CAT5 Vs CAT6: The Battle For Your Computer Network
CAT5 vs CAT6: The Battle for Your Computer Network
In the battle of CAT5 vs CAT6, which side are you on? Not familiar with the fight? It's an important one if you are responsible for maintaining any kind of computer network--whether at work or home. The two major standards are known as CAT5 and CAT6. Both have their respective advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a look at the issues surrounding the two so that you can make an informed decision of which one to buy and install.
First, some foundational information:
The primary means for stringing computer networks together for transmission of data is known as twisted pair cable. In North America, this cable comes as Unshielded Twisted Pair, whereas in the UK, Shielded Copper Twisted Pair is the main form. The more expensive of the two is Shielded Copper Twisted Pair, but for the extra money, you get something that has less interference than with Unshielded Twisted Pair. Typically, all of these will have a standard Rj45 modulator at the end, with an Ethernet connector.
Among twisted pair cables, there are two main categories: stranded (wherein a part of the copper conduits are made up of braided-together wire strands) and solid. Solid cable is the far superior transmission quality. However, it's quite stiff and quite difficult to maneuver to get it into tight spots. Stranded is easier for forming into patch cables--and it's much more affordable.
And within these two categories are several sub-categories. In fact, as you might have guessed, CAT5 is just shorthand for Category 5; CAT6 stands for Category 6. There's another category known as CAT3, but it's what is used for telephones, and is rarely used in a computer network.
In the majority of computer networks today, the cables being used are either CAT 5 (Category 5) or CAT6 (Category 6). For many years now, CAT5 has been the number one standard for most communications uses. Indeed,CAT5 comprises most legacy wiring. It's capable of 10 megabit as well as 100 megabit Ethernet connections. Its transmission capacity can reach 100 MHz. A newer version of CAT5 is CAT5e--which stands for Category 5 enhanced. CAT5e is designed to finer tolerances and also has enhanced shielding. It also boasts a substantial decrease in crosswalk and between-line interference. Still, none of these are up to the superior level of the other and upcoming standard.
This newer category, and one which promises to soon become the new standard, is CAT6. It arose thanks to the fact that more and more companies are making use of fiber optic connections to the Web. These fiber optic connections, due the high bandwidth requirements, require a better, more efficient data-transmission system. That system is provided by CAT6.
So now we come back to the CAT5 vs CAT6 battle. Which one is best for you? As with CAT5, CAT6 contains four pairs of copper wire inside. But unlike CAT5, 6 has a longitudinal separator separating the wires. This separator isolates the fair pairs from one another. As a result, there is much less cross talk. However, this does make it cost more than CAT5, so there's a trade-off to consider.
Here's our advice concerning the CAT5 vs CAT6 debate: You'll definitely need to choose CAT6 if your company or department intends to soon go to 10 gig Ethernet. Because it transmits as fast as 50 megaherz, your network will run at maximum speed and efficiency. However, if you don't run the kind of data-intensive applications yet that are dragging down your network, then for the time being, CAT5 might do just fine for you.
