More and more companies are moving towards work from home or adopting a hybrid work culture. Having an internet connection is a mandatory thing to have. Nowadays, we all use routers for WiFi connection as it is more convenient than dealing with cables. However, the WiFi connections can be unstable or may not reach the working table of your room. The walls or any other surface that comes in the way of the radiation, slows it down. No one likes when video calls buffer and you miss out on important information or your connection gets stuck in between your presentation.
To avoid all these, if you have a desk and you likely work on that then you must invest in wired connection. You can install the wire in a proper way so that it does not look messy and you have a clean organized desk. In this article, we will discuss all about wired connection or we can say ethernet cable that goes behind it. First let us understand what ethernet cables are and how they look.
What is an Ethernet Cable?
An ethernet cable is the most common internet cable useful in establishing wired connection. They have a specific length to function properly. For instance if the length of the cables is long then the signal will break as the possibility of interference increases. So, there are different types of cable that are made to fit different situations.
The ethernet cable is similar to phone cable but unlike phone cable they have 8 wires. Ethernet cables come in multiple colors, so that you can color code while using multiple wires. Such situations arise when you have multiple devices to connect with wired connections, like the office.
Types of Ethernet Cable
For a home connection, the most useful ethernet cables are Category 5 and Category 6. Most technicians also refer to these cables and here are the reasons why these cables are more famous.
1. Cat5e: Cat5e ethernet cables are the most popular kind of ethernet cables. They support gigabit speed and that too at a cost effective price. They support up to 1000 Mbps speed. This speed is enough when it comes to covering small spaces like residential areas. These cables are the least expensive option to install an ethernet cable.
2. Cat6a: Cat6a ethernet cables support bandwidth up to 500 MHz. These cables are thicker than cat6 its previous version but are more durable. This means that these cables are less flexible. If you have a higher bandwidth requirement than only you should invest in this cable.
List of Equipment Required for the Connection
We know that we need an ethernet cable, but there are also other equipment required for establishing the connection. Here are the other equipment that you will need.
1. Router: A router connects your modem through ethernet cable. It can provide connectivity to multiple devices. Routers have multiple ports to add multiple connections which is enough for home usage. For the office, you might require a switch.
2. Modem: The internet service provider usually provides modems when you sign up with them. It provides bidirectional communication between ISP and the devices connected to the network.
How to Connect Ethernet Cable to Your Device?
Most laptops have ethernet ports so you can simply plug it. The ethernet cables have RJ45 ports. But if your laptop does not have an ethernet port then you will require an extra accessory. There are adapters in the market that can convert USB-A and USB-C ports to the ethernet like connection. They are also available in different bandwidths. You can also invest in multi-port adaptors that have all these different ports. So, you will only need one for a different purpose.
Once you have plugged in your ethernet cable, the laptop or desktop will recognize it quickly. You should also ensure that the other end of the cables is plugged into the router or else you would not receive any pop up.
Limitation of Ethernet Cable
There are some limitations of ethernet cable, but if you design it wisely, it would not bother you much. The ethernet cables have maximum distance capacity which means that they can perform their best only up to a certain distance. After that the signal will break due to interference. It is advisable that both the ends should be close enough to avoid electrical interferences.
The maximum length of the Cat5e cable is 100 meters or 328 feet and the Cat6 ethernet cables can go up to 700 feet. Also, there are RJ45 connectors that have different types, some are compatible with solid cables and some are with stranded cables. So it is important to verify that before making a purchase. There are also cables that work for both stranded and solid.
Conclusion
The ethernet cables are the basic requirement everywhere if you want a stable connection. Gamers also invest in ethernet cables to avoid lags. If you wish to set up a proper wired connection, you can buy bulk cat5e cables. This way you will save more and can use cables at home and while traveling without disrupting your connection.
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