CAT5 and CAT6 Network Cables
Written by Home network on January 4th, 2008 in Home Office Network, Home Office Network FAQ.
CAT5 and CAT6 Network Cables
CAT5 cable contains four pairs of copper wire. CAT5 supports Fast (100 Mbps) Ethernet and comparable alternatives such as ATM. As with all other types of twisted pair EIA/TIA cabling, CAT5 cable runs are limited to a maximum recommended run rate of 100m (328 feet).
Although CAT5 cable usually contains four pairs of copper wire, Fast Ethernet communications only utilize two pairs. A new specification for CAT5 cable, CAT5 enhanced (CAT5e), supports short-run Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) networking by utilizing all four wire pairs and is backward-compatible with ordinary CAT5.
CAT6 cable contains four pairs of copper wire and unlike CAT5, utilizes all four pairs. CAT6 supports Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Ethernet and supports communications at more than twice the speed of CAT5e, the other popular standard for Gigabit Ethernet cabling.
Here is a Video on CAT5 and CAT6 : Gigabit Networking: Cat5 or Cat6?
CAT5 nad CAT6 Network Cables
