By: Derek Rogers
Category 6 Cable, or as it is sometimes referred to, CAT-6, is a certain
cable that is standard for Gigabit Ethernet and some other network protocols
that prove to be backward compatible with this cable and category 3 cables.
Cat-6 has more severe specifications for system noise as well as crosstalk. The
standard of the cable offers a performance of anything up to 250 MHz and it can
even be used for 100BASE-TX/10BASE-T as well as 1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet)
/1000BASE-T. It is also known to go well with the 10 Gigabit Ethernet
(10GBASE-T) standards, even though this is with some restrictions on its length
if a Cat 6 cable is used.
Many people confuse the Cat-6 cable with other cables, but there is a way in
which you can tell the difference and that is by the printing that can be found
on the side of the sheath of the cable. The Cat-6 cable typically contains just
four twisted copper wires, however they are sometimes made using 23 gauge wire,
although this isn't a requirement. There are certain specifications that state
that the cable can be made using 22 or 24 AWG wire. All that matters is that the
cable meets the testing standards that have been set for it. Sometimes the CAT-6
cable is used as a patch cable in 8P8C connectors, and mistakenly referred to as
"RJ-45" electrical connectors. There are CAT-6 connectors that are specifically
made to meet higher standards than other cables so that they assist in reducing
noise that is commonly caused by system interference and crosstalk.
There are also some CAT-6 cables that are too big, which make it rather
difficult to connect to the 8P8C connectors if you don't have a special modular
piece. If you mix the different standards of the cables together they are not
guaranteed to work and the signal path's performance would probably be limited
to the lowest category of the wires. There are different lengths that this cable
is available in, but the maximum length it can be is thirty feet or one-hundred
meters.
The Cat-6 cable will either be terminated in the T568B scheme or the T568A.
Both of these schemes are straight through so it doesn't really make a
difference which one you choose to use. Mixing these two schemes together does
not make any trouble in a facility. It might just degrade the quality of the
signal, but that is about it; it does not cause any other major damage. When
terminating patch cables, the most common method to use would be the T568B
scheme.
If you think that it is time for an upgrade, the CAT-6 cable is an awesome
choice for you. There are many others to choose from, but if you want something
that is going to benefit you in the long run, then this is the cable for you to
choose. The final decision of whether to upgrade to a CAT-6 cable is ultimately
up to you, as long as you know that this is your number one option if you decide
that it is time for an upgrade.
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses.
For Cat-6 Cabling, he recommends Network 24, a leading provider of Structured
Cabling
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