Ethernet cables are almost everywhere these days. As the world grows to become more united and networked, these cables are starting to see more use. They connect terminals to the necessary hardware that links them to the greater network. Of course, with technology moving forward all the time and new developments starting to outstrip existing hardware, it’s no surprise that the standards for these cables are also changing.

Cat-5, along with its sister Cat-5e, is basically the standard for ethernet cables. However, they are slowly being phased out in favor of a new type. This new cable, Cat-6, is touted as an upgrade to the existing hardware and better suited for modern networking needs. So what, exactly, is Cat-6 and what does it mean for the average user?

An Overview of Cat-6

First, let’s take a closer look at what these ots cables are. Category 6 (Cat-6) is a new standard in ethernet cables, as defined by both the Telecommunications Industry Association and the Electronic Industries Association. It’s numbered six because it is the sixth generation of cables that use twisted pairs to provide better transmissions and signals. Like Cat-5, it’s going to see use in homes and offices.

For those concerned about upgrading, it should be noted that Cat-6 is backward compatible with older hardware. The connectors are the same, so they can be plugged into the old devices. It also supports the same frequencies and speeds as older Cat-5 cables.

Improvements Over Cat-5

Category 6 provides support for much higher speeds. They’re built to handle the gigabit rates that modern networks will process since Cat-5 is not ready to handle 1GB/s data rates. Cat-6 can handle connections over a limited distance, reaching only 164 feet maximum per single cable. In that regard, it is no different from its predecessors.

Cat-6 also still contains copper wires divided into four pairs, all of them twisted. The data transfer rates use all the pairs to transmit signals, allowing for a higher level of performance. As noted, they still rely on the same RJ45 connectors and are identified by text printed on the insulating jacket.

What’s Cat-6a?

Now, some of you might have heard about Cat-6a. This is Category 6 Augmented, a related standard that is meant to improve the standards used by other Cat-6 cables.

Cat-6a enables the same 10 Gigabit data standard over a single cable but can be laid down longer without a signal repeater. You can lay them down up to 328 feet, compared to the shorter length of Cat-6. These cables also boast better performance in terms of data transmission, as well as having slightly thicker jacketing. They still rely on the same connectors and are otherwise harder to differentiate on visual inspection.

The Industry Situation

It sounds like Cat-6 is a strict upgrade over Cat-5. In many ways, that is an accurate statement. But let’s take a moment to look into things in a little more depth.

It’s no secret that Cat-6 came about as part of the historical trend in Ethernet design to move forward. They are always trying to come up with a new standard, a new and better level of performance. It was only natural that eventually, the Cat-5 standard would be replaced by something better.

Cat-6 vs Cat5e

Cat-5e still rivals Cat-6 in prevalence. This upgraded standard did contain improvements that eventually became part of 6 but still had higher chances of crosstalk. In particular, it uses four pairs of wires, rather than the standard two used in Cat-5. It is a cheaper alternative if you’re upgrading, though it doesn’t have as much power and speed as Cat-6.

For the time being, Cat-5e is more popular. It came out first and offers a level of performance that most would deem acceptable outside of niches that require more power and bandwidth. It is also more affordable, so it’s an attractive choice for people conducting upgrades. However, the industry is looking to transition away from it and to full adoption of Cat-6, as this new type is better prepared for future development and provides faster speeds.

Flaws

Of course, even if it is a strict upgrade, Cat-6 isn’t perfect. Switching to it won’t solve all of your network issues, and there are limitations to the technology. For instance, Cat-6 cables do have length limitations and exceeding those means loss of signal strength. In many cases, the cable loses transmission strength before you reach the full length, so maximizing that distance is not recommended.

The speed of the transmission is also a limiting factor. Electrical signals are fast enough for home and office applications, but not in an industrial context. For that, you need something that is both faster and less likely to be affected by electromagnetic interference. While shielding the cables can work, a better preventative measure is to use other categories of ethernet cable better suited to those needs.

Conclusion

Category 6 cables are here to stay, and the industry wants them to become the new standard. Their performance and specifications are a strict upgrade, though they still have their limitations. However, if you’re looking to set a new network or upgrade an existing one, using Cat-6 is a better long-term investment than Cat-5e.

Published: 2019-06-20 09:34:55