If you are reading this article, you probably want to install a CAT5 or CAT6 cable in your home or office. Commonly used as network cables to connect computers and servers to modems, these cables are used for a variety of different purposes. Ever since their introduction, they have gone through significant developments. The newer CAT5 and CAT6 cables are capable of doing so much more. However, there are some differences between the two cable types we are going to discuss today. The primary difference, you might have guessed, comes with speed, but there is another important differentiation, which is “crosstalk”.

What is Crosstalk?

Like every other electronic equipment, cat cables also emit electromagnetic signals. When several cables are lined up across each other, the cables start to interfere with one another. This interference is called “crosstalk”. Crosstalk increases errors and number of lost packets, amongst other issues. Newer versions of cat cables, such as the CAT6A, have reduced crosstalk through a variety of different methods, including improved shielding and twisted cable designs.

CAT5 cables are differentiated into two separate categories: the CAT5 and CAT5E cables. Due to its limitations in usage, the CAT5 has become more or less obsolete compared with the other cables. Although the CAT5 cable can handle speeds up to 10/100 Mbps on a 100MHz bandwidth, the newer versions of the cables are much faster.

CAT5E (the “E” stands for enhanced) has become the standard cable for about 15 years. They offer significantly improved performance over the older CAT5 cables, boasting to over 10 times faster speed and significantly greater ability to traverse distances without getting the impact of crosstalk.

CAT6 Cable

Compared with the CAT5 cables, the CAT6 have only been around for a few years less. However, they have been used as the backbone for networks instead of being run to workstations themselves. The reason for this is that while CAT6 cables can handle up to 10Gb of data, it has a limitation to only 164 feet. Anything beyond that can rapidly decay to only a 1Gb, just like the CAT5E.

CAT6A is the newest version of the cables and reduces crosstalk with the help of an exceptionally thick plastic casing. The biggest difference between the CAT6 and CAT6A cable is that CAT6A can maintain 10 Gb of speed for a full 328 feet of an Ethernet cable.

Ultimately, those want to have a sturdy, “future proofed” cable will want to go with a CAT6A cable. However, for most residential and commercial purposes, the CAT5E and CAT6 cable should suffice.

Similarities between CAT5 vs CAT6 Cables

It is important to note that both the CAT5 and the CAT6 cables use the same end piece i.e. they can “plug in” to the same ports. The differences, however, rise in their capabilities, as well as the methods and material used to create them. The “end” that all the cables have in similarity is that they are classified in the category of RJ-45, which is capable of plugging into an Ethernet jack on a computer, router, or a similar device. They are very useful and are not expected to change anytime soon.

So, What Do You Actually Need? CAT5E or CAT6 Cables?

Now it is time for the most important question of all, which one would you actually need? Now this question can be subdivided into various other queries, like where do I set up outdoor CAT6 cables? However, for the sake of simplicity, let us reduce the clutter and stay with the first question.

While CAT6 is clearly a better choice if you are considering technical specifications, the situation is not as straightforward as you would suppose. With respect to networking, there is no “one size fits all” approach. It boils down to what you are trying to accomplish with your product.

Now, what are you trying to accomplish exactly? If you are a residential user, CAT5E is going to be more capable then meeting just about any need that you would have. In fact, the speeds supported by this cable type are likely faster than your residential internet connection provides anyway, at least for the next couple of years. When the time comes to upgrade, it will not necessarily be difficult or even expensive to do so, which means that CAT5E is going to be just fine.

If you are using the internet for offices, then you are playing a totally different ballgame especially if you work on a lot of video or audio editing processes on networked machines. For example, if you want to transfer files quickly through an internal server, then CAT6 cables with higher gigabit networking are the way to go. Not only will they provide better service to your needs, but you will also be taking the next few steps to prove yourself against the ways in which your needs will change over time.

Now that we have finished our general discussion, we will provide you with the latest industry-level CAT5 and CAT6 cables.

The CAT5E UTP cable is a high-quality, enhanced CAT5E cable. It features a double outer jacket, 4 twisted pairs of 24 AWG wires with an LDPE + Gel. It is best useful for outdoor/direct burial applications for networking, data transfer, and phone lines. It supports a range of 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps. We have outlined some of the key features of these products:

• Gel filled and water resistant.
• Direct Burial.
• Doubled Jacket.
• UV protection.
• UTP Twisted Pair cable.
• ISO-11801 certified.

The CAT5E FTP cable is a high-quality outdoor FTP (Foil Twisted Pair) CAT5E cable. It features 4 twisted pairs of 24 AWG wires with Aluminum foil shielding as well as a drain wire. It is best for use in all outdoor networking applications, data transfers, and phone lines. It supports 10, 100, and 1000Mbps. The key features of this product are:

• UV protected the outdoor cable.
• FTP foil twisted pair with ground wires.
• 24 AWG.
• ISO 11801 certified.

