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What is Cat 6 Cable?
The Cat 6 ethernet cable type is a twisted pair cable that has been standardised for ethernet as well as other physical layers of a network. It is used specifically in current gigabit (Gb) Ethernet-based computer networks, and it is also backwards compatible with Cat 3 and Cat 5 and Cat 5e standards.
The Category 6 standard of cabling was developed in 2002. It provides performance of up to 250MHz, speeds up to 10 Gbps, a physical link up to 100 m and a channel link of 90 m, although it is limited to 55m physical link for gigabit ethernet. Cat 6 supports varieties of Ethernet over twisted pair up to 10 GBASE-T. It is also used to carry signals such as telephony and video.
A cat6 cable can be identified by the special printing that is on the side of the sheath of the cable. They are normally terminated in 8P8C modular connectors and use pin assignments of T568A or T568B. If cat 6 cables are used for a particular function, then the connectors, jacks and wiring should also be rated cat 6. If not, then the performance of the overall system will probably degrade and may not meet the specifications of Cat 6. To avoid costly repairs and maintenance it is important to have a professional look after your data cabling installation needs.
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How does Cat 6 Cable improve over past iterations?
When Cat 6 is compared to Cat 5 and Cat5e, Cat 6 introduces much more stringent specs for system noise and crosstalk. The max performance also expands for Cat 6, with Cat 5 limited to performance of 100 MHz while Cat 6 can go up to 250 MHz. Cat 6a improves upon 6 even more, with a characterisation up to 500 MHz.
What does Cat 6 Cable support?
The Cat 6 Data Cable supports phones, Internet, Wifi, Power over Ethernet (POE) Applications, security CCTV Cameras and room booking systems.
When to use Cat 6
There are many instances in which engineers look to use Cat 6 specifically. Because of the improvements in the standard over Cat 5, Cat 6 is best used when the following services are implemented:
Matching existing services in an installation
Cost-effective installation that doesn't require extra performance for future innovation
Wireless access point installation
Useful Data
The Cat 6 standard has many advantages over previous iterations of the standard. First of all, Cat 6 gives its users a faster, more reliable and secure standard for transmission of information. In the age of big data, this is becoming more and more important.
Cat 6 also offers higher security than WIFI. It is able to protect data using a physical firewall. Even with this advantage, Cat 6 is more affordable than the Cat 6A standard. There is a shielded option available and Cat6 Cable works best with Power Over Ethernet (POE). When compared to the Cat5e standard, Cat 6 has lower crosstalk and a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Cat 6 is also an incredibly durable standard, as it comes with a 25-year installation warranty.
For all of its advantages, Cat 6 is not perfect. There are some disadvantages and limitations that everyone should be aware of. Some of the more important limitations include the fact that Cat 6 is restricted to 100m cable pathway at 1000MBs / 1GBs. It is further restricted to 55m cable pathway at 10,000MBs / 10GBs. Cat 6 is less mobile than Wi-Fi - it actually needs to be physically connected in order to work. Also, the Cat 6A standard is the better option when looking to future proof an installation.
All in all, Cat 6 is a great upgrade for any engineer that is looking to improve performance over the 5 or 5e standard. It is not quite as powerful as the 6a standard, but not all projects require this level of performance. Cat 6 is a powerful and relatively affordable solution that will serve the needs of most projects.
Rotric are Sydney's foremost experts in communication services and can manage all your data cabling needs.
Whether an upgrade or a full new installation Rotric can offer you the perfect solution in a timely and budget-conscious fashion.
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