Category (Cat) cable comparison
Category network cables and connectors come in several flavors. As of the writing of this article there is 3, 4, 5, 5e, 6, 6a, 7, and 8. Some cables can be referred to as Category 1 or 2, but they are not official category cables according to TIA/EIA-568 standards.
Below are a brief set of definitions as far as ETC is concerned.
| Cable Type | Max Data Rate | Max Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat1 | Telephone wiring. ETC has never used it. Not an official Category standard. | ||
| Cat2 | Telephone and modem wiring. ETC has never used it. Not an official Category standard. | ||
| Cat3 | 10 Mbps | 100m / 328ft | First 10BaseT Ethernet. ETC has never used it. |
| Cat4 | 16 Mbps | 100m / 328ft | Token ring installations. ETC has never used it. |
| Cat5 | 100 Mbps (1 Gbps) | 100m / 328ft (50m / 164ft) | Obsolete but older installations may have cable and connectors at this rating. |
| Cat5e | 2.5 Gbps (most commonly used at 1 Gbps) | 100m / 328ft | ETC's current level for standard installations, although it'd been around for a long time. ETC devices with etherCON connectors use the 5e version. Systems are increasing being installed with Cat6a |
| Cat6 | 1 Gbps (10 Gbps) | 100m / 328ft (55m / 180 ft) | Good but not used too much now that 6a has been out for a while. Generally the cable, jacks, and patch cables are more expensive than Cat5e. The Neutrik Cat6 etherCON jacks are not compatible with the Cat5e or Cat6a etherCON parts and they are harder to terminate. ETC does not recommend these. Special custom cables with different connectors on each end would be needed. |
| Cat6a | 10 Gbps | 100m / 328ft | This is gaining popularity and will eventually take over Cat5e. Generally the cable, jacks, and patch cables are more expensive than Cat6. The etherCON versions are compatible with the Cat5e ones. ETC systems are increasingly being installed with Cat6a |
| Cat7 | 10 Gbps | 100m / 328ft | Exists as a standard but not many companies make the GG45 or TERA connectors for this, and very few products support use of the required connectors. Not used in ETC systems. |
| Cat8 | 25 Gbps (Cat8.1) 40 Gbps (Cat8.2) |
30m / 98ft | Cat8.1 uses the same connector as 6a. Cat8.2 uses GG45 or TERA connectors. Not a common cable and only used for core infrastructure. Not used in ETC systems. |
If you have questions contact ETC at aesupport@etcconnect.com.