There’s a saying in the wired networking industry, ‘you can either never go wrong with the best. Such is the case with the Cat6 Plenum ethernet cable. Since it is widely considered to be the best ethernet cable on the market, you can never go wrong with buying it over a Cat6 riser or any other ethernet cable. But what is it that makes this cable ‘the best? Why is it that it is better to buy the plenum Cat6 cable instead of the riser?
This blog explores these questions and we will provide 4 reasons why it’s better to buy a Cat6 plenum over the riser. Keep reading to find out.
Buying Cat6 Ethernet Cables
Buying a Cat6 ethernet cable is quite a tricky job if you are unsure which one to get. Simply because there are a multitude of these cables, choosing the right one becomes a hassle. The 1000ft Cat6 plenum and Cat6 riser are two of the most common types but they also differ in conductor types, shielding, and solid/stranded nature of the conductors. These are a few concerns that you will need to get over before buying Cat6 ethernet cables.
Cat6 Ethernet Cable: Specs
Although the Cat6 plenum and riser are two different types of Cat6 Cable 1000ft, they are fundamentally the same. Meaning that both cables have the same number of conductors with the same AWG sizes. What’s more, they also have the same data transfer and bandwidth specifications.
The Category 6 cables can transmit data at up to 1 GBit/s over 100 meters with a 550 MHz bandwidth. If you run the cables at 50 meters, you can even achieve up to 10 GBit/s data rates.
- Cat6 Plenum is Safer
While both of the 1000ft Cat6 cables are safe solutions, the plenum variant goes a step further in its safety features. It is due to the plenum jacket of this cable which means you can install it indoors as well as outdoors. In indoor environments, this cable is ideally run in horizontal spaces. In plenums above-dropped ceilings and above raised floors, this cable is specifically used.
The reason behind the added safety of the 1000ft Cat6 plenum cable is the jacket’s high resistance to heat and extreme environmental conditions. The jacket is made from materials that actively resist flame propagation and do not catch fire. In case they catch fire, the material is not toxic and the tiny amounts of smoke emitted will not be a hazard.
So buying Cat6 plenum cable provides you with the added safety features that you want and deserve.
- Everlasting
In addition to being safe, the plenum-rated Cat6 cable is everlasting. Its jacket is built for harsh conditions. Whether you need to run the cable indoors or outdoors, plenum cable handles all.
You install this cable once and it works forever. Especially, if you buy a bulk Cat6 plenum with bare copper conductors and shielding, it will last forever. The jacket of the cable is thick and rarely wears out before its warranty period. Yes, you can even get up to a 10-year warranty on this cable if you buy it from a reliable vendor.
- Cost-Effective
The Cat6 plenum cable is cost-effective. It is affordable and everlasting which consequently translates into savings in the long run. You will not need to run costly maintenance and replacements. This cable is a connect-and-go solution which makes it highly reliable.
It is important to mention here that it costs more than the 1000ft Cat6 riser cable. But because you won’t be spending extra on possible replacements and maintenance, it costs much less. On the other hand, the Cat6 riser cable is more likely to suffer kinks even while installed which becomes a liability.
- Easy to Use
As mentioned in the above part, the Cat6 riser is more susceptible to suffering damage while installation and during use. The riser jacket is made from premium quality PVC materials but it is not as durable as the plenum. This also makes up for the fact that the plenum variant is much easier to use.
You can handle it easily and it pulls without getting tangled up. Also, you are likely to be less worried about getting the Cat6 plenum cable damaged because of its high-end built quality.
Overall better performance
Cat6 plenum is overall better performing than the Cat6 riser. That is not to say the Cat6 riser is a bad cable. It’s just that the plenum is more reliable and safe which makes it a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution. Using the plenum cable also gives you peace of mind because of its safety features.
Conclusion
In short, buying the Cat6 plenum cable is a more learned decision if you want an affordable yet high-performing and safe LAN cable. However, the Cat6 riser cable is also a fairly good choice with only a slight compromise in the safety features.
