Cat Cable Information

 Selecting the appropriate category 

When selecting the appropriate category of cable  to support your network, note that there are different grades within  each category. A higher grade cable with the proper installation will  allow for a higher margin of error, ensuring top performance today and  an extra buffer to support future technology. 

Properly selecting Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, Cat7 or Cat7A solutions  will optimally support current and future network speed requirements.

Cat5 

Cat5 supports speeds up to 100Mb/s (100 MHz)

Cat5e 

Cat5e supports speeds up to a Gigabit Ethernet (1,000Mb/s) (100 MHz)

Cat6 

Cat6 supports speeds up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet and can be  achieved with distance of 37-55 meters or less depending on the grade of  the cable and quality of installation.  (1,000Mb/s) (250 MHz)

Cat6A 

Cat6A supports speeds up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet with distance up to 100 meters (10,000 Mb/s)(500 MHz) 

Cat7 & Cat7A 

Cat7 & Cat7A support speeds up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet with distance up to 100 meters (10,000 Mb/s)(1000 Mhz) 

Examples of when you might use each type of network cable. 

Cat5 cable is out dated and not recommended unless an end device requirement.

Cat5e cable is most common and suitable for Gigabit speeds and networks  that change frequently. If the network changes frequently or is  temporary in nature, Cat5e may be the optimal selection.

Cat6 cable is optimal for extra margin and higher  performance. Cat6 cable will support Gigabit Ethernet, but will only  support 10 Gigabit Ethernet if the total length and loss is low enough.  If a project requires a 10 Gigabit Ethernet connection, Cat6A or higher  is recommended.

Cat6A cable will support speeds up to 10 Gigabit. If a  project requires a single installation solution to support the  facility  and is inteded to stand the test of time, Cat6A will protect the  investment and serve as a reliable backbone for the company going into  the future.

Cat7 cable will support 10 Gigabit Ethernet  with plenty of margin to spare. Cat7 has pair-sharing capability, making  it possible to use one cable to power several different devices at the  same time utilizing each pair as needed. For the best and most versatile  infrastructure Cat7 provides the solution.