Ethernet Cables - A Complete Guide
May. 20, 2024
Ethernet Cables - A Complete Guide
Cat5e (Category 5 enhanced)
- Max. Speed Up to 1 Gbps
- Available in Shielded and Unshielded varieties.
In 1995, Category 5 cable was introduced, offering 100 Mbps network speeds and a 100 MHz bandwidth that could transmit data up to 100 meters (328 feet) without amplification. Although a big leap forward at the time, it soon gave way to the enhanced Category 5e cables, pushing data transfer rates up to 1 Gbps — ten times the speed of its predecessor. Despite being over two decades old, Cat5e remains highly popular and widely used today. Subsequent standards like Cat6 and Cat6a have been officially recognized by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), while Cat7 and Cat8 are still awaiting formal approval.
Cat6 (Category 6)
- Max. speed up to 10 Gbps @ 55 m (164 ft.)
- Available in Shielded and Unshielded varieties.
Cat6 cables support data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps with a 250 MHz bandwidth and improved crosstalk protection. However, this speed can only be maintained up to 55 meters (164 feet). For higher network bandwidth needs, Cat6 is considered an entry-level option. As Internet speeds continue to increase in both home and office environments, Cat5e and Cat6 are becoming bottlenecks.
Cat6a (Augmented Category 6)
- Max. speed up to 10 Gbps @ 100 m (328 ft.)
- Available in Shielded and Unshielded varieties.
For 1- to 10-Gigabit Ethernet networks, Cat6a is often the preferred choice. Supporting transmission speeds of 10 Gbps up to 100 meters (328 feet) and operating at 500 MHz, Cat6a cables also offer reduced crosstalk.
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Cat7 (Category 7)
- Max. Speed Up to 10 Gbps
- Only Shielded
Cat7 never officially replaced Cat6a, as it hasn't been approved by any governing bodies. This has led to various claims from suppliers and added confusion due to different patented designs for new connectors (TERA by The Siemon Company and GG45 by Nexans). Using Cat7 cables with Cat6a modular plugs will yield better performance. However, Cat6a remains a more reliable choice due to its official standard support, ensuring quality and data integrity. Cat7 supports 10 Gbps transmission speeds up to 100 meters (328 feet) at 600 MHz, with even less crosstalk.
Cat8.x (Category 8, 8.1 [Class I] and 8.2 [Class II])
- Max. Speed Up to 40 Gbps- Only Shielded
Cat8 cables are recommended mainly for data centers or high-speed switch-to-switch and server communications requiring 25 Gbps or 40 Gbps copper networks. Cat8 supports transmission speeds of 10 Gbps up to 100 meters (328 feet), and 25 Gbps or 40 Gbps up to 30 meters (98.5 feet), featuring a 2,000 MHz frequency to further reduce crosstalk. While Cat8 and 8.1 are backward compatible, Cat8.2 is not due to the non-standard RJ45 connectors.
Ethernet Cable Categories Explained: A Brief History
Millennials who entered the workforce between 2003 and 2016 are used to a digital world filled with high-speed internet, smartphones, and online everything. Though they've witnessed impressive technological advancements, they might not realize the significant progress made in Ethernet cabling technologies enabling these innovations. Let's start 2022 with a history of Ethernet, useful both for the younger generation and those who have been in the industry long enough to reminisce.
Ethernet Cable has evolved remarkably from the initial Cat 3 to the advanced Cat 6A.
Ethernet Cable Categories Explained
Ethernet was invented in 1973 by Bob Metcalfe at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, initially using thick copper coaxial cables. The early version, 10BASE5, had extremely rigid cables nearly half an inch in diameter. It was later complemented by 10BASE2, featuring more flexible, thinner cables. In the late 1980s, developments in Ethernet hubs and switches allowed twisted-pair copper cables to become the primary medium for Ethernet connections.
Categories 3, 4, and 5
In 1989, Anixter, a cabling products distributor, launched the "Levels" program, the first written performance standard for data cabling systems. This formed the basis for the first official Category 3 cables, ratified by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) in 1991. Category 3 supported 10 Mb/s over two of its four pairs and laid the groundwork for future advances in twisted-pair cabling. While no longer recommended by current standards, Category 3 still exists in some commercial buildings for voice communications. Following Category 3, Category 4 and Category 5 emerged but were quickly rendered obsolete.
