What Ethernet Cord Do You Need?

The Internet has become a necessity in today’s world for both architectural and other archival purposes. The converters help in getting a fast and stable connection for your devices so that you can download, upload and watch other materials without any interruption. However, since there are a lot of options out there, finding the best Ethernet cord that will suit your needs can be challenging. Fear not! In this guide, we are going to take you through the most basic and common ranges of Ethernet cables and their features, to help you make the right decision for your home or office network.

1. Cat 5e (Category 5e) Network Cable

Categories 5e are the most popular types of Ethernet cables and enable the transmission of data at a speed of up to 100 Mbps. It is convenient for simple connections, supporting simple data sharing needs such as web browsing and email sending/receiving as well as file transfers. Cat5e cables come in a variety of lengths with the standard measurements of 0.5m, 1m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m, 30m.

2. Cat6 or Category 6 Cabling or Ethernet Cable

Cat6 cables are new generation to Cat5e twisted pairs, capable of transmitting up to 1 Gbps (gigabits per second). They are designed for high-performance features like High-definition video streaming, online video games, and other data-intensive uses. It also means that Cat6 cables are more interference and crosstalk resistant thus making the connection more stable. Cat5e besides which they are also available in different lengths and types; shielded (STP) and unshielded (UTP).

3. Cat6a, also called Category 6a, is an Ethernet cable.

Cat6a is meant to carry 10 Gbps Ethernet speeds farther than Cat6, up to 100 meters, but Cat6 can only support up to 55 meters for the same speed. These cables are great for any working environment whether you're operating a business or a professional who needs the transfer of so much data without losing data quality. Here, Cat6a cables come in two types; the FST which is shielded and the UTP which is not shielded although the shielded type has better protection.

4. Cat7 (Category 7) Ethernet Cable

It is important therefore to understand that Cat7 cables are the newest and most efficient kind of Ethernet cables. They provide transmission speeds of up to 10Gbps and are designed for further upgrades to even higher capabilities. The key characteristic of Cat7 cables is the possibility of providing optimal performance at greater distances up to 100 meters only losing a few dB signal. For the record, they do not support earlier versions of Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6a cables. Cat7 cables also come in two varieties: shieldetwisteder pair (STP), and untwisted twisted pair (UTP), although STP offers better protection against crosstalk and interference.

5. Length Matters

Another factor that you need to consider when making your decisions for the Ethernet cable is the length of the cable. A long cable means that the more the signal travels through the cable the more it is lost and this is referred to as attenuation. As such in high bandwidth applications like 10G the recommended cable length should not exceed 25 meters to avoid signal attenuation. However, with CAS case scenarios demanding a lower speed of 100 Mbps or less, longer cables can be used without much compromise on performance.

6. Connectors

Ethernet cables are available in different types of connectors depending on your requirements. The most common types of connectors are:

• RJ45: This is the standard connector that is used with Cat 5E, Cat 6, Cat 6A and the Cat 7 cables. It also supports several other network devices such as switches, routers, NICsC and so on.
• T568A and T568B: These are the two wiring standards that are used in RJ45 connectors. These two interfaces contain eight pins, but the pins are positioned in a divergent manner. On the overall use of cab,l e it becomes necessary to make use of the wiring standard on both ends of the cable for fitting.

7. Final Thoughts

Thank you for reading this article on the types of Ethernet cables and their specifications, with this information, it is easy for you to select the right Ethernet cable to use. This must be remembered that although there is a need to look at the cable specifications, the length, connectors as well as compatibility must also be taken into consideration. Thus, if all these factors are considered, you will be able to get an effective Ethernet connection that will guarantee a high speed together with other factors.

Related Stories