When you use Ethernet Cables, we hear the phrase CAT5e Cable and CAT6 Cable, so what is the difference? Both these cables are called twisted pair copper cable, both of them have 8 individual insulated copper wires and are normally terminated with an RJ-45 connector. What is the big deal?

The main Ethernet data standards used copper coaxial cable to transfer data around the early packet switched networks.

10Base5

10Base5 networks used fairly stiff 0.375 inch, 50 ohm impedance coaxial cable, and it was often characterised by its Creamy Yellow external insulated coating. It had been often connected to the wall similar to a Dado Rail and was called Thick Ethernet. It turned out designed to pass Ethernet signals at 10 Mbps over the maximum distance of 500 metres, which may be extended approximately 2500 metres using 4 repeaters.

10Base2

10Base2 networks utilised 50 ohm impedance coaxial cable that was much thinner and much more flexible than 10Base5, nevertheless the Ethernet signals were still made to be transmitted over this medium at 10 Mbps, albeit more than a much shorter distance of approximately 185 metres, that may be extended as much as 925 metres with the addition of 4 repeaters. Both 10Base5 and 10Base2 standards have grown to be largely obsolete and twisted pair cable is now the regular wired network medium.

Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable

10BaseT was created in early 1980s also it mainly used Category 3 cable for transmissions up to 10 Mbs over distances as much as 100 metres. Ethernet standards evolved to feature faster data rate transmission and the 10BaseTx 100 Mbps and 1000Baset 1000 Mbps standards were introduced. Cat3 cable was no longer had sufficient bandwidth response to cope with these faster technologies and so the Cat5 and Cat5e cable standards were introduced which allowed data speeds at around 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively. The first Cat5 standard was acceptable for the 100BaseTx transmissions but was quickly superseded by Cat5e because 1000BaseT standard became commonplace.

So what exactly is the difference between CAT5e and CAT6 Cable? Well the cables are constructed in the same way with 4 copper pairs, making 8 wires as a whole. Each pair of wires are colour coded and twisted around the other person to help reduce Crosstalk. The Cat5e cable is rated approximately 100Mhz and supports up to 1 Gigabit Ethernet, and the Cat6 cable is rated approximately 250Mhz and will support 10 Gigabit Ethernet signals.

Cat6 Ethernet Cable has over 2 twists per centimetre whereas Cat5e Ethernet Cable merely has 1.5 to 2 twists per centimetre. This means that Cat6 Cable better protects against Crosstalk. Another difference is the sheath thickness is also greater when you compare Cat6 with Cat5e. A few of the Category 6 cables also have a Nylon Spine along with the mix of this spine and also the thicker sheath protect against Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Alien Crosstalk (AXT), which may increase since the frequency increases.

Most Ethernet Cables available are UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), because they would be the cables recommended to be utilized involving the peripheral devices such as computers along with the wall socket. STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) Cables are recommended to be used for outdoor installations as well as for cable runs inside internal walls.

Stranded cables will be more flexible and are more often useful for computer to wall socket as well as general home network use, but often businesses usually prefer the solid cables with regards to the wiring inside walls and wiring ducts because superior strength and 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 anticipate the usage of 10 Gbps Ethernet in the foreseeable future then Category 6 cable will future proof your investment. Also Category 6 cable, even with the 1 Gbps speeds will give enhanced protection against errors.

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