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While the use of copper conductors has long been crucial in the transfer of energy, what are the key points of difference between CAT5e vs CAT6 cables?
Since the invention of the electromagnet and the telegraph all the way back in the 1820s, copper has been used as a key material for the distribution of electricity. Surpassed only by silver, copper is a highly conductive metal – meaning that electricity can pass through it with greater ease, making it ideal for use in electrical wires. Companies can use other conductive metals to create electrical wires, but copper has long been regarded as the material of choice.
In today’s world, copper cable is a group of two or more copper wires bundled together in a single sheath or jacket. Copper wire and cable is used in power generation, power transmission, power distribution, electronics circuitry, and more commonly, telecommunications.
A copper ethernet cable works by sending electrical currents up and down the copper wire from one device to another. While there are a handful of different options to choose from, the most dominant conundrum is whether to choose CAT5e vs CAT6 for fast internet connections – but what’s the difference?
For the unfamiliar, ethernet is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks, metropolitan area networks and wide area networks. It was commercially introduced in 1980, and first standardized in 1983 as IEEE 802.3.
While CAT5, CAT5e and CAT6 cables may look similar on the outside, the roles that they perform are what set them apart. Each standard is backwards compatible with older ethernet cabling technology, but do differ in terms of data performance.
CAT5 cable is able to transmit data at 10 to 100Mbps speeds, while the newer CAT5e cable should be able to work at up to 1000Mbps. While the former isn’t quite obsolete just yet, homeowners and businesses looking to give their internet an upgrade will typically be comparing CAT5e vs CAT6 cables.
The maximum speed supported by CAT5e and CAT6 is 1000 Mbps, or one gigabit per second, but the bandwidth that the cable can provide for data transfer is where the biggest distinction between CAT5e and CAT6 cable exists.
In computing, bandwidth is the maximum rate of data transfer across a given path. Bandwidth may be characterized as network bandwidth, data bandwidth, or digital bandwidth. Higher bandwidth allows data to be transferred at a faster rate, or allows more downloads at once, although the term itself is not synonymous with internet speed.
CAT6 cables are made to operate at frequencies of up to 250 MHz as opposed to CAT5e’s 100 MHz. This indicates that more data may be processed simultaneously via a CAT6 connection. Imagine it like the distinction between a two-and four lane highway: while you can go at the same pace on either, a four lane highway can carry far more traffic at once.
Another factor to consider when evaluating CAT5e vs CAT6 cables is price. While the length, quality, copper content, and manufacturer of these types of copper cables will all play a role in how much they cost, CAT6 cables are typically priced between 10% and 20% more than CAT5e cables thanks to their higher bandwidth capabilities.
As the newest version of computer networking cable, CAT6 features eight insulated wires instead of the five that were used in CAT5e. Its performance is twice as high and can handle higher bandwidths, but connectors and cables are usually compatible with both CAT5e and CAT6. While it’s likely that the latter will eventually see other cabling choices slowly phased out, this is unlikely to happen in the immediate future.
Before investing in the more expensive option, be sure to consult with an expert to check and see if you actually need CAT6 cables, or if CAT5e options will do the job just fine. Regardless of whether it’s just to stream Netflix or jump on an important Zoom call for work, the point is that in this era, having a functional, efficient and well designed data and communications system is a must.
More often than not, certain pieces of hardware and equipment are required in order to do so, and this is when the help of a reputable and experienced data and communications electrician can be a game changer for reliable home internet.
Here at Shield Electrical, we are a Brisbane based electrical contracting company, and pride ourselves on being shockingly good at watt we do. For us, friendly and reliable customer service isn’t just a nice add on – it’s how we do business. Don’t take our word for it though, just ask our clients.
Established in 2015, Shield Electrical is lighting the way when it comes to providing electrical work with world class customer service. With our headquarters based in the central suburban pocket of Coorparoo, our team of qualified industry professionals are readily available to deliver quality workmanship, fast quotes, and affordable pricing.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an electrician for domestic services, residential, commercial and industrial construction, security systems or even just further energy saving tips, get in touch with us at Shield today to source practical solutions that don’t break the bank.
