SUPER LINK OPTICAL FIBER CO., LTD
Fiber Optic Cable
Active Optical Components
×
SUPER LINK OPTICAL FIBER CO., LTD
Difference between CAT5e and CAT6
Views: 101 Author: Publish Time: 2024-04-03
Not all Ethernet cable is created equally. What's the difference, and how do you know which you should use? Let's look at Ethernet cable categories' technical and physical differences to help us decide.
Ethernet cables are grouped into sequentially numbered categories ("cat") based on different specifications; sometimes, the variety is updated with further clarification or testing standards (e.g., 5e, 6a). These categories are how we can quickly know what type of network cable we need for a specific application.
Network cable manufacturers must adhere to the standards, making our lives easier.
What are the differences between the categories, and how can you know when to use unshielded, shielded, stranded, or solid cable?
Keep reading for "cat"-like enlightenment.
The differences in network cable specifications are not as easy to see as physical changes, so let’s look at what each category does and does not support. Below is a chart for reference when picking cable for your application based on the standards for that category.
As the category number increases, so does the speed and Mhz of the wire. This is not a coincidence because each category brings more stringent testing for eliminating crosstalk (XT) and adding isolation between the wires.
This does not mean your experiences have been the same. You can use Cat-5 cable for 1 Gb speeds, and I have personally used lines longer than 100 meters, but because the standard has not been tested for it, you’ll probably have mixed results. Just because you have Cat-6 cable doesn’t mean you have 1 Gb network speeds. Every connection in your network needs to support the 1 Gb speed; in some cases, the link will need to be told in software to use the available rate.
Category 5 cable was revised and mostly replaced with Category 5 Enhanced (Cat-5e) cable, which did not change anything physically in the line but applied more stringent testing standards for crosstalk.
Category 6 was revised with Augmented Category 6 (Cat-6a), which provided testing for 500 Mhz communication (compared to Cat-6’s 250 Mhz). The higher communication frequency eliminated alien crosstalk (AXT), which allows for a more extended range at 10 Gb/s.
So how does a physical cable eliminate interference and allow for faster speeds? It does it through wire twisting and isolation. Alexander Graham Bell invented cable twisting in 1881 for use on telephone wires that were run alongside power lines. He discovered that twisting the cable every 3-4 utility poles reduced the interference and increased the range. Twisted pairs became the basis for all Ethernet cables to eliminate interference between internal wires (XT) and external wires (AXT).
There are two main physical differences between Cat-5 and Cat-6 cables, the number of twists per cm in the wire and sheath thickness.
Cable twisting length is not standardized, but typically there are 1.5-2 twists per cm in Cat-5(e) and 2+ twists per cm in Cat-6. Within a single cable, each colored pair will also have different twist lengths based on prime numbers so that no two twists ever align. The amount of twists per pair is usually unique for each cable manufacturer. As you can see in the above picture, no two teams have the same amount of twists per inch.
Many Cat-6 cables also include a nylon spline which helps eliminate crosstalk. Although the spline is not required in Cat-5 cable, some manufacturers have it anyway. In Cat-6 cable, the spline is not required as long as the cable tests according to the standard. The Cat-5e cable is the only one with a spline in the picture above.
While the nylon spline helps reduce crosstalk in the wire, the thicker sheath protects against near-end crosstalk (NEXT) and alien crosstalk (AXT), which both occur more often as the frequency (Mhz) increases. In this picture, the Cat-5e cable has the thinnest sheath, but it was the only one with the nylon spline.
When telephone lines were first deployed alongside power lines, Alexander Graham Bell, popularly known as the inventor of the telephones, was the first person to twist copper pairs to reduce crosstalk between the lines—twisting the copper cable every 3-4 utility poles allowed for the reduction of electromagnetic interference and an increase in range. Ethernet copper cables adopted the same technique to reduce crosstalk between internal wires (XT) and external wires (AXT).
Shielded (STP) vs. Unshielded (UTP)
Because all Ethernet cables are twisted, manufacturers use shielding to protect the cable from further interference. Unshielded twisted pairs can easily be used for cables between your computer and the wall, but you will want to use shielded cables for areas with high interference and running cables outdoors or inside walls.
Zion Communication will give professional answer for you.
There are several different varieties of Ethernet cable that can be obtained: speed variations, crossover cables, Cat 5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7 etc..
Cat5 Ethernet introduced 10/100 Mbps Ethernet over distances of up to 100 meters, also known as Fast Ethernet. Even though some older deployments still use CAT5 cable, it is now considered obsolete and has since been replaced by Cat5e.
NOTE: 100 Mbps /100m.
