If you are looking for a cost-effective and affordable solution for your home networks, data centers, and big networks then cat6 Plenum Ethernet cable is the best for you. There are many way to figure out the best option in networking industry. If you truly want to get the best value for your money, compare the performance and cost of the cable. If the performance outweighs the cost then this cable is the best for you.
In this article, we’ll explain on how to choose the best cable for your network. In addition, we’ll take a look at some of the applications and benefits that come along with this cable. Lastly, we’ll also discuss the difference between category 5 and category 6 cables.
Applications of Cat6 Plenum
Cat6 plenum cable is the best solution for your home and enterprise networks. Not only you will get the best performance but also it is really an affordable solution. Additionally, you will enjoy a dominant performance along with a vigorous data transfer rate. Despite all this, you will not have to worry about going beyond your budget. These are some of the highlighting features of this cable.
Many installers prefer to use this cable to create a network along with fiber optics. There are many reasons for this mixture. It has a potential for better data transfer rate as well as ability to fight crosstalk. Price can be an issue to some people but its cost completely outweighs its benefits. Lastly, if you get the cat5e cable now, eventually you will have to replace them after some time.
Sibling Cable of Cat6 Ethernet
Cat6a is another cable in category 6. The letter “a” stands for augmented in its name. You can say that it’s a better version of cat6 cable. In addition you will be enjoying double bandwidth, better performance, and excellent data transfer rate. For example, this cable will offer 10Gbps of data transfer rate for its users. Furthermore, you can enjoy this speed at a longer distance of 100 meters. On the other hand, cat6 can only offer this speed at on 37 meters.
Engineers have designed these cables according to the highest market standards. The main purpose of this cable is to serve in giant networks and commercial data centers. The 500MHz bandwidth can be a bit much for a home network. Secondly, the cost can be an issue for many people because this cable comes with a hefty price tag.
Interior Construction of Cat6 Cable
Category 6 cables have the capabilities to support gigabit Ethernet applications. You can also use these cables for a 10Gigabit Ethernet connection but shorter distances. There are Rj45 connectors on both terminals of the cable. These are standard connectors for almost every Ethernet cable.
The category of a cable is printed on its outer jacket so that you can know about that cable. There are four copper wires inside the cable. These wires are twisted together to reduce crosstalk and electromagnetic interference. If there is an extra layer of protection around those twisted pairs then that cable would be shielded cat6. If there is not any layer around these pairs then this cable would be an unshielded twisted pair cable.
You can use a shielded twisted pair cable for longer distances and it will not affect the integrity of your data package. In addition to that, shielded cat6 is a bit expensive.
Outer Jacket Types of Cat6 Ethernet Cable
There are usually three types of the outer jacket of cat6 solid copper cable; plenum, riser, and PVC. You should get one that sits well with your surroundings.
Plenum cat6 – plenum spaces are those that have regular airflow for air conditioning and heating in a building. These horizontal spaces become dangerous in an event of a fire. A plenum cable would burn slowly with less toxic fumes keeping your property safe. You should always install plenum cables in plenum spaces.
Riser ca6 – these are vertical spaces of your building like an elevator shaft. You can install plenum-rated cables in these spaces but not the other way around.
PVC cat6 – polyvinyl chloride or PVC is ideal for outdoor conditions. These cables can withstand extreme temperatures and harsh weather conditions.
Final Verdict
Cat6 Ethernet cables are ideal for both home and enterprise-level networks. You can use them for high-speed and reliable connectivity. In addition to that, this cable can technically support a 10Gbps data transfer rate at 55 meters. Moreover, this cable has generally more than 2 twists per centimeter. This gives it a better chance to fight off crosstalk and EMI.
