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Ethernet Cable Categories

The document discusses different categories of Ethernet cables, including Category 3, 5, 5e, 6, 6a, 7, and 8. Each category has different capabilities and use cases, with higher categories supporting faster speeds and longer transmission distances but being more expensive and rigid.

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Ganesh Bhoir
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86 views2 pages

Ethernet Cable Categories

The document discusses different categories of Ethernet cables, including Category 3, 5, 5e, 6, 6a, 7, and 8. Each category has different capabilities and use cases, with higher categories supporting faster speeds and longer transmission distances but being more expensive and rigid.

Uploaded by

Ganesh Bhoir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ethernet Cable Categories

There are many Ethernet cable options available, and each one of them has its unique
purpose and use. Therefore, It is important to understand each cable and its application if
you want to acquire in-depth knowledge about the types of Ethernet cables. You need to
choose the higher quality cable, which will be stronger, faster, and a better fit for your
specific needs.

However, depending on your hardware, you can select your below given ethernet cabling
category.

Category-3
Cat3 cable is an earlier generation of cable, which supports a maximum frequency of 16
MHz. This cable may have 2, 3, or 4 copper pairs. Cat3 type of Ethernet cable is still used
for two-line telephone systems and 10BASE-T networks. It is also used for alarm system
installation or similar kinds of applications.

Category-5
These cables are slower compared to modern-day hardware requirements. So, you should
use this type of Cable only if you have older hardware that demands outdated hardware.

Category-5e
Cat5e is one of the most popular cabling types of an ethernet cable used for deployments
because of its ability to support Gigabit speeds at a cost-effective price.

Cat 5e can support up to 1000 Mbps speeds, which is flexible enough for small space
installations. Therefore, it is widely used in residential areas. Cat5e is one of the least
expensive cabling options available in the market.4

Category-6
Cat6 cabling support up to 10 Gbps and frequencies of up to 250 MHz. These types of
cables are more tightly twisted and feature two or more twists per centimeter. It only
supports 37-55 meters when transmitting 10 Gbps speeds.

Category-6a
Cat6a ethernet cable supports bandwidth frequencies of up to 500 MHz. Cat6a cabling is
thicker compared to Cat6, making it less flexible. That is why it is more suited for industrial
environments at a lower price point.

Category-7
Cat7 has the ability to transmit up to 40 Gb at 50 meters and 100 Gb at 15 meters. This type
of ethernet cable offers extensive shielding to decrease signal attenuation. It is relatively stiff
in comparison to previous generations of cabling.
Cat7 type of Cable is suited for use in Datacenters and large enterprise networks. However,
Cat7 has not been approved as a cable standard for telecommunications.

Category-8
Category 8 cable is designed for operations of up to 2000 MHz. CAT8 cables work with
25/40GBASE-T Gigabit Ethernet; this reduces power consumption and is designed for
bandwidth-intensive data center applications.

This type of Cable is ideal to use where the distances between units are short. CAT8 cables
are backward compatible with previous Categories of ethernet cables.

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