Cat-5e: This form of cable is recognized by the TIA/EIA and is defined in TIA/EIA-568, last revised in 2001. It has a slightly higher frequency specification than the Cat-5 cable, as the performance extends up to 125 Mbps. Cat5e cable can be used for 100Base-T and 1000Base-t (Gigabit Ethernet). Cat 5e standard for Cat 5 enhanced, and it is a form of Cat 5 cable manufactured to higher specifications although physically the same as Cat 5. It is tested to a higher specification to ensure it can perform at higher data speeds. The twisted pairs within the cables tend to have the same level of twisting as the Cat 5 cables.
NOTE: 100-250Mhz/1 Gbps/100m.
Cat-6: This cable is defined in TIA/EIA-568-B and significantly improves performance over Cat5 and Cat 5e. Cat 6 cables are more tightly wound during manufacture than Cat 5 or Cat 5e and often have an outer foil or braided shielding. The shielding protects the twisted pairs of wires inside the Cat 6 ethernet cable, helping to prevent crosstalk and noise interference. Cat-6 cables can technically support speeds up to 10 Gbps but can only do so for up to 55 meters.
NOTE: 250-500Mhz/10 Gbps /100m.
Cat-6a: The “a” in Cat 6a stands for “Augmented,” and the standard was revised in 2008. The Cat 6a cables can support twice the maximum bandwidth and are capable of maintaining higher transmission speeds over longer cable lengths. Cat 6a ethernet cables utilize shielded, which is sufficient to all but eliminate crosstalk. However, this makes them less flexible than Cat 6 cable.
NOTE: 250-500Mhz/10 Gbps /100m.
Cat-7 is an informal number for ISO/IEC 11801 Class F cabling. Cat7 ethernet cable comprises four individually shielded pairs inside an overall shield.
Cat7 cable is aimed at applications where transmission of frequencies up to 600 Mbps is required.
Note: 600Mhz/10Gbps/100m (40Gbps at 50m/100Gbps at 15m).
F/UTP– Foiled/Unshielded Twisted Pair
Common in Fast Ethernet deployments, this cable will have a foil shield that wraps around unshielded twisted pairs.
S/UTP– Braided Shielding/ Unshielded Twisted Pair
This cable will wrap a braided shield around unshielded twisted pairs.
SF/UTP– Braided Shielding+Foil/Unshielded Twisted Pairs
This cable braids a shield around a foil wrap to enclose unshielded twisted pairs.
S/FTP– Braided Shielding/Foiled Twisted Pair
This cable wraps a braided shield around all four copper pairs. Additionally, each twisted pair is enveloped in foil.
F/FTP-Foiled/Foiled Twisted Pair
This cable encloses all copper pairs in foil. Additionally, each twisted pair is enveloped in foil.
U/FTP-Unshielded/Foiled Twisted Pairs
This cable only envelopes the twisted pairs in foil.
U/UTP-Unshielded/UnshieldedTwisted Pair
No sheathing is used. Standard Cat5e cables are examples of U/UTP cables.
There are different ways to shield an Ethernet cable, but typically it involves putting a shield around each pair of wires in the cable. This protects the pairs from crosstalk internally. Manufacturers can further protect cables from alien crosstalk but screening UTP or STP cables. Technically the picture above shows a Screened STP cable (S/STP).
Solid and stranded Ethernet cables refer to the actual copper conductor in pairs. Solid cable uses a single piece of copper for the electrical conductor, while stranded uses a series of copper cables twisted together. There are many different applications for each type of conductor, but there are two main applications for each class you should know about.
l Stranded conductor: This type of wire is more flexible, and it is more applicable for Ethernet cables where the cable may be moved - often, it is an idea for patch leads at desks or general connections to PCs, etc., where some movement may be needed and expected.
l Solid conductor: Solid cable is not as flexible as the stranded type but is also more durable. This makes it best for use in permanent installations like cable installations under floors, embedded walls, and the like.
Outer insulation is typically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or low smoke zero halogen (LSOH)
| Example materials used as insulation in the cable | |
| Acronym | Material |
| PE | Polyethylene |
| FP | Foamed polyethylene |
| FEP | Fluorinated ethylene propylene |
| FFEP | Foamed fluorinated ethylene propylene |
| AD/PE | Air dielectric/polyethylene |
| LSZH or LS0H | Low smoke, zero halogen |
| LSFZH or LSF0H | Low smoke and fume, zero halogen |
Although the wiring and the cable manufacture details may vary between the different cable categories, the basic connectivity remains the same. In this way Ethernet cables can be used reliably to make connections between items of equipment, etc.
A summary of the signals carried and the relevant wires and connections is given in the table below:
Western Industrial Park, Yuqian Town, Linan City, Zhejiang Province, China
+8618657514717
jacky@chinasuperlink.com