When working with Ethernet Cables, we hear the word CAT5e Cable and CAT6 Cable, so what is the real difference? Both of these cables are termed as twisted pair copper cable, both have 8 individual insulated copper wires and both of them are normally terminated with the RJ-45 connector. So what is the top deal?
The initial 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 connected to the wall similar to a Dado Rail and was called Thick Ethernet. It was made to pass Ethernet signals at 10 Mbps over a maximum distance of 500 metres, this also might 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, nevertheless the Ethernet signals were still designed to be transmitted over this medium at 10 Mbps, albeit over the much shorter distance of around 185 metres, that could be extended approximately 925 metres by building 4 repeaters. Both the 10Base5 and 10Base2 standards are getting to be largely obsolete and twisted pair cable is now the common wired network medium.
Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable
10BaseT was developed in early 1980s and it mainly used Category 3 cable for transmissions approximately 10 Mbs over distances approximately 100 metres. Ethernet standards evolved to include 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 response to deal with these faster technologies therefore, the Cat5 and Cat5e cable standards were introduced which allowed data speeds at approximately 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively. The initial Cat5 standard was fine for the 100BaseTx transmissions but was quickly superseded by Cat5e since the 1000BaseT standard became commonplace.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 in whole. Each set of wires are colour coded and twisted around the other person in lowering Crosstalk. The Cat5e cable is rated as much as 100Mhz and supports as much as 1 Gigabit Ethernet, whilst the Cat6 cable is rated approximately 250Mhz and can 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 you compare Cat6 with Cat5e. A few of the Category 6 cables also have a Nylon Spine and also the mixture of this spine and also the thicker sheath protect against Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Alien Crosstalk (AXT), which can increase as the frequency increases.
Most Ethernet Cables in use are UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), because these are the cables recommended to use relating to the add-ons like computers and the wall socket. STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) Cables are recommended for use for outdoor installations as well as for cable runs inside internal walls.
Stranded cables will be more flexible and therefore are more frequently useful 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 that has been enhanced network performance.
To sum up, Category 5 enhanced cables are sufficient for many applications for increases to a single 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 neglect the. Also Category 6 cable, even with the 1 Gbps speeds can give enhanced protection against errors.
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