What Is the Difference Between CAT5e and CAT6 Ethernet Cables?

When you use Ethernet Cables, we hear the definition of CAT5e Cable and CAT6 Cable, so what is the gap? Those two cables are termed as twisted pair copper cable, each of them have 8 individual insulated copper wires and are both normally terminated with an RJ-45 connector. What is the big deal?

The main Ethernet data standards used copper coaxial cable to transfer data about 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 turned out often coupled to the wall similar to a Dado Rail and was often known as Thick Ethernet. It absolutely was designed to pass Ethernet signals at 10 Mbps on the maximum distance of 500 metres, and this could be extended up to 2500 metres using 4 repeaters.

10Base2

10Base2 networks utilised 50 ohm impedance coaxial cable which was much thinner plus much more flexible than 10Base5, however the Ethernet signals remained as made to be transmitted over this medium at 10 Mbps, albeit more than a much shorter distance close to 185 metres, that could be extended around 925 metres with the addition of 4 repeaters. The 10Base5 and 10Base2 standards are becoming largely obsolete and twisted pair cable is the common wired network medium.

Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable

10BaseT originated in the early 1980s and yes it mainly used Category 3 cable for transmissions approximately 10 Mbs over distances up to 100 metres. Ethernet standards evolved to include faster data rate transmission as well as the 10BaseTx 100 Mbps and 1000Baset 1000 Mbps standards were introduced. Cat3 cable was no longer had sufficient bandwidth reply to take care of these faster technologies therefore, the Cat5 and Cat5e cable standards were introduced which allowed data speeds at around 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively. The first Cat5 standard was fine for the 100BaseTx transmissions but was quickly superseded by Cat5e because 1000BaseT standard became commonplace.

So what exactly is the real difference between CAT5e and CAT6 Cable? Well the cables are constructed in the same way with 4 copper pairs, making 8 wires as a whole. Each set of two wires are colour coded and twisted around the other person in lessening Crosstalk. The Cat5e cable is rated up to 100Mhz and supports as much as 1 Gigabit Ethernet, and the Cat6 cable is rated around 250Mhz and may support 10 Gigabit Ethernet signals.

Cat6 Ethernet Cable has over 2 twists per centimetre whereas Cat5e Ethernet Cable has only 1.5 to two twists per centimetre. The result is that Cat6 Cable better protects against Crosstalk. Another difference would be that the sheath thickness can also be greater comparing Cat6 with Cat5e. Many of the Category 6 cables actually have a Nylon Spine and also the mix of this spine and also the thicker sheath force away Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Alien Crosstalk (AXT), which can increase because the frequency increases.

Most Ethernet Cables available are UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), because they will be the cables recommended to be used relating to the add-ons for example computers and the wall socket. STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) Cables are recommended to be used for outdoor installations as well as for cable runs inside internal walls.

Stranded cables tend to be flexible and are often utilized for computer to wall socket and then for general home network use, but often businesses usually choose to solid cables with regards to the wiring inside walls and wiring ducts due to its superior strength and enhanced network performance.

To conclude, Category 5 enhanced cables are sufficient for most applications for boosts one Gigabit per second, however if you anticipate the usage of 10 Gbps Ethernet down the road then Category 6 cable will future proof ignore the. Also Category 6 cable, even in the 1 Gbps speeds can give enhanced protection against errors.

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