The C-1023 Outdoor Shielded CAT5E FTP cable is a high-quality outdoor FTP (Foil Twisted Pair) CAT5E cable. It features 4 twisted pairs of 24 AWG wires with LDPE, Aluminum foil casing, and a messenger wire. It is best for use in all outdoor networking applications, data transfers, and phone lines. It supports 10, 100, and 1000Mbps. The key features of this product are:

• UV protected the outdoor cable.
• FTP foil twisted pair with ground wires.
• 24 AWG.
• ISO 11801 certified.

The DC-2021 Outdoor Shielded CAT6 FTP cable is a high-quality outdoor FTP (Foil Twisted Pair) CAT6 cable. It features 4 twisted pairs of 23AWG wire with a center spline and a drain wire. It is best for use in all outdoor networking applications, data transfers, and phone lines. It supports 10, 100, and 1000Mbps. The key features of this product are:

• UV protected the outdoor cable.
• FTP foil twisted pair with ground wires.
• Ethernet support
• ISO 11801 certified.

The DC-2022 Outdoor CAT6 cables are UV Rated S/FTP double shielded CAT6 cables, which feature 4 twisted pairs of 23 AWG wires, complete with a center spline with aluminum foil shielding. It is best for use in all sorts of networking conditions, data transfers, and phone line applications. The key features of this product are:

• UV protected the outdoor cable.
• Double shielding.
• Aluminum coated copper braid, with 95% coverage.
• 23 AWG w/ Gigabit Ethernet.
• ISO 11801 certified.

The DC-2030 CAT6 cable is a Dry Gel Tape cable. It features an outer jacket, with 4 unshielded pairs of 23AWG wires and a center spline with an LDPE and dry gel tape.It is best for use in any outdoor/direct burial networking, transfer of data, and phone line applications. The key features of this product are:

• Water resistant dry gel tape.
• Direct burial.
• 23 AWG.
• UV protection.
• UTP Unshielded twisted pair.

The DC-1025 Outdoor shielded cable provides you with an outdoor shielded FTP, equipped with 4 twisted pairs of 24 AWG wires. They also come equipped with LDPE, aluminum foil shielding and a solid messenger wire. It is excellent for use in all sorts of outdoor applications, like networking, data transfer, and phone lines. The key features of this product are:

• UV protected the outdoor cable.
• FTP foil twisted pair.
• 17AWG Solid Messenger wire for aerial support.
• ISO 11801 certified.

The CAT5E UTP cable is a high quality outdoor CAT5 cable that features a double outer jacket, 4 twisted pairs of 24 AWG wires with LDPE and Dry Gel Tape. It is best for use in any outdoor or direct burial applications of networking, transferring of data, and phone lines. The key features of this product are:

• Dry gel, water-resistant tape.
• Direct burial.
• UV protected double jacket wire.
• Unshielded UTP twisted pair.
• ISO 11801

CAT5EC-1041 Outdoor Shielded cable is a high quality outdoor CAT5 cable that features a double outer jacket, 4 twisted pairs of 24 AWG wires with LDPE and Dry Gel Tape. It is best for use in any outdoor or direct burial applications of networking, transferring of data, and phone lines. The key features of this product are:

• Dry gel, water-resistant tape.
• Direct burial.
• UV protected double jacket wire.
• Unshielded UTP twisted pair.
• ISO 11801

The DC-2050 is a high quality indoor CAT6 Plenum cable which features a flame retardant PVC coating, 4 twisted pairs of 23 AWG wire and a center spline with FPE insulation. It is best for use in indoor applications of networking, transfer of data and phone lines. The key features of this product are:

• CMP Plenum Rated.
• 23 AWG.
• Only available in blue.

Designed specifically for RF Telecom infrastructures with a remote electrical tilt component-based system, this product is fully in compliance with AISG EIA-485 Layer 1 systems, feed data, and power from the controller to the RET system components. It is also available by foot measurements. The key features of this product are:

• AISG connector compatible.
• IP67 compliant.
• Flame retardant jacket.
• 100% humidity proof.

CAT5E FTP is a high quality outdoor CAT6 cable that features a double outer jacket, 4 twisted pairs of 24 AWG wires with LDPE and Dry Gel Tape. It is best for use in any outdoor or direct burial applications of networking, transferring of data, and phone lines. The key features of this product are:

• Dry gel, water-resistant tape.
• Direct burial.
• UV protected double jacket wire.
• Unshielded UTP twisted pair.
• ISO 11801

DC-1050 is a high quality indoor CAT6 Plenum cable which features a flame retardant PVC coating, 4 twisted pairs of 23 AWG wire and a center spline with FPE insulation. It is perfect for use in indoor applications of networking, transfer of data and phone lines. The key features of this product are:

• CMP Plenum Rated.
• 23 AWG.
• Only available in blue.

Conclusion:

In this article, we went at length with a discussion of CAT cables. More specifically, we talked about the differences between CAT6 and CAT5 cables. We provided you with a detailed comparison of the major differences between the use of the respective cables, and when they should each be used. Later on, we delved towards discussing some of the most common industrial-grade CAT5 and CAT6 cables. We hope that this article provided you with enough insight about CAT5 and CAT6 cables.