ISWest - Internet Specialties West 877.735.1500 NON-STOP InternetNON-STOP SupportNON-STOP People
Who is ISWestProducts & ServicesTechnical Support
ISWest In the News
Home Colocation Colocation Connectivity Security Managed Services The Company

Ethernet Over Copper Definitions

Ethernet Over Copper
A Ethernet Over Copper (EoC) is a digital signal level 3 T-carrier. It may also be referred to as a T3 line.

  • The data rate for this type of signal is 44.736 Mbit/s.
  • This level of carrier can transport 28 DS1 level signals within its payload.
  • This level of carrier can transport 672 DS0 level channels within its payload.

Cabling
Ethernet Over Copper interconnect cables must be made with true 75 ohm cable and connectors. Cables or connectors which are 50 ohm or which significantly deviate from 75 ohms will result in reflections which will lower the performance of the connection, possibly to the point of it not working. Bellcore standard GR-139-CORE defines type 734 and 735 cables for this application. Due to losses, there are differing distance limitations for each type of cable. 734 has a larger center conductor and insulator for lower losses for a given distance. The BNC connectors are also very important as are the crimping and cable stripping tools used to install them. Trompeter, Cannon, Amphenol, Kings, Canare are some of the true 75 ohm connectors known to work. RG6 cable will also work, though it does not meet telephony technical standards.

T-carrier
A digital transmission service from a common carrier. Although developed in the 1960s and used internally, AT&T introduced it as a communications product to the public in 1983. Initially used for voice, its use for data grew steadily, and T1 and T3 lines are widely used to create point-to-point private data networks. T-carrier lines use four wire cables. One pair is used to transmit; the other to receive.

The cost of the lines is generally based on the length of the circuit. Thus, it is the customer's responsibility to utilize the lines efficiently. Multiple lower-speed channels can be multiplexed onto a T-carrier line and demultiplexed (split back out) at the other end. Some multiplexors can analyze the traffic load and vary channel speeds for optimum transmission. See DS, DSU/CSU and inverse multiplexor.