Not
all Ethernet cables are created equally. They are grouped into
sequentially numbered categories (“cat”) based on different
specifications. Generally, there are Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6a, Cat 7
cables, etc. What are the differences between these different kinds of
Ethernet cables? And how to choose the suitable one for your network?
This article will provide some information about what should be
considered when choosing.
Characteristics of Different Cables
Before choosing the Ethernet cables, we should first know the characteristics of each kind of Ethernet cable.
Cat
5 cables are designed to support theoretical speed of between 10 Mbps
and 100 Mbps. However, gigabit speeds can still be attained with Cat 5
cable particularly if the cable is shorter, but is not always a
guarantee. It supports a bandwidth of up to 100 MHz. The “e” in Cat 5e
stands for “enhanced” and as the name suggests, it is basically an
improvement on Cat 5 cables. In theory, it should be ten times faster
than the Cat 5 cables without a substantial price increase. It supports
up to 1000 Mbps or gigabit speeds. The Cat 5e cables have lower crosstalk and provide a faster, reliable and steady speed than Cat 5 cable.
Cat 6
cables have more stringent specifications than Cat 5e cables and are
capable of supporting 10 Gbps. They have slighter thicker wires, and the
cores are more tightly twisted together. This means the cables are
thicker and less flexible than Cat 5e cables. The Cat 6 cables are
recommended for large organizations which deal with pretty bulk files.
For home purposes, Cat 5 and Cat 5e are positively enough. Cat 6a
cables have improved properties and can operate at 500 MHz and can
support 10 Gbps to a maximum distance of 328 feet. It should be noted
that cable termination requirements for Cat 6 and Cat 6a cables are
stringent, and the cables require better protection than Cat 5e cables.
Cat 7
cables feature even more strict specifications for crosstalk and system
noise than Cat 6. And shielding have been added for individual wire
pairs on the Cat 7 cables. They have been designed for Gigabit Ethernet
over 100 m of copper cabling, and they are rated for transmission
frequencies of up to 600 MHz. Cat 7a cables operate at frequencies up to
1000 Mhz. They are designed for multiple applications in a single cable
including 40G, 100G and CATV. The transmission distance can be up to 50
m for 40G, and 15 m for 100G.
Factors to Consider
Following
lists two factors that should be considered when choosing the cables,
which are STP/UTP cables and solid/stranded cables.
STP or UTP
STP
(shielded twisted pair) cables simply have additional shielding
material that is used to cancel any external interference that may be
introduced at any point in the path of the cable. UTP (unshielded
twisted pair) cables have no protection against such interference and
its performance is often degraded in its presence. But both of them have
interference canceling capacities.
Typically,
using STP cables ensures that you can get the maximum bandwidth from
your cabling even if the external condition is less than ideal. STP
cables work by attracting interference to the shield, then running it
off into a grounded cable. If the cable is improperly grounded, then its
noise-canceling capabilities are severely compromised. Additionally,
STP cables have bigger diameter than UTP cables, and they are more
expensive. Besides, they are more fragile as the shield must be kept
intact to ensure them work properly. STP cables are commonly used in
industrial settings with high amounts of electromagnetic interference,
such as a factory with large electronic equipment, where they can be
properly installed and maintained. They can also be used in outdoor
environments where the cables are exposed to the elements and man-made
structures and equipment that may introduce additional interference.
UTP
cables are smaller than STP cables, which makes them easier to install,
particularly in bulk or in narrow spaces. They do not require the
presence of a grounding cable and do not require much maintenance, but
transmit data as fast as STP cables. Generally, UTP cables are more
prone to noise than properly installed and maintained STP cables. They
are more prevalent and popular used in domestic and office Ethernet
connections, and in any area where there is not a high degree of
electromagnetic interference.
Solid or Stranded
Both
solid and stranded Ethernet cables refer to the actual copper conductor
in the pairs. The solid cable uses one solid wire per conductor, so in a
standard Cat 5e or Cat 6 four pair (8 conductor) roll, there would be a
total of 8 solid wires. Stranded cable uses multiple wires wrapped
around each other in each conductor, so in a 4 pair (8 conductor) 7
strand roll (typical configuration), there would be a total of 56 wires.
Solid
cables are most useful for structured wiring within a building. They
can be easily punched down onto wall jacks and patch panels as they have
only one conductor. The wire seats properly into insulation
displacement connector. Solid cables are less useful when you are
terminating with standard RJ45 connectors, as used when making patch
cables. Most RJ45 connectors use 2 prongs which penetrate the conductor
itself. This is not desirable, since solid cable has the tendency to
break when penetrated by the prong. Using a 3 prong style RJ45
connectors creates a much better connection as it doesn’t break the
conductor—the 3 prongs style connection wraps around the conductor
instead of penetrating it. It is recommended that stranded network cable
be used for patch cables as they make better quality RJ45 termination
connections than even using 3 prong connectors.
Stranded
cables are much less useful for punching down on wall jacks because the
strands do not keep their perfect round shape when thrust into a
insulation displacement connector. For best results, use solid for wall
jacks and stranded for crimp connectors. Stranded cable is typically
used to create patch cables. The cable itself is more flexible, and
rolls up well. The RJ45 terminators have a better, and more flexible and
complete connection to stranded wires than solid wire.
Summary
Be
sure to make clear of every kind of Ethernet cables and take each of
the factors above into account before finally selecting the one for your
home or business project. Hope the information in this article could be
helpful or a guide for you when you are confused about which Ethernet
cable to choose.
Originally published: www.fiberopticshare.com/guide-choosing-suitable-ethernet-cables.html
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