Ethernet cables are the unsung heroes in the world of connectivity for pacing up the speed of networking. But why do wired cables are the main reason for fast data transmission? I am sure you all are familiar with the category cables (Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a) but you still need to understand the internal structure of the cables to know the right need to get the maximum data transfer rates.
In this blog, you will learn about the top three category cables and the different aspects of the cables when, why, and how to choose them.
What Is An Ethernet Cable?
Bulk ethernet cables are the demand for major installation needs within the residential, commercial, and industrial setups. These are the protocols that are used to connect the local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN).
The most famous ethernet cables are Cat5e cable, cat6 cable, and Cat6a cable respectively. As we move on to the cable category you will see an upgrade in speed, bandwidth, and the inner structure of the cable.
The more authentic use of wired cables is they are not easily compromised, are secure, and maintain the speed if installed accordingly. The main medium to transfer data is through electric current.
What Are The Types Of Ethernet Cables?
There are three types of ethernet cables
- Coaxial Cable — first ever to be used for internet
- Fiber Optic Cables — Highly secured and fastest than copper cables
- Twisted Pair Cables — made up of copper and CCA conductor to provide you best signal transmission.
What Kind Of Cable Cat5e Is?
The cat5e cable is considered the first-ever gigabit cable to deliver the gigabit speed and cater to the first demand for fast ethernet (100 Mbps) Another major feature of the cable is it gives you 1000 Mbps speed over 50 meters. The maximum bandwidth you will get is 350 MHz. Bulk ethernet cables are in high demand.
The Cat5e internal structure is highly secured as it features twisted pairs that are ideal for streamlining the data transmission speed. These twisted pairs are made up of Copper and CCA to choose according to their performance and cost-effective nature. Furthermore, the cat5e cable comes with a riser and plenum jacket.
Cat5e riser cable is to be used when you need to install cable to the vertical shafts and where fire safety regulations are minimal. Similarly, the indoor cat5e plenum cable is used where fire safety is mandated to use plenum-rated cables.
The selection of Copper or CCA plenum or riser cable is dependent on the consumer’s choice. For seamless and best safety cat5e plenum copper cables are recommended. When you need to purchase ethernet cable go for the best conductor and outer jacket.
Where To Use Cat6 Cable?
The bulk ethernet cable — Cat6 is the next and upgraded option for many users who are in search of high-speed and reliable cable options. The cat6 cable is also made up of copper or CCA conductor to make a variance in price. Thecable’se internal structure is quite improved as indicated by its 5-6 twists per inch zigzag pattern. It also has the spline to cancel the pair-to-pair crosstalk.
The bulk cat6 cable also comes with both Plenum and Riser. The Cat6 plenum cable with copper conductor is an expensive option but with the speed and fire safety precautions the cable is quite useful to carry gigabit speed. With Cat6 riser copper it is mandated to use where fire safety precautions are to the minimum.
The Cat6 plenum cable has the best speed ratings of 1 Gbps over 100 meters and 10 Gbps speed over 50 meters. The ideal length for installation is 100 meters and you need to maintain this length to keep your signal integrity intact.
The Cat6 plenum cable is good for plenum shafts and airy spaces in the buildings. The Cat6 riser bulk cable can be used inside the walls or the conduit. The plenum and riser both are marked as indoor jackets.
Why Cat6a Cable Is Best Above All?
Buy Ethernet Cable for your residential, commercial, and Industrial needs. The cat6a cable is the best among all previous ethernet cables. This augmented category cable is used to enhance and future-proof the cabling infrastructure.
The cable has 6-7 twists per inch tight twisted pairs as compared to the Cat6 cable. So it is more improved to reduce the crosstalk and signal interference. The speed of this cable is constant at longer and shorter lengths — 10 Gbps. The Cat6a cable marked its bandwidth maximum of 750 MHz. ideal for PoE and 4K/8K video streaming.
Moreover, the cable has the same specs as previous ethernet cables: the outer jacket — plenum, and riser. Cat6a cable mostly comes with a pure copper conductor as CCA is less reliable and only for shorter lengths.
Cat6a plenum cables with pure copper conductors are quite an expensive but durable option for your cabling solution. Buying a Cat6 ethernet cable will solve all your server and speed issues. These are some of the important factors that you should know.
- The cable should meet the server’s requirements
- Gigabit speed is achievable but with limited speed offered by ISP, you won’t get the top quality.
- The cat6a overkills with older server equipment.
- The cable is expensive if you are not sure about future upgrades to 10 Gbps speed Cat6 is more than enough.
Similarly, the Cat6a riser cable is the simplest and also cost-effective cable compared to the cat6a plenum 1000 ft cable or Shielded cat6 Plenum Bare Copper Cable which is the premium one. The cat6a riser cable is for vertical shafts of the buildings no matter if you are buying a high-quality cable does not mean you can easily use this cable for plenum spaces.
Where To Buy High-Quality Ethernet Cables?
Buying Ethernet cables is everyone’s need, but quality cable is the demand for every consumer. How you can buy quality ethernet cable either from an online source or the retail store near your home or office.
If you purchase ethernet cable online you must read the feedback column as it will give you some idea of whether to pursue the buying or not. Second, you must choose the right cable as per your server speed demands. Do go with high-category cable or it will not work properly as your speed is restricted and does not meet the standards.
Buying ethernet cable is so easy and after knowing the right type of cable you only need to place an order or choose the color to match your requirements.
Final Thoughts
The debate about bulk ethernet cables is quite interesting as it will give you an idea about the specs of the ethernet cables and offer you ease in purchasing ethernet cables for your office needs or residential needs.
The top category cables cat5e, cat6, and cat6a are in high demand but one should understand the limitations and the potential to use these cables for your personal needs.
