Cat5e And Cat6 Ethernet Network Cables

It s theoretical top speed is 10 gbps over 100 meters.

Cat5e and cat6 ethernet network cables.

Cat5 vs cat5e. Cat6 cables also called category 6 or cat 6 cables provide lower crosstalk a higher signal to noise ratio and are suitable for 10gbase t 10 gigabit ethernet while cat5e cables support only up to 1000base t gigabit ethernet. Cat 6 is the sixth generation of twisted pair ethernet cabling that is used in home and business networks. Cat5 cat5e and cat6 all use twisted pair cables made of copper wire.

Cat 5e is an enhanced version of cat5 that adds specifications for crosstalk see below. Cat 5e was already handling gigabit speed cat 6 was further improved to offer a bandwidth of 250 mhz. Category 6 is an ethernet cable standard defined by the electronic industries association and telecommunications industry association. Cat5e and cat6 cables are both backwards.

Network support cat 5 cable will support 10base t and 100base t network standards that is it supports networks running at 10 mbps or 100 mbps. Although the spline is not required in cat 5 cable some manufactures include it anyway. Be sure to include an extra 2 inches on either end of the wire for the data plug. The bulk network backbone cable comes in 1 000 foot pull boxes and is available in six colors.

As technology advances cat5e and cat6 cable that extends past 300m is available both of which can support a maximum of 1000 mbps with 100 mhz bandwidth. Cat5e cable is completely backwards compatible with cat5 and can be used in any application in which you would normally use cat5 cable. Cat 5e has been defined by the tia eia 568 b and is recognized by the same. Using the coil of wire pull the necessary amount of wire for the connection you need to make.

Use black box connect solid bulk ethernet cable when you need general purpose cat5e cable and cat6 cable for everyday network connections and temporary networks. In cat 6 cable the spline is not required either as long as the cable tests according to the standard. Typically you find eight individual wires that have twisted together to form four pairs. Cat 6 cabling is backward compatible with the cat 5 and cat 5e standards that preceded it.

As a means of future proofing your network cat6 is generally a better choice and worth the small premium in price. The cat5e is the standard ethernet cable for high speed internet connections. The main types of ethernet cables are cat5 cat5e and cat6 which are categorized based on a cable s performance and the network speed and frequency they can support. Network cables have a maximum length depending on which type is being used.

Although maximum length varies by manufacturer a common rule of thumb is 650 feet for a cat6 cable and 250 feet for a cat5e cable. Many cat 6 cables also include a nylon spline which helps eliminate crosstalk. Cat 6 ethernet cable. In the picture above the cat 5e cable is the only one with a spline.