Ethernet cables are used to connect devices together in a network. There are different categories of Ethernet cables, and each has its own speed. There’s a lot of debate out there about which ethernet cable category is faster, cat6 or cat5e. The truth is that it depends on the specific application and the conditions under which it will be used. So, to help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together this guide to help you understand the differences between these two types of cables.
Ca5e Cable
Cat5e cabling is the standard that was created by the TIA/EIA to replace the older Cat5 cable. Cat5e is currently the most commonly used cabling with broadband, telephone, and network connections. Cat5e can be used to transfer data at speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second. The advantage of Cat5e is that it is backward compatible with Cat5 cable. Because of this, you can use unshielded Cat5e cable for telephone and network connections, but shielded Cat5e or Cat6 cabling for high speed, voice, and video applications.
Bulk Cat5e Cable has a bandwidth capacity of 350 MHz and maintains excellent signal quality over long distances. It is made up of 8 conductors that are tightly packed together in 4 twisted pairs, either made of pure copper or copper-clad aluminum, for improved communication. Individual wires bundled into four twisted pairs reduce crosstalk and negate EMI (electromagnetic interference).
Shielded & Unshielded Cable
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) and unshielded twisted pair (UTP) variants of Cat5e Cable are also available. An extra layer of protection or protection in the form of a foil sheet wrapped overall or individual twisted pairs is included with an STP Cat5e ethernet cable. Because STP ethernet cables have good protection against crosstalk and EMI, the signal quality is not compromised.
Unshielded twisted pair cables, on the other hand, are known as UTP. A UTP Cat5e 1000ft ethernet cable does not have the extra layer of protection that STP cables provide against crosstalk and EMI. And that is why its performance is not as good as the STP cables.
Cat6 Cable
Cat6 cable is a type of network cable that supports Gigabit Ethernet and Enhanced Category-5 (1000Base-T) performance with a data rate of up to 1000 Mbps. Cat6 cable, also called Category 6 cable, is a specific type of network cable that supports Gigabit Ethernet and Enhanced Category-5 (1000Base-T) performance. Both STP and UTP versions of the cable are available. UL and ETL certifications are available on this cable (depending on the manufacturer).
Which is faster, Cat5e or Cat6?
Cat6 Cable is an improved version of Cat5e cable, which is better and faster. The data rate of Cat6 cable is up to 1000Mbps over 100 meters whereas that of Cat5e cable is only 100Mbps. The Cat6 cable uses a more advanced encoding technique. Thus, it is faster and more secure than the Cat5e cable. The wavelength of the Cat6 cable is more effective. A Cat6 cable can support a bandwidth capacity of up to 550 MHz. Most of the Cat6 cables are backward compatible with Cat5e.
Conclusion
There are two main categories of Ethernet Cables used in networking: Cat5e and Cat6. Cat5e cables are used for short runs of network cables, whereas Cat6 cables are used for longer network runs. We hope this blog post has helped you better understand the different cables and the ways they can be used. If you have any other questions, please contact us anytime at (347) 7481 1818.
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