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 Backbone Cabling
Frequency (MHz) |
Cat 3 Cable (dB) Attn*/PSNEXT** |
Cat 5e Cable (dB) Attn*/PSNEXT** |
Cat 6 Cable (dB) Attn*/PSNEXT** |
Cat 6a Cable (dB) Attn*/PSNEXT** |
0.772 |
2.2/43.0 |
1.8/64.0 |
1.8/74.0 |
---/--- |
1.000 |
2.6/41.0 |
2.0/62.3 |
2.0/72.3 |
2.1/72.3 |
4.000 |
5.6/32.0 |
4.1/53.3 |
3.8/63.3 |
3.8/63.3 |
8.000 |
8.5/28.0 |
5.8/48.8 |
5.3/58.8 |
5.3/58.8 |
10.000 |
9.7/26.0 |
6.5/47.3 |
6.0/57.3 |
5.9/57.3 |
16.000 |
13.1/23.0 |
8.2/44.2 |
7.6/54.2 |
7.5/54.2 |
20.000 |
---/--- |
9.3/42.8 |
8.5/52.8 |
8.4/52.8 |
25.000 |
---/--- |
10.4/41.3 |
9.5/51.3 |
9.4/51.3 |
31.250 |
---/--- |
11.7/39.9 |
10.7/49.9 |
10.5/49.9 |
62.500 |
---/--- |
17.0/35.4 |
15.4/45.4 |
15.0/45.4 |
100.000 |
---/--- |
22.0/32.3 |
19.8/42.3 |
19.1/42.3 |
200.000 |
---/--- |
---/--- |
29.0/37.8 |
27.6/37.8 |
250.000 |
---/--- |
---/--- |
32.8/36.3 |
31.1/36.3 |
300.000 |
---/--- |
---/--- |
---/--- |
34.3/35.1 |
400.000 |
---/--- |
---/--- |
---/--- |
40.1/33.3 |
500.000 |
---/--- |
---/--- |
---/--- |
45.3/31.8 |
*Insertion Loss (Attenuation) for 100m cable @ 20°C
**PSNEXT for 100m (328 feet) cable
|
Find Insertion Loss and PSNEXT for your Backbone Cat Cable
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
See Our Other Helpful Communication Cabling Guides:
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.