Skip to main content

Cat5E vs. Cat6 vs. Cat6A - Which Ethernet Cable Should You Choose?


Which Ethernet cable to choose between Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A is one of the most common questions cabling technicians get. Understandably, there is a lot of confusion in the market about which cable is the best and why. Some installers even end up arguing against each other and often take strong stands on which cable is the best.

Ultimately all three cables - Cat5E, Cat6, and Cat6A use an RJ-45 end. This enables you to plug into the same Ethernet jack on your computer, switches, and routers. Each cable has its proper place and application. Let us talk about differences now.

Pricing

The first most notable difference between these three cables is price. Cat6 costs roughly 30% more than Cat5E, and Cat6A costs 30% more than Cat6. Plenum adds 30% over non-plenum. Shielded cabling (STP) adds roughly 30-40% more over unshielded (UTP) cabling. This means if your Cat5E installation is quoted at $10,000, then the same job with Cat6A may be $16,000. Thus, cost itself might be the #1 limiting factor while choosing a cable type for many clients.

However, price is not the only factor to consider. Below are some more technical differences

Technical Differences

Cat5E has been around for over 15 years. When it first came out, it gave the first glimpse of the possibility of the 1 Gigabit networks. Also, it was not typical to find hardware reasonably priced that can support those speeds. In the past few years, costs of hardware have come down, allowing Gigabit networking to become easier to afford. Many experts suggest the absolute minimum network should be a Gigabit network. The Cat5E cables are typically 24 gauge twisted pair wires that can produce a Gigabit network at distances up to 328 ft. It includes patch cables at both ends.

Speed

Cat6 cables came to the market only a few years after Cat5E. This cable has the ability to have a 10 Gigabit network. For most of the 2000s, Cat5E ran the workstations, and Cat6 ran as a backbone from router to switches. Although, the 10 Gigabit network on Cat6 cables has a limit of 164 ft., including patch cables. So, after that distance, its ultimate speed becomes the same as Cat5E, i.e. 1 Gigabit.

Beyond the distance and speed factor, Cat6 has a tighter twist in the cables. This allows for two-way communication on each pair of wires. Whereas Cat5E does not allow this feature. Cat5E cables possess a tendency to have a higher delay and skew than that of Cat6 cable. This means that even though both Cat5e and Cat6 cables can do 1 Gigabit networks, Cat5E cable may have a longer delay for the signal to get from one side to the other than Cat6 cables. This will make Cat5E appear slower.

Cat6A size is of 23 gauge, thus it is thicker than Cat6, which in turn is thicker than Cat 5. Partly, this is because of the extra-thick plastic around the wires themselves and partly because of the tighter winding of the pairs themselves, which creates more copper per inch. Cat6A can do 10 Gigabit per second networking for the full distance of Ethernet that is 328 ft. Cat6A reduces the crosstalk among the pairs. This further reduces the delay in the cables.

Performance

If you are looking for a cable that can provide good connection performance to you in the future, then Cat6A cables are the ideal choice. It will give you the best performance at greater distances. However, if you have no cables over 120-150 feet, then Cat6 will also provide you the option for 10 Gigabit networks.

Many companies are placing their servers on the cloud. So, if everything you do is on the cloud, and you need little internal networking, then your limiting factor would be the speed of your internet and not the type of cable. Thus, Cat5E will achieve faster connections than your Internet speed. Some of the companies may have higher demands for internal speed. Applications like video and audio processing/editing, AutoCAD, file transfers, SQL databases, and even roaming profiles on domain controllers can all benefit greatly by having Cat6A cables, including 10 Gigabit networking.

Conclusion

I hope this article was helpful to clear your confusion about which cable suits your requirements and purpose the best. The choices come down to what you will do in the end, how long you will be at your current building, and of course, your budget. You should especially keep your speed requirements in mind while choosing one because that is the main difference between all three.

SOURCE:
https://www.sooperarticles.com/business-articles/networking-articles/cat5e-vs-cat6-vs-cat6a-ethernet-cable-should-you-choose-1821369.html

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is the Difference between C13 and C15 Power Cords?

There is an array of power cords available in the market. It can get quite perplexing to choose the one that will fit your needs. In order to know more about them, you must have more information about these cords. This article will acquaint you with   IEC C13   and   IEC C15   power cords   and how they are different from each other. But before that, let us understand what IEC is. IEC stands for International Electrotechnical Commission. Every cord is standardized by IEC before it is introduced in the market. These cords use the letter “C” which is followed by the number in their cords. Let’s get back to understanding the difference between IEC-C13 and C15 connectors. Some of them are mentioned below. Difference of a Notch One of the most apparent differences between the two connectors is the notch on C15 connector. Although C15 looks quite similar to C13, it has a little groove opposite the earth. The IEC-C15 connectors also work in the C14 outlets. B...

Power Splitter vs. Extension Cord: Which One Is Right for You

Power distribution is a crucial aspect of managing electrical devices efficiently. When faced with the need to connect multiple devices to a single power source, two popular options come to mind: power splitters and extension cords. Understanding the differences between these two solutions is essential to ensuring optimal power management and safety. In this article, we will explore the features, applications, and considerations associated with power cord splitters and extension cords, helping you make an informed decision on which one is right for your specific needs. Power Splitters: Unleashing Versatility  Power splitters, also known as cord splitters or power cable splitters, are designed to divide a single power source into multiple outlets. These devices allow you to connect several devices simultaneously, expanding the number of electrical connections available. Power cord splitters come in various configurations, including three-way, four-way, and even more complex ...

Fiber Optic Cables Vs Ethernet Cables: What Is the Difference?

Wi-Fi is like love. Always in the air and ready to connect you with the fascinating digital world. But ever wondered what keeps it in the air? Well, just like any relationship has a foundation of understanding, a wireless network has a fiber cabling underneath that helps people to connect with the internet anytime they want to. The other most popularly used cable type is Ethernet cables. They are used everywhere right from IP camera technologies to LED lighting. These cables are quite cheaper as compared to fiber cables; but when one wants to have a huge and powerful network cable , fiber cables become necessary. Both the cables have their advantages and disadvantages, specialties, and limitations. Through this blog, we will differentiate between the two and try to understand both in details: History of Fiber & Ethernet Cables The fiber optic technology was first used in 1969 when NASA sent it to the moon for use in television cameras. And a company named Xerox developed Eth...