Categories 5e and 6
Introduced around 2001, Category 5e cables offered better crosstalk performance supporting gigabit speeds. Category 6 followed, providing additional headroom for 10 Gb/s speeds but only up to 35 meters. Some existing installations of Category 5e and Category 6 cables can support 2.5 or 5 Gb/s over 100 meters for certain Wi-Fi 6 applications and may even achieve 10 Gb/s over shorter distances.
Category 6A
Ratified in 2009, Category 6A can support 10 Gb/s over 100 meters, making it the recommended medium for new horizontal LAN installations. Despite its decade-long existence, it's only recently that 10 Gb/s applications to end devices have become common, while many still function at 1000 Mb/s or less.
Categories 7, 7A, and 8
You may also be curious about Category 7 and 7A, ratified by ISO/IEC in 2002 and 2010, respectively. While they were never officially recognized by the TIA, Category 7A is popular in Europe for supporting 10 Gb/s speeds. Category 8, meanwhile, promised 25 and 40 Gb/s for 30-meter data center switch-to-server links but hasn't gained much traction due to power consumption issues for 25/40GBASE-T equipment. However, advancements in transceiver technology now support 25 and 50 Gb/s using SFP28 or SFP56 direct attach cables or fiber cabling. While Category 8 remains viable, it may evolve to support higher-speed applications over shorter distances in LAN settings.
Ethernet Cable Category Comparison
Category
Year Ratified
Upper Frequency
Transmission Speed
Category 3
1991
16 MHz
10 Mb/s
Category 4
1992
20 MHz
16 Mb/s
Category 5
1995
100 MHz
100 Mb/s
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Category 5e
2001
100 MHz
1000 Mb/s1
Category 6
2002
250 MHz
1000 Mb/s2
Category 6A
2009
500 MHz
10 Gb/s
Category 7
2010
600 MHz
10 Gb/s
Category 7A
2013
1 GHz
10 Gb/s
Category 8
2016
2 GHz
40 Gb/s
1up to 2.5 or 5 Gb/s in some instances
2up to 2.5, 5, or 10 Gb/s in some instances
Why Do We Still Use Copper Cables?
Although the price of optical systems has dropped significantly over the past 20 years, making fiber installations more affordable, copper-based cabling remains the preferred choice for most horizontal LAN deployments. Copper installation tools are cheaper and the techniques simpler, making it cost-effective overall. Additionally, the advancement of Power over Ethernet (PoE) has complemented the continued use of copper cables.
The IEEE 802.3af Type 1 PoE standard, ratified in 2003, delivered up to 15.4 W over two pairs of category cables. It was followed by 802.3at (Type 2) in 2009, offering up to 30 W, and then by four-pair PoE with 802.3bt Type 3 and Type 4 in 2018, delivering 60 and 90 W, respectively. Today, PoE supports a wide range of advanced smart building technologies including high-throughput Wi-Fi, AV over IP, digital signage, video surveillance, and digital lighting.
The Future of Copper Cabling
As IoT expands, increasing the number of devices on a network, copper cabling will continue to hold its place through ongoing advancements. One upcoming technology is single-pair Ethernet, suitable for low-speed, low-power devices in the LAN such as building automation sensors and controllers. Single-pair Ethernet is expected to support up to 10 Mb/s over 1000 meters with 7 to 52 W of power, depending on the cable length.
Fluke Networks Has Always Kept Up
As Ethernet cabling advanced, so has testing technology. The DTX CableAnalyzer from Fluke Networks, introduced in 2004, revolutionized category cable certification. In 2013, the DSX CableAnalyzer™ Series with the Versiv™ platform emerged, offering faster certification tests, reduced mistakes, and simpler reporting. It supports modern cabling standards and can qualify Cat 5e and Cat 5 for advanced network speeds.
Fluke Networks has continued to innovate, introducing solutions like the LinkIQ™ Cable + Network Tester for cable qualification and live PoE load testing. They're staying ahead of emerging technologies like single-pair Ethernet to ensure future testing solutions are available.
In the past decade, Fluke Networks has enhanced documentation and reporting, notably with LinkWare Live, a cloud-based service for uploading test results from any location. Features include wireless connectivity, GPS tracking, and status updates on calibration and firmware, making them well-prepared for ongoing and future Ethernet demands.
Only time will determine the future evolution of copper Ethernet cables, but rest assured, Fluke Networks will stay ahead to meet emerging application, technology, and testing needs.
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