Enhanced laboratory test measurement methods can more accurately characterize the transmission performance of category 6A and higher-rated channels, permanent links, and components.
ANSI/TIA-1183 “Measurement Methods and Test Fixtures for Balun-Less Measurements of Balanced Components and Systems” was developed by the TIA TR-42.7 Copper Cabling Subcommittee and published in August, 2012. This Standard is intended to be used as an independent testing reference and describes methods and fixtures that support laboratory measurement of all differential mode, mixed mode, and common mode transmission parameters up to 1 GHz. The primary benefit of using the test methods and fixtures described in this Standard is the elimination of balun transformers traditionally used for impedance matching between the device under test (DUT) and the measurement equipment.
Removing the balun transformers from the test set-up allows the collection of transmission measurements up to the frequency band of the network analyzer and expands the allowable measurement modes (i.e. differential mode, mixed mode, and common mode). This measurement flexibility enables testing of mixed mode parameters such as balance (e.g. TCL and TCTL) and cross-modal crosstalk coupling without reconfiguration of the DUT or the measurement setup.
ANSI/TIA-1183 Content
- Test configurations
- Fixtures and setup
- Port terminations
- Reference loads for calibration and termination
- Calibration
- Example test fixture assemblies
- Informative Annexes addressing Derivation of Mixed Mode Parameters from Four Port S Parameter Measurements, Impedance Transformation Calculations, Cabling Standards and Termination Impedances for Differential Cabling Systems, Port Identification and Nomenclature, and De-embedding Balunless Test Fixtures for Measuring 16-Port Differential Devices
Example Balun-Less Test Fixture with Rigid SMA Coaxial Connectors