End to End Links
A new Ethernet channel definition

Bob Lounsbury
Rockwell Automation
February 22, 2017

Abstract
As Ethernet expands so does the methods of measuring the cabling system
performance. Industrial customers tend to install cables and then terminate inplace. The quality of the field termination is dependent on many factors including
wire end preparation. The cables and connectors used in the channel may meet or
exceed the component specifications, but if improperly terminated the link orchannel may not. The cabling industry channel definitions and tests do notinclude the plugs (or connections) at the two ends of the channel. This means
that, if the ends of the cables are improperly prepared the channel will pass but theperformance may be less than satisfactory. The international standards
committees for industrial have been working to define a new definition called End
to End Links (E2E Links). These links not only include the connections between
the two ends but also include the end connections. This paper will discuss these
new links and how they will help your customers and field service personnel
diagnose cable problems and verify cabling in the field.

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Elements of a Ethernet of an Connection•Cords––•Typically ends with jacks, accounting for up to 2 connections with plugs
Up to 90 meters in lengthP-link
fixed cabling
90M max.
Up to 2 Jacks

Cross Connect or Interconnect––•

Cord 1 or 2 Plugs

Permanent Link––•

Normally limited to 10 Meters maximum
Typically uses higher loss cables (flexible cables)

Accounts for up to 2 connections
Uses two of the three cord definitions, Patch cord and Equipment cord

Channel––Up to 2 Connections

Typically constructed of Equipment Cord + Cross Connect + Patch Cord + PLink and Work area cord.
100 Meters
Equipment cord

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Work area cord
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Industrial Channel•

Typically Constructed of Long Cords >10 meters– Generic standards limit these cords to 10 Meters total– Industrial Control connections frequently exceed the 10 Meter total with one cord
– Industrial Control connections frequently are point to point without X-connects••Industrial cords are constructed in place. Generally are field terminatedField constructed cords are common practice but has two risks– Long cords are out side the specifications and limits– Performance of field terminations may have hidden problems.

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Hidden Problems••

Channel definitions do not include the two plugs at the end of thechannel.
Channels constructed from multiple segments of field terminated plugs
are not tested during a Channel test.
– Problems in the individual conductor routing can cause poor performanceand is not tested during channel testing.
– Breaking a channel apart and testing each segment (element) can be costlyin time.

•End 2 End Links solve this problem by adding the two Plugs at the endsof the channel to the models and pass/fail limit lines.

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Limit Lines•••

The differences between the pass/fail limit lines for a channel and E2E Link
are slightly different.
The key is the test hardware is now required to report problems found in thetwo end plugs.
PARAMETERS
End to End Links define
Insertion Loss
Measured
PSNEXT
Derivedlimit lines for theReturn Loss
Measured
PSACRF
Derivedstandard parameters

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NEXT

Measured

TCL

Measured

FEXT

Measured

ELTCTL

Measured

ACR-F

Measured

CALab only

Delay

Measured

DCR

Measured

Delay Skew

Measured/Derived

DCR Unbalance

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6IEEE APPLICATIONS AND BW NEEDS•Applications supported by cabling are categorized by their BW–––––•US uses Category ratings Cat5, Cat5E, Cat6, Cat6A……..
ISO/IEC uses Classes, Class D, Class E, Class EA……….
E2E Links supports Cat5E/Class D and Cat 6/Class E channels
Limit lines are described in a set of equations as a function of frequency
Category 5E and Class D channels support up to 1G 4-pair

ODVA Applications– Currently Chapter 8 supports 10/100 Mb/s Industrial– Served by a Category 5E or Class D channel.
– ODVA recommends transmission performance CAT 6 or Class E or above for 1G
industrial applications.
– These class of channels provide better balance and tighter NEXT and RL

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E2E Link Examples
L1 ≤ 100M

1 Segment, 2 Connection

Test EQP

Test EQP

Segment 1TI

TI
L1 ≤ 100M

2 Segment, 3 Connection

Test EQP

Test EQP
Segment 1TI

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Segment 2TI

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End 2 End Link Examples
L1 ≤ 100M
1 connection

3 Segment, 4 Connection

1 connection

Test EQP

Test EQP
Segment 1Segment 2Segment 3TI

TI

3 Segment, 6 Connection

L1 ≤ 100M

Test EQP

Test EQP
Segment 12 connections

Segment 22 connections

TI

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Segment 3TI

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9End 2 End Link Examples
L1 ≤ 100M

