CAT5 vs. CAT6 vs. CAT7: Types of Category Cables and Their Uses
Category cables are shielded and unshielded twisted pair cables that have dominated the Ethernet networks since the early 1990s. Choosing the suitable category cable is difficult because there are many generations on the market with overlapping qualities. Read this article if you want to settle the differences between Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6e, Cat7, and Cat8 once and for all.
What Is A Category Cable?
The definition of category cable was first introduced in 1991 with the ANSI/TIA-568 standard release. This standard determined commercial rules of telecommunication in commercial buildings. One of the most famous parts of this standard is categorizing shielded and unshielded twisted pair cables.
Basically, a category cable is a shielded or unshielded twisted pair cable used in Ethernet networks and telephone systems. The terms "category cable" and "network cable" are not the same. "Category" refers to twisted pair cables exclusively and does not include coaxial or fiber optic cables.
Category cables have assigned numbers from Cat1 to Cat8. The higher the number assigned to the category, the higher is the rate of data transmission. Cat1, Cat2, Cat3, and Cat4 cables are generally not used today except when Cat3 cable is used in very old telephone networks.
Types of Category Cables
Most common types of category cables on the market today are Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A, with Cat5 used in some older networks. Cables newer than Cat6a are present on the market but are still relatively uncommon for residential use. Here are the characteristics of standard category cables and the differences between them.
Cat5 is a 100 Mbps cable for ethernet networks, telephones, and video that does not support Gigabit Ethernet. It has a bandwidth of 100 MHz. You will still find this cable in older computer and telephone networks that have not been revised in over a decade. Cat5 was a top network cable in the 1990s before a new version, Cat5e, was introduced in 2001.
Cat5e is an enhanced version of the Cat5 cable that still does its job as one of the top three category cables on the market. While it still has the same bandwidth, its protection against crosstalk is superior to its predecessor. The cable is the first transmission speed of 1 Gbs at the 100-meter distance, supporting both Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, namely, its 1000Base-T version. Cat5e is the cheapest and oldest twisted pair cable on the market that is still great for most residential applications. The cable comes in shielded and unshielded versions. The cable continues to be used for telephone applications.
Cat6 is a standard Gigabit Ethernet cable as of 2021/2022. Along with Cat6A, this cable is widely used for digital HD video. Once again, Cat6 has superior protection from cross-talk and electromagnetic interference compared to Cat5e cable.
The cable has an average bandwidth of 250 MHz. It supports both standard Gigabit Ethernet and 10-Gigabit Ethernet, with the speed of 1 Gbs carried for 100 meters. The cable is capable of an even more impressive speed of 10G/s at a 50-meter distance.
Cat6A is an augmented version of Cat6 with an improved bandwidth of 500 MHz that helps to eliminate cross-talk and electromagnetic interference. The cable is perfect for the newest-generation 10-Gigabit Ethernet because it supports the speed of 10G/s over a 100-meter distance. Just like its predecessors, the cable is available in shielded and unshielded variations. Among the most popular twisted-pair cables, Cat6A is the most expensive, which is justified by its second-to-none abilities when it comes to 10-Gigabit networks.
Is Cat7 or Cat8 worth it for my network?
Today, companies widely advertise Cat7 or Cat8 as the newest best solutions for residential networks, but is it really so? The fact is that, as a rule, these cables are an overrun for home networks, and you will end up paying more without any gains for your Ethernet network. Let's look into this in more detail.
Cat7 is a highly advertised variety of twisted pair cable that is... not a thing. There are no TIA standards that recognize Cat7 cable with an advertised 600MHz bandwidth. ISO/IEC European Standard also does not give recognition to such cable. Therefore, Cat7 is the name that manufacturers give to Cat6/6A cables.
Depending on the manufacturer, these cables might or might not be enhanced in some way. Therefore, when you buy Cat7, you end up paying more for a variation of Cat6 or 6A. This type of cable is always shielded, which is not needed for most home networks. Finally, Cat7 is not compatible with the connectors of the previous generations, and the production of unique connectors for this cable is limited.
Unlike Cat7, Cat 8 is an existing cable IEEE standard recognized by TIA and ISO. It is a 2000MHz cable meant predominantly for 25Gbps or 40Gbps networks. Such types of networks are found in data centers, but it will not be a home standard for a very long time. Therefore, there is no need to use Cat 8 cables in residential networks.
Which Twisted Pair Cable Should I Use at Home?
All three popular category cables-Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A, work good in a residential network setting, but Cat5e will most likely be referred to as "still good." If you have a standard Gigabit Ethernet, Cat5e or Cat6 should be your cables of choice. Cat6 is the general standard for Gigabit Ethernet, but Cat5e is also good, especially for frequently changing networks.
If you have a 10-Gigabit Ethernet, you can go no wrong with Cat6A, the standard cable for it on the market. Cat6 also works great with 10-Gigabit Ethernet, but only if the network length is no longer than 55 meters.
There is no need to invest in Cat7 or Cat8 for your home network. However, if you have Cat5, it might be the right time to finally replace it.
If you are looking for a marketplace with the best deals on network cables, Nassau National Cable is a place to go. We sell Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6e from top manufacturers, including Commscope and Belden, at some of the best prices in the industry. We also still have some vintage fits for you, such as Cat5 and Cat3 for telephone wiring. Cables come in shielded and unshielded variations. If you are not sure whether shielded or unshielded is best for your network, read this blog.
