Ethernet cables are somewhat used for the same purpose. They show the same purpose of connecting to different kinds of a network like an internet. However, there are differences between the types of ethernet cables available in the market. Depending upon the purpose for which you are buying the ethernet cable, the relation between you should select the best type of cable. It mostly depends upon the speed and range you want. There are various types of ethernet cable which are differentiated on the basis of the range itself and the bandwidth speed it offers. Below are the different types of ethernet cables
Ethernet Cables
Many people get confused between the terms written on the websites selling these Ethernet cables. You might have seen many terms like CAT-5, CAT-6 written all the ethernet cables. So what does CAT stand for? CAT simply means category and the number attached with it means the version of the category you want to opt for. For instance, CAT 5 is the lower Version of CAT 6 cable. The ethernet cable comes in different shapes and sizes. Hence, you must be well aware of the differences which these shapes and sizes can cause. Usually, longer cables are not preferred because more is the size of the cable, lesser will be the internet speed. This is why offices have smaller Ethernet cables, compared to homes.
Categories of Ethernet Cables
There are a number of categories of these Ethernet cables used for telecommunication and internet. The most used ones are CAT-5, CAT-6 and some others. Below all the brief description of some types and categories of ethernet cables available in the market.
CAT-3 and CAT-5
These Ethernet cables are pretty outdated and are not used by anyone in this generation. This is practical because of the slow internet speed this cables offer. Additionally, they allow data speed up to 100mbps only. Both this cable wire used in previous setups. However, they are not considered fit for usage in the current modern setup.
CAT 5e
These are practically same like the CAT 5, however, the Additional “e” here stands for enhanced. This means that it is an enhanced version of the category 5 Ethernet cables. it offers high internet speed and connection reliability. Moreover, they are cheaper unavailable widely because of the low manufacturing cost.
CAT 6
CAT 6 is the higher version of category 5 Ethernet cables and offers much more speed. However, these kinds of cables are quite expensive and mostly used in professional places. The cables are arranged systematically inside a thick sheet, which ensures durability and proper connection. Additionally, It offers a range of up to 500 m. Moreover, there for internet up to 10 Gbps, which is much greater than the category 5 cables.
CAT 6a
“A” here stands for augmented. This is a further enhanced version of the category 6 cables. This is mostly used because of its high bandwidth speed, which is almost twice as compared to category 6. Additionally, it can produce the same speed up to a very large distance because of high-density internal wires. It is completely shielded to enhance the durability and network speed up to a large distance.
Cat 7
This is the most used ethernet cable type in this generation. It offers a very high speed compared to all other previous categories. Moreover, the range offered by this cable is 15 metres at a consistent speed of 100 Gbps. This made setup of choice for being used in high corporate companies and MNCs. The cable comes at a premium price tag because of such rapid features. Additionally, there are also some higher versions of these cables which are used in data centres and not practical for usage in homes and offices.
