History of Networking Cables

The ethernet cable history is directly linked to advanced technology and developments in cables. 

As understood, the new technology will not work accurately with the old one. For that, one should need to adopt the idealized tech equipment.

When we see high-speed data networks like gigabit or 10 Gbps (gigabit per second) ethernet. It’s impossible to believe these network cables have drastically changed throughout the telephone networks.

The blog is about providing all the valuable information. About cat6 ethernet cable and cat6a ethernet cable and which one is right for your infrastructure.

The first ever ethernet cable was category 1, which was used for communications and Token Ring by IBM, after that Cat2, Cat3, and Cat4 were invented with the increased demand for speed and fine quality.

These cables are the result of technological advancement and are still progressing to cater to all the Fastest Ethernet Applications.

Due to rising technology, there is a greater demand for high networking speed, cable, and components that can transfer data over longer distances at faster speeds.

In the 1990s, the cat5 cable was widely used and supported the fastest network speed of up to 100 Mbps (megabit per second), this cable was then converted into Cat5e here ‘e’ abbreviated as enhanced quality.

The cable bears a maximum 1 Gbps data transfer speed of over 50 meters and has a frequency of 350 MHz (Mega Hertz). This cable was also used for fast ethernet applications.

It was not the end of networking cables as Cat6 and Cat6a were right after the invention of cat5e, these both are the advanced and next-level ethernet cables mostly known for their high data transfer speed and frequency so each category defines their specific roles to adopt for better results and speed.

The Invention Of Ethernet Cables

There is a brief chart explaining the category of ethernet cables related to their specifications

Category	Max. Frequency	Max. Distance	Max. Data Rate	Usage
Cat5e	350 MHz	100 meters	1 Gbps	Commonly used for residential applications
Cat6	550 MHz	100 meters	10 Gbps	Used in commercial and industrial setup
Cat6a	750 MHz	100 meters	10 Gbps	Data centers and commercial

 

In the above table, there is a brief explanation of each category of network cable. Let us know more about Cat6 and Cat6a ethernet cables.

Cat6 Ethernet Cable

Cat6 network cable has many substantial benefits according to its characteristics. The cable is capable of providing the highest speed like 1 Gbps over 100 meters and 10 Gbps over 50 meters with a tested frequency of 550 MHz.

The cable is a possible option to adopt for your personal use or within the office due to its seamless working.

When Cat6 was introduced it was quite expensive and may be restricted for some buyers and now Cat6 comes in a budget-friendly package and can be afforded easily. 

The cat6 ethernet cable is best known for supporting fast ethernet applications that include 10GBASE-T, 100BASE-T, PoE/+/++, Audio/Video Streaming, and gaming consoles.

Cat6 Shielding and Unshielding Attributes

The cat6 also has internal shielded or unshielded twisted pairs to install for the ideal location of the building.

Where unshielded is a standard cable to be used in a stationary environment (it means you don’t have a complex wiring structure) and will pass out a maximum of years.

Shielded cat6 ethernet cable has an additional layer that protects the inner conductor from corrosion and maximum lifetime for the cable.

The shielded cable can be used in a complex environment (Compex wiring structure) as it has an inner attribute to avoid EMI and crosstalk to the maximum to provide intact connectivity and seamless performance.

Although cat6 features all the favorable conditions to be selected for your upgrading network infrastructure. The cable still needs to be improvised by their jacket material.

Plenum And Riser Cat6 Jackets

Plenum is rated as the highest fire retardant jacket made up of LSZH-rated fluorinated ethylene polymers (FEP).

The plenum cable should be installed in the plenum spaces of the building like air ducts, drop ceilings, and the HVAC system where airflow is higher and in case of fire ignition, the material of the cable prevents the fire from spreading along the floor and emit non-toxic smoke.

The plenum cable is much more expensive than riser-rated cables and the plenum cable can be a substitute for riser cables.

Riser Rated Cat6 Cable

Riser cat6 cable is less fire retardant as compared to plenum cables. They are made up of fire-resistant material PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The riser cable is specially made for riser spaces of the building like elevator shafts and inside walls.

Choose wisely before selecting the cable jacket and location under consideration. 

Cat6a Ethernet Cable

The augmented category 6 generation cable is an advanced option for cabling. Here ‘a’ is abbreviated as augmented due to high-speed transfer speed and performance.

The cat6a cable can transfer data rate at up to 10 Gbps over 100 meters and 10 Gbps over 50 meters with the highest bandwidth of 750 MHz so is the finest option for running the fastest ethernet applications.

1000BASE-T, 10GBASE-T, 622 ATM, 155 ATM, Audio/Video Streaming, PoE/+/++, Gaming Console, etc.

The cable is the ultimate remedy for the EMI and crosstalk and provides you with satisfactory connectivity. Like other cables, this cat6a also comes in the shielded and unshielded category and they are installed according to the location.

The topmost feature of this cable is its lifetime to future-proof your cable connection. You should choose the cat6a ethernet cable for your installation.

If your business is not moving within 5 to 10 years cat6a is the best option for you to run a long time without any hassle.

Shielded Vs Unshielded Cat6a

Consumers can also choose either a shielded or unshielded cable solution, Shielded cat6a cable has an outer foil shield around each pair of wires. Thus, making it resistant to EMI and crosstalk (AXT, NEXT). Whereas, the unshielded cable is standard; it can avoid crosstalk and external influence.

Benefits of Shielded Cat6a Cable

The following advantages of cat6a cable include;

• Protects against crosstalk (AXT, NEXT).
• An improvised over Cat6a unshielded – ideal for industry or healthcare networks.
• Helps in reducing EMI/RFI to improve your internet speed.
• Installation time has been reduced by die-cast metal jacks that do not require special bonding to shield, making installation time comparable for UTP or STP.
• Potentially improved to withstand complex wiring structures.

Final Findings

The cat6 and cat6a are both ethernet cables bearing different characteristics regarding data transfer speed but. which one to adopt is so simple if you think that your business will continue to grow over the years you should opt for cat6a to future-proof the wire.

If you think you might need to update the location of your business then go for the Cat6 option but in case you are not sure you need to opt for the best possible option for your cabling to work in a hassle-free environment