Synqnet Cables
You can connect to the SynqNet network using RJ-45 connectors.
Recommended SynqNet Cabling
The following is recommended for SynqNet Cabling:
- Use shielded category 5 cabling.
- The RF immunity of 100BT networks when using unshielded cable is moderate. Kollmorgen recommends that only shielded cabling is used.
- Braid + foil shielding is the most effective, but foil + drain wire shielding is acceptable.
- If unusually high levels of interference are generated by the machine or nearby equipment, consider using shielded cables with built-in ferrites.
- Ensure that each SynqNet node is effectively grounded, which implies connecting a short fat strap to the machine chassis or busbar.
- There is no minimum length requirement for 100BT cables. However, cables must not be longer than 100m. Longer links are possible over copper using repeaters or over fibre using media converters. Contact the cable factory for further information.
- The machine chassis must be effectively bonded together. This is particularly important when using SynqNet nodes that do not have independently shielded IN and OUT ports.
- Be sure to take the usual precautions to secure the cabling so as to avoid chafing and fatigue.
- High flexure cables are required for cable retractors. Only two signal pairs are needed.
- Do not use cable couplers. Commercially available units generally have poor shielding and are consequently an EMC hazard.
- SynqNet is not compatible with standard Ethernet hubs or repeaters.
- SynqNet does not support POE (Power-over-Ethernet).
Synqnet Cable Length
The SynqNet cable lengths are derived from the measured propagation delays during network initialization. This information is used to determine the spacing between packets for each node. SynqNet networks can have up to 32 nodes and cables can be up to 100 meters in length. By measuring the actual propagation delays and optimizing the packet spacing, the network performance and actual bandwidth is improved.
Typical CAT5 cable propagation delays are roughly 0.005 microsec per meter. Actual values are affected by cable construction and will vary, but the variation will be small for any reasonable cable. The propogation delay can be estimated by a cable propagation velocity of 70% the speed of light, using the formula:
delay = meters * (1,000,000 / (0.7 * 299,722,458))
| Length (meters) | Time (microsec) |
| 1 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 0.048 |
| 25 | 0.119 |
| 50 | 0.238 |
| 100 | 0.477 |
