Ethernet is with us since the 1980s and still, it is progressing in speed and wider ranges of networks. To set up the internet connection for your home or business it is important to look for the cables which should fulfill the required needs of today. In short, you must understand that it is equally important to look for something “future proof” and must last at least a decade.
The available options today are cat5e, cat6, cat6a, and cat7 (cat aka category). These cat6 bare copper cables are here for a while and some of them are even backward compatible with cat5e because of the RJ-45 connector. You can use the RJ45 connector because of its reliability and compatibility. In addition to that, the important thing is to find the right cable. For that, we are here to save you time.
Cat5e Ethernet Cable
- The improved version of cat5 e stands for enhanced introduced in 2006.
- Comes in 4 twisted pair wires.
- Speed is up to 1gbps with a 100meter speed range and 100 MHz bandwidth.
- The only problem is it is going to be obsolete.
Cat6 Ethernet Cable
- It supports speed up to 10gbps.
- The speed range is 55m with a bandwidth of 255 MHz
- Comes with 4 twisted pairs and has shielding to fight off external noise
- Widely used in homes and offices due to its high speed and protection.
Cat6a Ethernet Cable
- It is the updated version of cat6 “A” stands for augmented.
- Supports speed up to 10gbps but with a wider speed range than cat6.
- Wider bandwidth to secure data packets 500 MHz
- Comes in 4 shielded twisted pairs with a flexible rod to secure wiring.
Cat7
- It supports speeds up to 10gbps same as cat6 and cat6a.
- The bandwidth is 600mhz. backward compatible.
- Comes with 4 twisted pair copper coated.
- Widely used in IT industries and corporate sectors (where data is in surplus).
Cat6 v cat6a v cat7
In the market, you should look for something relevant shortly. We would not recommend you to use category 5 cables. These cables are going to be obsolete soon. It is important to look for something which should be affordable and within your desired needs of a basic home setup or office setup.
If are looking for something with speed and saving up as well then you should pick the cat6 1000ft due to its speed and large bandwidth this will help you in work equally. Another perk is that if you are an online streamer this cable will be efficient.
If you are looking for a bigger speed range and bandwidth cat6a will be a good choice, it is the middle ground when it comes to cat7 or cat6. The addition of 500 MHz is better compared to cat6’s 255 MHz and it is a “do all” cable for homes, businesses, online streaming & gaming. It is more costly than cat6, but it is futureproof compared to cat5e and cat6 plus extra coated twisted pairs ensure safety from data packet losses.
Cat7 cable will be overkill with home or business setups unless you are working with larger amounts of data operations for IT firms or statistics. It is quite an expensive option think of it as the “Gucci of Ethernet cables”. You would find this cable for commercial purposes due to its 600 MHz
Interestingly cat7 is also backward compatible all thanks to the rj45 connector, if you are looking for upgrading your setup this cable will do it hence it is a buy once and cry once option.
Which One to Choose?
Getting just the right cable for your network is highly important. There are many factors you should consider before choosing a cable. In addition to that, go through all the requirements and needs. If you are looking for a high-speed connection, you should go for higher categories. Furthermore, the outer jacket and installation place are other important factors. You should also compare prices from various websites. Lastly, choose a manufacturer that has the highest-quality Ethernet cable at the most affordable price.
