All You Need To Know About Cat6 Ethernet Cables

By Author: Jennifer Truong
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In this era of the fast internet, your old ethernet cable might not be sufficient to match the current speed of the internet. With advancements in technology, you can find a cable that is speedy and less noisy for your internet connection. Well, it can be a little difficult to choose from a wide range of cables available in the market.

If your basic requirement for network application is in Gigabits then you can install Cat6 ethernet cables.

Cat6 ethernet cables are popular in the market these days. Let's understand Cat6 cables in detail.

What is Cat6 Cable?
Category 6, shortly called Cat6 is an ethernet cable standard defined by Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and Electronic Industries Association (EIA). Cat6 cable consists of four twisted pairs of copper wires surrounded by insulation material. These wires are tightly twisted together for reducing crosstalk. The termination or end of these cable is either by RJ45, patch, or keystone jack. The maximum speed of Cat6 network cable is 10Gbps with a bandwidth of 250 ...
... Hz. The maximum length of Cat6 cable is 100 meters.

Different Types of Cat6 Cables
Cat6 cables can be divided into different types based on specifications. In terms of shielding types, there are shielded and unshielded twisted pair Cat6 cables. In terms of copper conductors used, there are solid and stranded Cat6 cables available. Let us have a look at them.

Shielded and Unshielded
In shielded twisted pair cable (STP), individual wire pairs are wrapped in a foil. These pairs are again wrapped in foil or mesh shield to provide double protection. This shielding will prevent electromagnetic interface (EMI). It also prevents other technical issues that can comprise the integrity of the signal. These cables are ideal for high speed networks like data centers. Thus shielded Cat6 cables are suitable for running cables outdoors or inside the walls or places with high interference.

In an unshielded twisted pair cable (UTP), each pair of wires is twisted together. These wires are then wrapped in a tube without any other protection. Here the wires are twisted to reduce noise and cross talks. These cables are less expensive than shielded cables. You can use unshielded Cat6 cables between your computer and wall.

Solid vs Stranded
A solid cable has one copper wire for each electrical conductor. Solid cables are not flexible but are more durable. So, they are used for permanent installations, outdoors, and inside walls.

A stranded cable has a series of copper wires twisted together. They are more flexible. They can be used at a desk or anywhere where you need to move cable often. The length of solid cables should be kept less than 6 meters. It is mainly used for connecting network interface cards (NICs) and outlets or between concentrators and hubs, panels, etc.

Where to Use It
Cat6 ethernet cables can be used for enterprise networks, labs, home network installations, etc. It has the potential to enable higher speed and more data transfer and less cross talk. Cat6 is slightly expensive compared to cat5e. But Cat6 is more reliable as it is compatible with 60W and 90W Power over Ethernet technologies (PoE) in the market.

Compatibility
You can easily upgrade from Cat5e to

Jennifer Truong is the owner of SF Cable, a California based online retailer of all kind of cables, wires, cords, and other related accessories for computers and other consumer electronics. SF Cable is well known in the market for providing high-quality products at low prices by sourcing them directly from manufacturers. Jennifer has extensive experience in the cable industry and has been instrumental in the growth of SF Cable and in establishing it as one of the leading providers of cables online.