Picking the Right Ethernet Cable

There are several different types of Ethernet cables. These are categorised based on “shielding” (whether or not the electric cable is encased by a common conductive layer), maximum transmission speed, and maximum bandwidth (the amount of information the connection can handle at a given point of time).

Based on these parameters, there are 6 different types of Ethernet cables. Before we go on to explain them, let’s take a minute to understand a few terms related to cables, such as “Cat”, to ensure maximum understanding!

• Cat: “Cat” simply means “Category” and the number following it, such as “Cat5”, indicates the specifications of the cable. The higher this number, the higher the connection speed and frequency, which means faster upload/download speeds and faster connections.
• TP: “TP” refers to “Twisted Pairs”, which, in turn, refers to the way wires inside the Ethernet cable are twisted together.
• UTP: “Unshielded Twisted Pairs” (UTP) don’t have shielding or a common conductive layer enclosing the twisted pairs of wires. Such cables are cheaper and more flexible but this means a compromise on signal quality and cross-connections.
• STP: STPs or “Shielded Twisted Pairs”, as you’ve probably guessed, are shielded, meaning that the wires inside are protected with a braided shielding made of copper or other polymers that are conductive. These cables provide better connection quality.
• FTP: “FTP” refers to “Foiled Twisted Pairs” which have wires with foil shielding. This helps reduce interference and improves the quality of the connection.

Now that we’re better equipped to understand the cables, let’s get to it!

Category 3

Category 3 Ethernet cables, simply called “Cat-3” or “Cat3” or “station wire”, are one of the oldest forms of Ethernet cables. Though still in use today in two-line telephone systems or older Ethernet installations, they are on their way to becoming obsolete. Cat3 cables are UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pairs, remember?) and are capable of transmitting 10 MB/s of data or voice. With a maximum bandwidth of 17 MHz, Cat3 cables were popular in 1990 when they were the industry standard for computer networks before they had to make way for more high-end cables.

Category 5

Next in line after Cat3 cables are Cat5 cables, and they are also UTP cables. What differentiates them from Cat3 is that they can transmit data at a higher rate, more specifically 10/100 MB/s. This means that the cables can either support a transmission of 10 MB/s or 100 MB/s. The latter is also known as “Fast Ethernet” and can be seen in use for telephone signals, video and Ethernet systems.

Category 5e

Category 5e or “Cat5e” cables are enhanced versions of the older Cat5, allowing lesser interference and cross-talk (unwanted transfer of signals between communication channels). In fact, the “e” in “5e” stands for “enhanced”. Cat5e cables work for 10/100 MB/s and 1000 MB/s Ethernet connections and are the most commonly used and available cables in the market. Like Cat5, the Cat5e is also made of 4 twisted wire pairs; however, Cat5 uses only 2 for “Fast Ethernet” while Cat5e uses all 4, resulting in higher speeds. Cat5e supports a maximum bandwidth of 100 MHz and can be used with any modem. It is also backward-compatible with Cat5 cables.

Category 6

Cat6 cables have a bandwidth of up to 250 MHz, meaning that they can handle Gigabit Ethernet (as opposed to Cat5e that can only Gigabit Ethernet speeds up to 100 MHz). These cables can support up to 10 GB/s but only at a distance of 55 meters before attenuation. Cat6 cables also have better insulation and thinner wires that are more tightly coiled, providing lesser interference and lesser cross-talk. This makes them especially suited for environments with a higher amount of electromagnetic interference. Cat6 cables are available as both UTP and STP and are backward-compatible with Cat5e and Cat5 cables, the latter two being less expensive and sufficient for most applications.

Category 6a

Cat6a or “augmented Category 6” cables are a step above their predecessors, the Cat6 cable. These cables allow a transmission of 10,000 MB/s and support a bandwidth of 500 MHz! Cat6a cables are generally available as STPs, making it a necessity to have specialized connectors to effectively ground the cable.

Category 7

“Class F”, “Cat7” or “Category 7” cables support data transmission speeds of up to 10 GB/s and bandwidths of up to 600 MHz. These fully shielded cables consist of STP of wires and are better insulated than any of the other cables. However, the additional layers of insulation make them bulkier and thicker, sacrificing their flexibility. This also means that these cables require grounding like the Cat6a, failing which there is a reduction in performance.

Category 8

Category 8 or “Cat8” cables are still in development. Expected to hit the markets soon, these cables are expected to be many steps above their predecessors, especially the Cat7, with higher transmission speeds and bandwidth.

Given the many types of Ethernet cables that you’ve just learned, you’re probably wondering which one’s the right fit for your use. Fortunately, figuring this out is much easier than making sense of the “Game of Thrones” twisted plotline.

Something to Consider

What’s the current speed of your home/office network connection? Compare this with the cables listed above and their transmission speeds to find a compatible Ethernet cable. Most home users only require a Cat5e cable or at most, a Cat6. However, if you’re buying Ethernet cables for an office setup and you need to transfer big files frequently or require a higher and steadier bandwidth to support your office’s IT infrastructure, you might want to look at a higher “Cat”.

Lastly, look at your router. Some routers can only support 100 MB/s of Ethernet, which automatically rules out any “Cat” cable after Cat5.