The difference between Category 5 and Category 6 network cables

Common knowledge when purchasing Category 5 and Category 6 network cables

At present, the twisted pairs commonly used in local area networks are generally unshielded Category 5 4 pairs (ie, 8 conductors) cables. The transmission rate of these twisted pairs can reach 100Mbps

The outer protective rubber of Category 3 twisted pair cables sold on the market is thin, with the word "CAT3" marked on the rubber, and the words "Category 3" are marked on the outer packaging carton, and the price is lower: Category 5 twisted pair outer protective rubber is thick , the words "CAT5" are marked on the rubber, and the words "category 5" are marked on the outer packaging carton, and the price is higher. When buying, it is cheap and cheap to buy inferior Category 5 twisted pair, these products are often only used as Category 3 twisted pair.

Category 5e twisted pair is an unshielded twisted pair. Compared with the ordinary Category 5 twisted pair, the Category 5e twisted pair is attenuated when transmitting signals.

The smaller the reduction, the stronger the anti-interference ability. In a 100M network, the interference level of user equipment is only 1/4 of that of ordinary Category 5 cables, which is an ideal solution for network applications.

"Category 5e" refers to Category 5e unshielded twisted pair (UTP-UnshieldedTwistedPair)

Unshielded twisted pair cable consists of multiple twisted pairs and a plastic sheath. Category 5 refers to the five different quality levels defined by the International Electrical Industry Association for twisted pair cables.

Category 5 unshielded twisted pair is a cable that appears after improving some of the performance of the existing Category 5 shielded twisted pair. Many performance parameters, such as near-end crosstalk, attenuation crosstalk ratio, return loss, etc. increase, but its transmission bandwidth is still 100MHz. Category 5 twisted pair also uses 4 twisted pairs and 1 tensile wire. The color of the pair is exactly the same as that of Category 5 twisted pair, namely white orange, orange, white green, green, white blue, blue, and white. brown and brown. The diameter of the bare copper wire is 0.51mm (the wire gauge is 24AWG), the diameter of the insulated wire is 0.92mm, and the diameter of the UTP cable is 5mm.

Category 5e twisted pair is usually only used in 100Mb/s Fast Ethernet to connect desktop switches to computers

If Jiaguo wants to upgrade the network to a gigabit network in the future, it may as well use the super five unshielded double line in the horizontal wiring.

Category 5 unshielded twisted pair can also provide a transmission bandwidth of up to 1000Mb/s, but often requires the support of expensive special equipment.