When working with Ethernet Cables, we hear the word CAT5e Cable and CAT6 Cable, so what exactly is the difference? These two cables are known as twisted pair copper cable, both of them have 8 individual insulated copper wires and both of them are normally terminated having an RJ-45 connector. So what is the large deal?
The main 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 absolutely was often connected to the wall much like a Dado Rail and it was called Thick Ethernet. It had been made to pass Ethernet signals at 10 Mbps on the maximum distance of 500 metres, this also may be extended approximately 2500 metres using 4 repeaters.
10Base2
10Base2 networks utilised 50 ohm impedance coaxial cable that has been much thinner plus more flexible than 10Base5, but the Ethernet signals remained as meant to be transmitted over this medium at 10 Mbps, albeit on the much shorter distance close to 185 metres, that may be extended approximately 925 metres with the help of 4 repeaters. The two 10Base5 and 10Base2 standards have grown to be largely obsolete and twisted pair cable is now the normal wired network medium.
Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable
10BaseT originated in the early 1980s and it mainly used Category 3 cable for transmissions up to 10 Mbs over distances around 100 metres. Ethernet standards evolved to add faster data rate transmission and also the 10BaseTx 100 Mbps and 1000Baset 1000 Mbps standards were introduced. Cat3 cable was not longer had sufficient bandwidth reaction to cope with these faster technologies therefore, the Cat5 and Cat5e cable standards were introduced which allowed data speeds at up to 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively. The original Cat5 standard was for the 100BaseTx transmissions but was quickly superseded by Cat5e since the 1000BaseT standard became commonplace.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 likewise manner with 4 copper pairs, making 8 wires in whole. Each set of wires are colour coded and twisted around each other in reducing Crosstalk. The Cat5e cable is rated as much as 100Mhz and supports as much as 1 Gigabit Ethernet, whilst 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 2 twists per centimetre. This means that Cat6 Cable better protects against Crosstalk. Another difference is the sheath thickness can be greater when comparing Cat6 with Cat5e. Many of the Category 6 cables actually have a Nylon Spine and also the mix of this spine along with the thicker sheath protect against Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Alien Crosstalk (AXT), which may increase as the frequency increases.
Most Ethernet Cables used are UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), because these would be the cables recommended for use between your peripheral devices like computers and the wall socket. STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) Cables are suggested to use for outdoor installations as well as cable runs inside internal walls.
Stranded cables are more flexible and so are more regularly useful for computer to wall socket and for general home network use, but often businesses usually choose to solid cables when it comes to the wiring inside walls and wiring ducts due to the superior strength and enhanced network performance.
In summary, Category 5 enhanced cables are sufficient for some applications for speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second, though if you anticipate the usage 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 will give enhanced protection against errors.
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