The category is used to establish the minimum speed that we will obtain with the cable when using it at a distance of less than 100 meters. There are cables from category 1 to 7, although the most commonly used at a domestic level are categories 5, 5e, 6 and 6a .
We already explained in a previous article what network cables are and we talked about their main characteristics, specifications and types. Today we continue talking about this type of cable but we want to focus on its different categories. The category is used to establish the minimum speed that we are going to obtain with the cable when using it at a distance of less than 100 meters. Although WIFI connections are the most used today, to make the most of fiber optic connections you should opt for a wired network. There are cables from category 1 to 7, although the most used at home are categories 5, 5e, 6 and 6a. In principle, the higher the category, the greater the speed we can achieve and also the bandwidth. In other words, the “fat” of the pipe for the passage of data. Although this can also vary depending on the distance
- Category 6 : 1Gbps and 250Mhz bandwidth
- Category 6a : 10Gbps and 500 Mhz bandwidth
- Category 7 : 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 600Mhz bandwidth
- Category 8 : 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 800Mhz bandwidth
Another factor that makes the difference between one category or another refers to the thickness of the wires and the type of braiding. The higher the category, the more frequent the braiding, and thus interference is reduced and better results are achieved. Choosing one cable or another will also depend on the connection and distance characteristics, among other aspects. The Cat 7 network cable is the most efficient to date and is usually used for home automation and smart installations. If you still don't know which category of cable to choose to get the best internet connection according to the characteristics of your connection and installation, at Tienda Cables we will help you choose your best option. We have a wide range of network cables . We look forward to seeing you!