When utilizing Ethernet Cables, we hear the word CAT5e Cable and CAT6 Cable, so what is the gap? Both these cables are called twisted pair copper cable, both of them have 8 individual insulated copper wires and both of them are normally terminated with the 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 similar to a Dado Rail and it was generally known as Thick Ethernet. It had been made to pass Ethernet signals at 10 Mbps over the maximum distance of 500 metres, this also could be extended around 2500 metres using 4 repeaters.
10Base2
10Base2 networks utilised 50 ohm impedance coaxial cable that’s much thinner plus more flexible than 10Base5, nevertheless the Ethernet signals remained designed to be transmitted over this medium at 10 Mbps, albeit over a much shorter distance of around 185 metres, that could be extended around 925 metres with the help of 4 repeaters. The two 10Base5 and 10Base2 standards are getting to be largely obsolete and twisted pair cable has become the regular wired network medium.
Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable
10BaseT originated during the early 1980s plus it mainly used Category 3 cable for transmissions as much as 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 wasn’t any longer had sufficient bandwidth reaction to handle these faster technologies therefore, the Cat5 and Cat5e cable standards were introduced which allowed data speeds at as much as 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively. The first Cat5 standard was acceptable for the 100BaseTx transmissions but was quickly superseded by Cat5e since the 1000BaseT standard became commonplace.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 altogether. Each pair of wires are colour coded and twisted around one another in reducing Crosstalk. The Cat5e cable is rated as much as 100Mhz and supports as much as 1 Gigabit Ethernet, as the Cat6 cable is rated up to 250Mhz and will support 10 Gigabit Ethernet signals.
Cat6 Ethernet Cable has over 2 twists per centimetre whereas Cat5e Ethernet Cable only has 1.5 to 2 twists per centimetre. As a result Cat6 Cable better protects against Crosstalk. Another difference is that the sheath thickness can also be greater when comparing Cat6 with Cat5e. Many of the Category 6 cables also have a Nylon Spine along with the mix of this spine as well as the thicker sheath force away Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Alien Crosstalk (AXT), which can increase because the frequency increases.
Most Ethernet Cables being used are UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), because these will be the cables recommended to use involving the peripheral devices for example computers and the wall socket. STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) Cables are suggested to be utilized for outdoor installations and also for cable runs inside internal walls.
Stranded cables are more flexible and therefore are more regularly employed for computer to wall socket as well as general home network use, but often businesses usually prefer the solid cables in terms of the wiring inside walls and wiring ducts because of its superior strength and enhanced network performance.
To sum up, Category 5 enhanced cables are sufficient for many applications for speeds up one Gigabit per second, however if you simply anticipate the use of 10 Gbps Ethernet in the foreseeable future then Category 6 cable will future proof your investment. Also Category 6 cable, even in the 1 Gbps speeds will offer enhanced protection against errors.
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