Cat 6 Cable Overview & Its Applications

Cat 6 network cables were 50% more costly when they were introduced in Pakistan.

In the beginning, many people were hesitant to use this cable but a substantial decrease in Cat 6 cable price in Pakistan has made it affordable for various network applications.

Cat 6 cable provides a greater bandwidth capacity compared to Cat 5e cable. This allows it to be an ideal solution for higher data transmission rates, Gigabit network applications support, and 250 MHz bandwidth.

In this article, we will be sharing with you an overview of Cat 6 network cable and talking about some of its popular applications.

What is Cat 6 Cable?

Category 6 or more commonly referred to as Cat 6 cable is an Ethernet cable standard defined by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Cat 6 cables are seldom required in traditional networking environments.

Cat 6 cable is a standardized twisted part cable for Ethernet and other network physical layers. It is also backward compatible with Cat 5/5e and Cat 3 cable standards. Compared to Cat 5, Cat 6 cables have more rigid specifications for crosstalk and system noise and can perform at 250 MHz.

As the sixth generation of twisted-pair Ethernet cable, it consists of four twisted parts and is either terminated by an RJ-45 connector or a keystone jack. In theory, the maximum speed of the Cat 6 network cable is 10Gbps.

Cat 6 wiring cable has the following characteristics:

• Four pairs of copper wires were used for data transfer.
• The bandwidth capacity of 250 MHz, a speed of 10 Gbps, and a maximum length of 100 meters.
• Delivers more enhanced crosstalk and attenuation protection than Cat 5 cable.
• Cat 6 cable uses the same RJ-45 standard connection as used by previous versions of Ethernet cables.

Cat 6 or Cat 6A

Category Augmented Cable or more commonly known as Cat 6A was created to enhance the performance of Cat 6 cables.

This is the newest category standard recognized by the TIA (2008). Category 6a cable can support frequencies up to 500 MHz and speeds up to 10 Gbps.

Demand is still relatively low for Cat 6A wire, as of this writing. This is, in part, due to fiber-optic cable already supporting 10-gigabit speed, rather than by twisted-pair copper cable.

Cat 6A cable allows the network to transmit data at a rate of 10 Gigabit and can run up to 328 feet. Whereas Cat 6 wiring cable can run up to a distance of just 164 feet.

For offering higher performance, Cat 6A cable prices in Pakistan are higher than Cat 6 cable prices. Cat 6A cables are also slightly thicker but they still use standard RJ-45 connectors.

Types of Cat 6 cables

Depending on the specification and use, Cat 6 wiring cable can be classified into different types. Here are the three most popular types of Cat 6 cables:

• Shielded & unshielded Cat 6 cables
• Solid & stranded Cat 6 cables
• CM, CMR, CMP Cat 6 cables

Shielded & unshielded Cat 6 cables

Shielded Cat 6 cable consists of a twisted pair cable contained in a foil or mesh shield that protects it from any electromagnetic interference (EMI). This type of Cat 6 network cable is ideal for high-speed networks such as data centers.

Unshielded Cat 6 cable consists of wires that are twisted together to reduce noise and crosstalk. It can be used between your computer but shielded Cat 6 cables are more appropriate for outdoor use.

Solid & Stranded Cat 6 cables

Solid Cat 6 cables use a single piece of copper as the electrical conductor, making them less flexible compared to stranded Cat 6 cables. However, they are durable and ideal for permanent installations in-wall or outdoor environments.

Stranded Cat 6 cables use a series of copper cables twisted together, making them more flexible than solid cat 6 cables and you can use them in indoor environments.

CM, CMR & CMP Cat 6 cables

CM Cat 6 cables have minimum jacket ratings for Ethernet cables and are ideal for installation inside homes or small commercial buildings.

CMR Cat 6 cable or Riser-rated Cable” are developed to stop fires from spreading between floors through risers or vertical shafts.

CMP Cat 6 cable or Plenum-rated Cable is developed from material that also stops the spread of flames and doesn’t produce much smoke or toxic gas when burned. This type of cable is ideal for buildings with air ducts connected for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

Difference between Cat 6 & Cat 5/5e cable

Mainly the difference between these two types of cables comes down to quality, speed, and price.

Any network will operate at the speed of the slowest device or component. By mixing these two, the entire network will run at the speed of the one with the lowest specification.

Cat 5 cables were obsolete and replaced by Cat 5e (the “e” stands for enhanced). While Cat 5/5e can operate at near gigabit speed, Cat 6 wiring cable can transmit data over 1-gigabit speed.

These cables can also perform operations within the bandwidth limit of 250 MHz, while Cat 5/5e can do it within 100 MHz’s.

While Cat 6 network cable does cost a little more than the Cat 5/5e cable but without a doubt, it is better in comparison and always the right choice for the right environment.

Cat 6 cable Applications

Cat 6 cables are the backbone of networks and are used in conjunction with fiber optic cables as well.

Here are some of the most common applications of Cat 6 cables:

• They are the preferred choice for gaming over Ethernet connections. Their ability to handle interference better than their predecessors makes them ideal for gaming purposes.
• Cat 6 network cable is also utilized for network security houses as they carry high-speed data while expelling little or no interference.
• Used in computer networks that require data transmission speed of 1000 Mbps, Gbps, or higher. They are also used for hosting sites, e-commerce hosting platforms, etc.
• For reliable and instant data transmission, many social media businesses or companies utilize Cat 6 wiring cables.
• These cables dominate the home and enterprise networks due to high speeds and less crosstalk.

Although cable manufacturing and wiring details may vary between the different cable categories, the basic connectivity remains the same. In this way, Ethernet cables can be used reliably to make connections between electronic devices, networks, etc.

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