When working with Ethernet Cables, we hear the term CAT5e Cable and CAT6 Cable, so what exactly is the gap? These two cables are called twisted pair copper cable, each of them have 8 individual insulated copper wires and both are normally terminated having an RJ-45 connector. What is the large deal?
The original Ethernet data standards used copper coaxial cable to transfer data for 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 was often attached to the wall such as a Dado Rail and it was called Thick Ethernet. It turned out made to pass Ethernet signals at 10 Mbps more than a maximum distance of 500 metres, and this could possibly be extended up to 2500 metres using 4 repeaters.
10Base2
10Base2 networks utilised 50 ohm impedance coaxial cable that was much thinner plus more flexible than 10Base5, but the Ethernet signals were designed to be transmitted over this medium at 10 Mbps, albeit on the much shorter distance of about 185 metres, that may be extended up to 925 metres by building 4 repeaters. The two 10Base5 and 10Base2 standards have grown to be largely obsolete and twisted pair cable is now the most popular wired network medium.
Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable
10BaseT was created in early 1980s and it mainly used Category 3 cable for transmissions as much as 10 Mbs over distances around 100 metres. Ethernet standards evolved to incorporate faster data rate transmission along with the 10BaseTx 100 Mbps and 1000Baset 1000 Mbps standards were introduced. Cat3 cable was no longer had sufficient bandwidth reaction to take care of these faster technologies and so the Cat5 and Cat5e cable standards were introduced which allowed data speeds at up to 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively. The initial Cat5 standard was for the 100BaseTx transmissions but was quickly superseded by Cat5e since the 1000BaseT standard became commonplace.
So what is the main difference between CAT5e and CAT6 Cable? Well the cables are constructed in a similar way with 4 copper pairs, making 8 wires as a whole. Each set of two wires are colour coded and twisted around one another in lessening Crosstalk. The Cat5e cable is rated approximately 100Mhz and supports approximately 1 Gigabit Ethernet, and the Cat6 cable is rated up to 250Mhz and can 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. The result is that Cat6 Cable better protects against Crosstalk. Another difference could be that the sheath thickness is additionally greater when comparing Cat6 with Cat5e. Many of the Category 6 cables also have a Nylon Spine along with the blend of this spine and the thicker sheath force away Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Alien Crosstalk (AXT), which may increase because the frequency increases.
Most Ethernet Cables in use are UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), because these include the cables recommended for use between your add-ons including computers and the wall socket. STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) Cables are recommended to be utilized for outdoor installations and for cable runs inside internal walls.
Stranded cables will be more flexible and are more often employed for computer to wall socket as well as general home network use, but often businesses usually choose the solid cables when it comes to the wiring inside walls and wiring ducts because of its superior strength that has been enhanced network performance.
To sum up, Category 5 enhanced cables are sufficient for many applications for speeds up to at least one Gigabit per second, however if you anticipate the application of 10 Gbps Ethernet down the road then Category 6 cable will future proof forget about the. Also Category 6 cable, even at the 1 Gbps speeds will give enhanced protection against errors.
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