What is Cat6 Ethernet Cable? FTP vs UTP Cat6 ?

What is Cat6 Ethernet Cable? Cat6 cable (category 6 cable), also commonly known as network, LAN or Ethernet data cable. It is a cable consisting of 4 twisted pairs of copper wires. It can support data transfer rates up to 1 Gigabit (1,000 megabits). This higher bandwidth allows large files to be transferred quickly in office networks. It is compatible with Fast Ethernet 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX and Gigabit Ethernet. And it is backward compatible with previous versions. For example, Cat5/5E and Cat3.

Usually, there is an eight-bit eight-port (8P8C) RJ45 jack on either end for connecting two devices. It is important to use a jack that meets the Cat6 rating to get the full performance it provides. Like all Ethernet cables, it can be identified by the logo on the outer sheath.

What is Ethernet Cable?

Network cable also called network patch cord and twisted pair cable. It usually used with RJ45 crystal plug. Because of its low price, it widely used in local area networks. And network cable is the most common transmission medium in integrated wiring.

What is Cat6 Cable Used for?

In most cases, Cat6 cable used to connect computers to other devices. Such as hubs, routers, or switches. To share files or access the Internet in a network.

It can also be used to connect computers to other devices such as printers or scanners. Or for incoming and outgoing LAN connections at a patch panel.

Cat6 Ethernet Cable Type, Frequency and Distance Usage

Cat6 Category	Frequency	Maximum Distance Use
Standard Cat6 network cable	250MHz	The maximum length of 10GBASE-T unshielded cable is 55M
Cat6a Ethernet Cable (Enhanced Cat6)	500MHz	The maximum cable length of 10GBASE-T is 100M

 

FTP vs UTP Cat6? How to Choose?

Cat6 cable uses twisted pairs as standard. This minimizes the amount of crosstalk, which reduces the noise generated by electrical interference. There are two types of twisted pair cables to choose from: shielded twisted pair Cat6 (FTP Cat6) and unshielded twisted pair Cat6 (UTP Cat6).

FTP Cat6 Cable

Standard twisted pair cables may not be enough for some environments. Therefore, shielded twisted pair (FTP) Cat6 ethernet cable are needed to deal with this problem.

Shielding usually done by wrapping the twisted pairs with a foil shield, which then wrapped with a PVC or low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) jacket.

Overall, FTP cables are more expensive and more rigid, making them more difficult to install. The sockets and connectors used at the same time also need to shielded. This further increases the cost.

UTP Cat6 Cable

In contrast, unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Cat6 cable is basically standard cable without the foil shield. It is able to reduce some electromagnetic interference on its own. But it does not block interference as effectively as FTP Cat6 Cable.

Cat5e vs Cat6, What is the difference between Cat5e and Cat6? How to Choose?

Basically, it comes down to quality, speed, and price.

A network will always run at the speed of the slowest device or component. So mixing these two cables will result in the entire network running at the lowest specification speed.

Cat5 is outdated and replaced by Cat5e. A good quality Cat5e cable can approach or reach Gigabit speeds. Cat6 is specifically certified to support 1 Gigabit operation. So it is faster than Cat5. Cat6 ethernet cable can support frequencies up to 250MHz, while Cat5e can only support up to 100MHz. Cat5e is more affordable and has speeds that are almost comparable to Cat6 cable. And there are many different colors to choose from to suit different scenarios.

If you want to buy Cat6 cables, it will be better relatively. But the price will be higher. And the performance improvement it provides is very weak. It is important to choose the right cable for a specific environment.