Ethernet Signal Preservation In Factory-Terminated Patch Cords for Local Area Networks

ONE of the most commonly asked questions with the introduction of the TrueNet™ Structured Cabling System is, “Why do you only offer patch cords in certain lengths?” Specifically, those lengths are 4, 7, 10 and 15 feet. An electrical impulse takes the shape of a sine wave. A wave has two components: the amplitude and the frequency (frequency can also be called wavelength). The amplitude is the “height” of the wave. The frequency, or wavelength, is the number of peaks in a given timeframe (see Figure 2). And the simple answer is: certain patch cord lengths cause unacceptable signal reflection and distortion to...