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Return loss on Cat 6 I REALLY don’t want to rerun (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Unfortunately it’s for an IP camera. Using a Fluke DTX I rented for another job, I tested a camera run for an IP cam I did at my mother in law’s house so she can keep an eye on her chickens haha.

Anyway, everything else passed except return loss. How screwed am I? I should’ve taken a pic of the results but I didn’t think to until after I left. It was SUCH a pain in the ass to run. She hasn’t decided on actual cameras yet so I have some time to rerun if absolutely necessary, but I’d really rather just leave it be if it’ll work.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I would say connect the camera and see what ya have before rerunning the cable. I would say try reterminate both ends but if you don’t have the DTX to retest it don’t matter. the DTX will show you what pair is giving you problems.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Will it pass a channel test rather than a permanent link ?

If so, forget about it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I'm assuming return loss in this context is reflected power. Does the thing measure insertion loss as well? What are the units of the return loss measurements? Is it an actual power level or a ratio (VSWR)?

Unless you really kinked the shit out of the cable somewhere your biggest source of reflected power is going to be at connectors. Could just be a bad termination, but I'd also be surprised of any consumer stuff is at all impedance matched anyway...

Having performed thousands of return loss measurements on satellite RF systems, you're going to drive yourself nuts with hard requirements on return loss. Unless it's crazy high, who gives a shit.