 8.5/52.8
25.000 9.5/51.3
31.250 10.7/49.9
62.500 15.4/45.4
100.000 19.8/42.3
200.000 29.0/37.8
250.000 32.8/36.3
300.000 ---/---
400.000 ---/---
500.000 ---/---

*Insertion Loss for 100m cable @ 20°C
**PSNEXT for 100m (328 feet) cable

Insertion Loss / PSNEXT Chart
for Cat 6a Backbone Cabling

Frequency
(MHz)
Cat 6a Cable
(dB)
Insertion Loss*/PSNEXT**
1.000 2.1/72.3
4.000 3.8/63.3
8.000 5.3/58.8
10.000 5.9/57.3
16.000 7.5/54.2
20.000 8.4/52.8
25.000 9.4/51.3
31.250 10.5/49.9
62.500 15.0/45.4
100.000 19.1/42.3
200.000 27.6/37.8
250.000 31.1/36.3
300.000 34.3/35.1
400.000 40.1/33.3
500.000 45.3/31.8

*Insertion Loss for 100m cable @ 20°C
**PSNEXT for 100m (328 feet) cable


Available Cat Cable Products

Cat 6 Cable

Cat 6 Data Communication Cable

Shop Cat 6 Cable

Cat 5e Cable

CAT5E Data Communication Cable

Shop Cat 5e Cable

Telecom Wire and Cable

Twisted pair cable unshielded

Shop Telecom Wire and Cable

Warning: When using this information to perform electrical work, call a licensed electrician and consult the TIA-568 standards and NEC® for safety. All licensed electricians have passed examinations covering the National Electric Code®, know state and local building codes, and may carry insurance to cover damages.