Loading ...Shopping for a simple network cable is getting far too confusing. Time was you could pick up a cable with RJ45 connectors and be ready to go but now there’s Cat 5, 5e and even 6. Here’s an explanation of which one will suit you. Personally I prefer WIFI networks these days, but even so, I stil have one or two computers that are “hard-wored.” This guide, like most everything at FatherDan.com is intended for home and small office users. If you have a large office to cable then you should get professional advice.
Standard network cable these days is called Category 5 (aka ‘cat 5′) - it’s good for any 10 or 100Mbps network which is what virtually everyone runs at home or in offices.
As faster network standards come along a better network cable was needed. Category 5e (enhanced) is basically the same cable design but made to a higher quality standard. Cat 5e can handle the up-and-coming Gigabit (1,000Mbps) networks.
Gigabit network hubs, switches and adapters are available but are generally still too expensive for most of us. The main current use is from a server to network hub/switch to reduce that bottleneck. But in years to come expect Gigabit hardware to come down in price and be more common.
You may see Category 6 cables on sale usually for a hefty premium. Cat 6 cables are yet another quality improvement from Cat 5 and 5e. When 10,000Mbps (10 Gigabit) networks become available Cat 6 cables will be able to handle it. And there’s even talk of Category 7 cables. This will be a major redesign of network cabling with a new type of connector.
The familiar RJ-45 connector is used with all Category 5, 5e and 6 cables. Which one to buy? Go for Cat 5e cables where they are available for a reasonable price compared to standard Cat 5. 5e cables will last you for the foreseeable future of networking. Category 6 cables will give you even more flexibility in the future but it’s still too expensive. The only time to consider Cat 6 cables is in hard to access locations where you don’t want to worry about replacing the cables for a long time.
Some retailers are pushing Category 6 cables, but they are really pushing them for the extra profit margin. The only people who should be considering Cat 6 cables are big companies with heavy network traffic. Since most of us barely make full use of a 100Mbps network link there’s little point in spending money now on cables to support something 100 times faster. [Comment on this Post]
