The network
connections operate either wirelessly or through cables.
While WiFi helps to minimize the clutter due to chord, cable connections are
usually faster and less prone to lag. You would have realized this when you buy
LAN cables India.
All Ethernet cables
serve the same basic purpose which is to connect devices to networks, like
the internet.
Ethernet cables are the standard cables used to
connect a computer network system. The different Ethernet cable types connect a
modem to a router/ LAN, a router to a computer’s network interface card, etc.
You can easily spot these cables as they are thick and flexible, for example you will see their ends connected to the back of our computer equipment. Even though they look similar, but there is a variety of different types of Ethernet cables. Mentioned below are the different categories.
Categories
Introduced in
1980, Ethernet cables have been developing and adapting to the uses and needs.
The different categories are designed with varying specifications. You will
find the difference in shielding from electromagnetic interference, bandwidth
frequency range and data transmission speed. The physical differences include
gauge size, jacket and internal cable structure.
These differences affect the cable’s quality, speed and distance.
These differences affect the cable’s quality, speed and distance.
Category 3 Cable
Cat3 Ethernet
cable is one of the veterans of Ethernet cables still in use today.
It can carry 10
Mbps data/voice transmission, with a max bandwidth of 16MHz.
These days it is been used in two line telephone systems. Cat3 cable was the industry standard for computer networks in the 1990’s.
Category 5 Cable
After Cat3, Cat5
cable came into picture. It is a UTP cable with improved transfer
rates. With the bandwidth of 100MHz, the category 5 cable introduced the 10/100
Mbps speed to the Ethernet.
Being the first
Fast Ethernet-capable cable. Cat5 is used for Ethernet data, video and
telephone signal.
Category 5e Cable
‘e’ stands for
enhanced, since the Cat5e is an enhanced version of the cat5 cable.
It is known to
eliminate the unwanted transmission of signals between data channels.
This cable enables
speeds up to 10/100 Mbps with bandwidth 100MHz, and utilizes all four twisted
pairs of wires (unlike Cat5 which utilizes only two of the pairs). Cat5e is the
most widely used in the industry, with reduced crosstalk.
Category 6 Cable
Known for better
transmission performance than Cat5e. As it is designed to handle up to 10 Gbps
(gigabits/sec) with bandwidth 250MHz.
With additional
features such as improved insulation and thinner wires, that allow for higher
signal to noise ratio. They can also handle electromagnetic interference better
than Cat5e cables.
These cables are available in UTP or STP (shielded twisted pair) configurations. Like Cat5e cables, Cat6 cables are backward compatible with Cat5 and Cat5e cables. Cat6 is suitable for commercial applications.
Category 6a Cable
‘a’ stands for augmented. The
improved features include 10,000 Mbps data transmission rates with bandwidth
500MHz. This cable is typically available in STP and requires specialized
grounding connectors.
Category 7 Cable
Also referred as
Class F cable. This cable is fully shielded and allows for speeds up to 10 Gbps
and bandwidth 600MHz.
Cat7 is a thicker
cable that is harder to bend, due to the added shielding. Each shielding layer
must be grounded in order to assure performance is not affected negatively.
Specialized connectors are needed.
Limitations of Ethernet Cables
Like an electric
power cord, a single Ethernet cable, has a limited maximum distance capacity,
meaning they have an upper limit to how long they can be before attenuation
(signal loss) happens. This is due to their electrical transmission
characteristics and is directly affected by interference around the cable.
Therefore while you buy LAN cables India, you need to consider all these factors into
consideration.
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