Data transmission through light is very secure, and there is less risk of data leakage, but optical fiber is difficult to obtain. To overcome this problem, cables like CAT5 and CAT6 are very affordable options.
These cables are available at local stores and at economical prices. Unfortunately, we are unfamiliar with these terms and use the names of these cables interchangeably, but there is a slight difference between cat5 and cat6.
To resolve this confusion, we decided to write about these terms. Luckily, you've come to the right place to learn more about different ethernet cables.
What are CAT5 and CAT6 cables?
In a LAN, your priority is to get Internet speed. You need to choose a reliable cable to connect with the speed of the Internet. There are two main cables to get an internet connection.
- Cat5 is a pair of four copper wires. It can support speeds up to 10/1000 at 100 MHz. There are two categories of cat5 cables which are cat5 and cat5e. In this modern era, most people prefer to use cat5e. It offers much better speed than cat5. Its throughput is ten times faster and can transfer data over a long distance without any crosstalk or interference.
- Cat6 cable is similar to Cat5 cable. It is much more functional than other cables. The only difference between these cables is the internet speed. The bandwidth of this cable is 250 MHz. Cat6 cables are a few years younger than Cat5e cables. This cable carries 10 gigabits of data. The bandwidth is approximately 164 feet.
- Cat6A is the newest version on the market and uses a thick plastic housing to reduce crosstalk and data leaks due to interference. These cables can maintain 10 gigabit speeds for 328 feet of Ethernet cables.
Difference between Cat5 and Cat6
The differences between cat5 and cat6 cables are due to their performance, cable type, plug type and cost.
- Cat5 cables have one and a half twists, and Cat6s have two twists per centimeter.
- Cat6 cable has two or more twists per centimeter.
- Airflow is the main consideration. When more data flows through the shuffling area, it helps control the airflow needed to cool the server and equipment. For these reasons, cat6 cable has a thick diameter of 0.250 inches maximum, while cat5's diameter is 0.204. However, the diameter fluctuates depending on the brand.
- Depending on the length and brand, the price of cables may vary. Cat6 cables are 10% to 20% more expensive than Cat5e cables.
- If we see the similarities, both cables terminate in an RJ-40.
Physical differences between CAT5 and CAT6 cables
Let's look at the differences in physical structure.
- Cat6 cables are thicker to avoid interference. Cat5 cables are not as thick as cat6.
- There are five input wires in cat6 and four input wires in cat5.
- Cat5 is not shielded. It does not protect the network against crosstalk, while cat6 has an insulating coating to secure crosstalk. The twist length of the cable is not standardized but 1.5 to 2 twists per centimeter in cat5, while two or more twists in cat6 per centimeter.
- [NEXT]Cat6 includes a nylon spline that eliminates crosstalk. It protects against proximity crosstalk. and alien crosstalk.[AXT]
- Cat6 cables have a thick plastic which makes them more compatible than Cat5 cables.
Difference between Cat5 and Cat6 jacks
There are slight differences between these shots. These differences are:
- Cat6 has copper wire and thicker insulation. This coating makes it more reliable than Cat5.
- The Cat6 jack is offset, while conversely, the Cat5 jack is straight.
- The cable is thicker and also has a jack.
Speed of Cat5 VS Cat6
Cat5 can support 10/100 Mbps at 100 bandwidth. Cat6 can offer 1000 Mbps speed at 250 bandwidth. The new version of Cat6 cable has about 1GbE bandwidth at 250 bandwidth. of 500 MHz.
Difference between Cat5 and Cat6 cabling
- The only difference between cat5 and cat6 is the amount of data they carry. Cat6 has higher bandwidth than cat5.
- Cat5 covers a distance of 100m
- The diameter of cat5 cable is 0.250, and the diameter of cat6 is 0.204.
- The twist of cat5 cable is one and a half twists and two twists, while the twist of cat6 cable is two or more.
Cat5 VS Xat6 Connectors
At first glance, the two look similar as they both have an 8P8CRj45 connector but are different from the inside. In a Cat5 and Cat5e connector, the wires are aligned in a straight line. Cat6 wires have a zigzag pattern.
Cat5 VS Cat6 VS Cat7
We have discussed the difference and comparison of cat5 and cat6 cable. In this section we will only talk about cat7.
- Cat7 cable supports 10Gbps, but laboratory experiments show that it carries 40Gb at 50 meters and 100Gb at 15 meters.
- These cables have extensive shielding to protect against interference.
- The Giga Gate 45 connector is present to benefit from the best performance of the Cat7 cable.
- Cat7 has a speed of 10,000 Mbit/s at 1,000 bandwidth. Therefore, Cat7 cable has a high frequency.
Final Thoughts
It is good to use these cables because they can meet your internet speed requirements. From the comparison, you come to know that cat7 is better among all cables.
No doubt, this topic is a bit tricky, and most people are not aware of the main differences between these Ethernet cables, mainly the difference between cat5 and cat6.
We hope this article is a source of knowledge. If you still have any issues, let us know in the comments section.