When working with Ethernet Cables, we hear the term CAT5e Cable and CAT6 Cable, so what exactly is the real difference? Those two cables are known as twisted pair copper cable, each of them have 8 individual insulated copper wires and are normally terminated with the RJ-45 connector. So what is the big deal?
The first Ethernet data standards used copper coaxial cable to transfer data on the early packet switched networks.
10Base5
10Base5 networks used fairly stiff 0.375 inch, 50 ohm impedance coaxial cable, and was often characterised by its Creamy Yellow external insulated coating. It absolutely was often linked to the wall such as a Dado Rail and it was referred to as Thick Ethernet. It turned out made to pass Ethernet signals at 10 Mbps over a maximum distance of 500 metres, which might be extended approximately 2500 metres using 4 repeaters.
10Base2
10Base2 networks utilised 50 ohm impedance coaxial cable that has been much thinner plus more flexible than 10Base5, however the Ethernet signals were still designed to be transmitted over this medium at 10 Mbps, albeit on the much shorter distance of approximately 185 metres, that may be extended as much as 925 metres by building 4 repeaters. The two 10Base5 and 10Base2 standards have grown to be largely obsolete and twisted pair cable has become the regular wired network medium.
Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable
10BaseT was made noisy . 1980s also it mainly used Category 3 cable for transmissions around 10 Mbs over distances around 100 metres. Ethernet standards evolved to add faster data rate transmission and the 10BaseTx 100 Mbps and 1000Baset 1000 Mbps standards were introduced. Cat3 cable was no longer had sufficient bandwidth reply to cope with these faster technologies and so the Cat5 and Cat5e cable standards were introduced which allowed data speeds at around 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively. The initial Cat5 standard was acceptable for the 100BaseTx transmissions but was quickly superseded by Cat5e since the 1000BaseT standard became commonplace.
So what exactly is the difference between CAT5e and CAT6 Cable? Well the cables are constructed in the same way with 4 copper pairs, making 8 wires in total. Each set of two wires are colour coded and twisted around the other person in lowering Crosstalk. The Cat5e cable is rated approximately 100Mhz and supports approximately 1 Gigabit Ethernet, as the Cat6 cable is rated approximately 250Mhz and will support 10 Gigabit Ethernet signals.
Cat6 Ethernet Cable has over 2 twists per centimetre whereas Cat5e Ethernet Cable merely has 1.5 to 2 twists per centimetre. Consequently Cat6 Cable better protects against Crosstalk. Another difference is the sheath thickness can also be greater when you compare Cat6 with Cat5e. Many of the Category 6 cables actually have a Nylon Spine as well as the mixture of this spine along with the thicker sheath drive back Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Alien Crosstalk (AXT), which can increase as the frequency increases.
Most Ethernet Cables being used are UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), because these would be the cables recommended to use between your peripheral devices such as computers as well as the wall socket. STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) Cables are suggested for use for outdoor installations as well as cable runs inside internal walls.
Stranded cables are more flexible and are often employed for computer to wall socket and then for general home network use, but often businesses usually prefer the solid cables with regards to the wiring inside walls and wiring ducts because of its superior strength that has been enhanced network performance.
In summary, Category 5 enhanced cables are sufficient for some applications for boosts to a single Gigabit per second, however if you simply anticipate the application of 10 Gbps Ethernet in the foreseeable future then Category 6 cable will future proof your investment. Also Category 6 cable, even with the 1 Gbps speeds gives enhanced protection against errors.
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