Comparing Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6e, Cat7 & Cat8 Cables
When it comes to setting up a reliable home or office network for internet access, media streaming and gaming – there’s nothing more important than having the right cabling in place. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the key differences between the various types of cables on offer today – so that you can easily decide which one is best suited to your needs!
Starting with the most basic type - Cat5e (or Category 5 Enhanced) is the ideal option for those looking for an inexpensive way to transfer data up to 1 Gigabit speeds. This type of cable features 8 conductors and is relatively easy to install/replace compared with other models.
The next step up is Category 6 (or Cat6). Not only does this offer twice the bandwidth of its predecessor – but it also incorporates additional shielding to protect against interference from outside sources. Perfect for households who don’t want any disruptions impacting their connection!
Stepping it up one more level is the enhanced version of cat6 - known as Cat6a (or Augmented). It offers all the same benefits as regular cat6 but with higher frequencies and greater distance capabilities – making it perfect for larger homes or offices that need a stronger signal over longer distances.
Then there’s Category 7 (Cat7) – which boosts this performance even further, allowing users to achieve speeds up 10 Gbps over short distances. With its advanced shielding and multiple layers of protection against interferences, it’s perfect for those who want their network infrastructure to remain amazingly fast yet secure!
Finally, we have Category 8 (Cat8) – this bad boy has all the bells and whistles that you could possibly need when it comes to reliable high-speed networking: supporting transfer speeds of up 25 Gbps over medium lengths – making it ideal for commercial applications or any large-scale projects!
In conclusion, each type of cable comes with its own advantages depending on what exactly you need them for. So make sure that you carefully consider each option before making your choice!