With the wave of digitization sweeping the world today, the internet has become an integral part of our lives, and the importance of network cables as the cornerstone of network connectivity cannot be overstated. Despite their similarity in appearance, network cables are actually categorized differently. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of several popular types of cables on the market, including Cat5e (Category 5), Cat6 (Category 6), Cat6a (Category 6) and Cat7 (Category 7), aiming to provide you with a practical guide when choosing a cable.
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Network Cable Classification and Selection
Overview and Importance
Network cable, also known as network patch cable or twisted pair cable, often goes hand in hand with RJ45 crystal head, and is widely used in the field of local area network by virtue of its affordable price. It is also an indispensable transmission medium in integrated cabling.
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Cat5e vs Cat6 Comparison
Cat5e and Cat6 network cables have a lot in common in terms of functionality, as they both utilize RJ-45 plugs and can be easily plugged into the Ethernet jacks of computers, routers, and other devices. However, there are also significant differences between these two network cables, as detailed in the comparison table below:
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As you can see from the comparison table above, Cat5e cables are mainly suitable for Gigabit Ethernet, with a transmission distance of up to 100 meters, and can support a transmission speed of 1000Mbps. Cat6 cables, on the other hand, are capable of delivering transmission rates of up to 10Gbps within a bandwidth of 250MHz. It is worth noting that while both Cat5e and Cat6 cables have a maximum transmission distance of 100 meters, Cat6 cables can reach up to 55 meters in 10GBASE-T applications.
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TExploring further the performance differences between these two cables, we find that Cat6 cables have a built-in splitter, a design that effectively reduces signal interference or Near End Crosstalk (NEXT). Additionally, compared to Cat5e cables, Cat6 cables perform better in terms of far-end crosstalk (ELFEXT) and also have lower return and insertion loss. Therefore, overall, Cat6 cables outperform Cat5e cables.
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