3 Segment, 4 Connection

Test EQP

Test EQP
Segment 1Segment 2Segment 3TITI

L1 ≤ 100M

4 Segment, 5 Connection

Test EQP

Test EQP
Segment 1Segment 2Segment 3

TI

TI

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Segment 4

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10End to End Link Examples

5 Segment, 6 Connection
L1 ≤ 100M

Test EQP

Test EQP
Segment 1Segment 2Segment 3Segment 4TI

TI

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E2E Link Modeling••••

Channel mathematical models were modified to include the two end plugs
Produced a set of equations that describe the Pass/Fail Limits for thedefined applications (BW) and configurations.
The following graphs and equations are for Class D, 6 connections
Insertion Loss - Class D E2E Link 6 Connections
Class D E2E link insertion loss dB [n = number of connections 6]
𝐿∙ 1,9108 ∙100𝑓 + 0,0222 ∙ 𝑓 +0.2
𝑓+ 𝑛 ∙ 0,04 ∙𝑓

NOTE 1 To align with ISO/IEC 11801-1 permanent link requirements, the maximum
length for 1- and 2-segment E2E links is 90 m
NOTE 2

Calculated values less than 4 dB revert to 4 dB

For connections numbers > 2 (L/100) is replaced with 1.05

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E2E Link Limits•

Return Loss - Class D E2E Link 6 Connections

Class D E2E link return loss 6 Connections
dB1 ≤ 𝑓 ≤ 20
20 < 𝑓 ≤ 100

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17 − 0,27 + 1,29 ∙𝑓−1
99

30 − 10 ∙ log 𝑓 − 0,27 + 1,29 ∙𝑓−199

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E2E Link Limits•

NEXT - Class D, E2E Link 6 Connections

Class D E2E link NEXT 6 Connections
dB−20 ∙ 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10NOTE65,3−15∙log 𝑓−20+ 2 ∙ 1083−20∙log 𝑓−20− 1,26 ∙𝑓−1
99Calculated values greater than 65 dB revert to 65 dB.

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E2E Link Limits
PSNEXT - Class D, E2E Link 6 Connections

Class D E2E link PSNEXT 6 Connections
dB−20 ∙ 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1062,3−15∙log 𝑓−20+ 2 ∙ 1080−20∙log 𝑓−20− 1,26 ∙𝑓−199

In cases where measured insertion loss is less than 4 dB, the pass/fail limits for PSNEXT
should not apply.

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E2E Link Limits•

ACR-F - Class D, E2E Link 6 Connections

Class D E2E Link ACR-F 6 Connections
dB−20 ∙ 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1063,8−20∙log 𝑓−20+ 4 ∙ 1075,1−20∙log 𝑓−20− 1,12ACR-F at frequencies that correspond to measured FEXT values of greater than 70,0dB are for information only.

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E2E Link Limits•

PSACR-F - Class D, E2E Link 6 Connections

Class D E2E link PSACR-FdB−20 ∙ 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10

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60,8−20∙log 𝑓−20+ 4 ∙ 10

72,1−20∙log 𝑓−20− 1,12

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E2E Link Limits•

TCL- E2E Link 6 Connections for un-screened (UTP)– Class D and Class E– E1, E2 and E3ClassClass D & EaFrequency
MHz1  f  30

E153-15log(f)E2E link TCL
dB a
E263-15log(f)E373-15log(f)30  f  100
60,4-20log(f)70,4-20log(f)80,4-20log(f)TCL at frequencies that correspond to calculated values of greater than 40 dB
revert to 40 dB.

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E2E Link Limits•

ELTCTL - E2E Link 6 Connections for un-screened (UTP)– Class D and Class E– E1, E2 and E3

E2E link ELTCTL
dB a
E1E2E3
Class D & E
1  f  30
30-20log(f)40-20log(f)50-20log(f)aELTCTL at frequencies that correspond to calculated values of greater than 40 dB
revert to 40 dB.
ClassFrequency
MHz

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E2E Link Limits•

Coupling Attenuation - E2E Link 6 Connections for un-screened (UTP)– Class D and Class E– E1, E2 and E3ClassFrequency
MHz1  f  30

Class D & E

1  f  100

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E2E link CA MICE E1, E2 and E3dB
E1E2E340
50
60
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Testing of End two End Links••••••The new channels defined by ISO/IEC, supported by ANSI/TIA will greatly
benefit the end customer, field installer and service personnel.
For short cords (<10 meters) current testers can be used
For P-Links current testers can be used
For long cords and full channels (Links) a capable field tester is needed.
The field test manufactures have released testers that have the capability ofperforming E2E link testing to the limits.
All constructed in-place channels should be tested to this new definition.

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Conclusion
•
•
•

•

The new channel (End to End Link) definitions will, in most cases beeffective.
Depending on the accuracy and precision of the test equipment some badlinks may not be discovered.
Links designed to meet Class D and E, tested to MICE E3 using RJ45 will
fail under these test limits. RJ 45 do not have sufficient balance to meet thisspec.
The degraded performance has gone uncovered and only found byreplacement. These new limit and link definitions now provide a means tofind these problems through testing.

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THANK YOUQuestions?
Bob Lounsbury
Rockwell Automation
Chair EtherNet/IP PHY LYRSecretary to SC65C/JWG10Member of the IEC ACEC
Expert ISO/IEC/JTC1/SC25/WG3Expert IEC/TC77B/MT12