Peter Rieck interviewed by PRODUCTION PARTNER

CAT vs. fiber optics

Peter, our topic is CAT networks. First a basic question: instead of CAT – and thus copper – we can also use fiber optics to build a powerful network. What do you think are the pros and cons of the respective variants?

Peter Rieck: The advantages of the optical fiber are not far to seek: here – especially in the future – even much higher bandwidths will be possible, the segment length is uncritical in every respect, and then there is the 100% electrical isolation! On the other hand, there are also some drawbacks: end points can only be terminated with greater effort, there is no PoE option, and you’ll always need active signal converters or small switches, because only very few terminal devices are equipped with onboard fiber optical connections. In a sense, the disadvantages of the optical fiber reflect the advantages of the copper line. PoE is becoming more and more the absolute standard for supplying terminal equipment, basically all stationary end devices feature an appropriate connection, and for carrying out the termination only little effort and no special tools are required. And owing to the classes Ea or 8.1. resp., the bandwidth issue is also very future-proof. By contrast, the drawbacks are manageable: the segment length provisions are stricter, the minimum bending radii, which are partly greater than with optical fibers, must be adhered to during installation, and the potential equalization needs to be observed. From my point of view, the advantages mentioned clearly speak in favor of the CAT line. And still one other factor comes into play since a copper cable offers definitely more universal applications than a fiber optical cable. So the components mostly don’t care about the protocol or the signal type on that line. And especially the PoE topic is really important – this can only be handled with copper lines.

A contemporary buzzword is “sustainability“. What does this aspiration mean to SOMMER CABLE  as a cable manufacturer?

Rieck: In the final analysis, our products are part of the infrastructure in an installation – without which nothing goes, as everybody knows. In fact, when selecting products, one should make sure to pick high-quality, durable products and install them correctly as well. This is also essential when it comes to choosing the connectors or the mechanical design of the interfaces. With PoE applications the factor of aging e.g. can have a much greater impact on a CAT line than one might think.

Are CAT-based infrastructures really more straightforward and clearer than convenional solutions – as is often heard? Or are there more or less hidden pitfalls you might eventually step into as a user/system interator/designer? What should we absolutey pay attention to, and where?

Rieck: First it needs to be stated that things are already becoming much easier. We have all signal types which can be transmitted via the infrastructure. The power supply can be integrated, in most cases much longer cable routes are possible, and we have standardized physical interfaces and connectors. The pitfalls can be spotted when looking at the details. For instance, the power supply over CAT contains some problem zones, and also the classification of the networks must be observed at all times.

When it comes to networks, often the IT department would also like to have a say. Reasonable? What should you pay attention to as a non-IT person, what needs to be known?

Rieck: One challenge here is that the networks can soon become pretty complex. And since more and more applications are mapped over them, we need to keep that in mind. From what order of magnitude a consultation with the IT department is required, is very individual and difficult to generalize.

One possible future trend are unified networks. So far every discipline (sound, light, video, stage engineering etc.) has its own network. Will it make sense in the future to provide one single network for all disciplines to share? And what would it mean with regard to the cables to be used? 

Rieck: Here we must keep an eye on how the transmission standards will further develop. From my point of view things are already clearly moving into the direction that everything is based on native ethernet. That way one can, of course, use standardized cables, lines, and patch panels etc. Due to the CAT6a (class Ea) or also CAT8.1 (class I) standards, it will definitely not fail because of the available bandwidth. So we are only talking about the subject of signal management since the infrastructure will be the same for all by then.