The CAT 6 specification is able to support GbE (GigE, or Gigabit Ethernet) which runs at 1000 Mbps, or 1 Gbps. GigE uses fibre typically but can also use Cat6.
Category 1 (Cat1 – Level 1)
This category consists of basic telecommunications and power-limited circuit cables. There are no electrical performance test or bandwidth requirements for this classification. Level 1 cabling may not be used in horizontal cabling systems.
Category 2 (Cat2 – Level 2)
This category consists of cables specified to 1 MHz Level 2 cabling may not be used in horizontal wiring cabling systems.
Category 3 (Cat 3)
3-4 twists per foot of cable. This is a performance designation for twisted-pair cable and connecting hardware that can support frequency transmission up to 16 MHz, and data rates of 10 Mbps. Category 3 has the capability to support low speed data applications, performing to the acceptable minimum for 100 ohm cabling systems; however it is now primarily used for telephone wiring.
Category 4 (rarely used)
This category consists of cables and connectors specified up to 20 MHz and data rates of 16 Mbps. Since the development of Category 5, however, Category 4 wiring systems are rarely used.
Category 5 (Cat 5)
3-4 twists per inch of cable (12 times more twists than Cat 3). This category consists of cables and connectors specified up to 100 MHz and data rates of 100 Mbps, providing optimal performance for all data and phone systems. These systems are quickly becoming the standard because they provide a “safety net” to help ensure that current and future high-speed applications will run with peak accuracy, efficiency and throughput.
Ethernet cable standard defined by the Electronic Industries Association and Telecommunications Industry Association (commonly known as EIA/TIA). CAT5 is the 5th generation of twisted pair Ethernet cabling and the most popular of all twisted pair cables in use today.
Cat5 cable contains four pairs of copper wire. CAT5 supports Fast (100 Mbps) Ethernet and comparable alternatives such as ATM. As with all other types of twisted pair EIA/TIA cabling, CAT5 cable runs are limited to a maximum recommended run rate of 100m (328 feet).
Although CAT5 cable usually contains four pairs of copper wire, Fast Ethernet communications only utilize two pairs.
Solid and Stranded Cat5 Cable - Twisted pair cable like CAT5 comes in two main varieties, solid and stranded. Solid Cat5 cable supports longer runs and works best in fixed wiring configurations like office buildings. Stranded Cat5 cable, on the other hand, is more pliable and better suited for shorter-distance, movable cabling such as on-the-fly “patch” cabling.
Though newer cable technologies like CAT6 and CAT7 are being developed, CAT5 cable remains the popular choice, because it is both affordable and plenty fast enough for today’s LANs.
Category 5 Enhanced (Cat 5E )
More twists per inch than Cat5 – supports short-run Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) networking by utilizing all four wire pairs and is backward-compatible with ordinary CAT5.
Category 6 (Cat 6)
Cat6 is an Ethernet cable standard defined by the Electronic Industries Association and Telecommunications Industry Association (commonly known as EIA/TIA). CAT6 is the 6th generation of twisted pair Ethernet cabling.
Cat6 cable contains four pairs of copper wire. Unlike CAT5 but like Cat5e, Cat6 utilizes all four pairs. CAT6 supports Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Ethernet and supports communications at more than twice the speed of CAT5e, the other popular standard for Gigabit Ethernet cabling.
As with all other types of twisted pair EIA/TIA cabling, CAT6 cable runs are limited to a maximum recommended run rate of 100m (328 feet).
Twisted pair cable like CAT6 comes in two main varieties, solid and stranded. Solid CAT6 cable supports longer runs and works best in fixed wiring configurations like office buildings. Stranded CAT6 cable, on the other hand, is more pliable and better suited for shorter-distance, movable cabling such as “patch” cables.
CAT6 comes at a significantly higher price tag than CAT5 or CAT5e, and today’s applications simply can’t take advantage of CAT6’s better performance. However, if wiring a home or building for the long term, one may still consider using CAT6.
Category 7 (Cat 7)
This category is still in the development stage and will use a braided shield surrounding all four foil shielded pairs to reduce noise and interference. The connector is RJ45, delivered only through pins 1/2 and 7/8.
The cable is ISO Class F, and is defined in IS11801 2ndEdition, 2002.
Performance is characterized to 600MHz and Crosstalk isolation is >20dB more than Class D cables (cat5e). Each of the conductor pairs has its own shielding, in addition to the outer shielding.
Initially, the default Cat7 connector was RJ45, but several new connector designs came out to challenge this.
Several new “Cat. 7″ connectors are under Development. (e.g.: AMP, BKS, Siemon, Telesafe, T&B) z IEC/TC48 is currently discussing new standard proposals.
The Cat7 Tera Connector - the IEC vote of 18 countries represents a significant achievement for structured cabling. For the first time, a non-RJ-style connector interface has been internationally standardised for four pair connections in a structured cabling system. During the interface selection conducted by ISO/IEC, an independent panel was asked to judge six different non-RJ-style connector proposals. Based on 48 separate criteria, including size, complexity, manufacturability, user-friendliness and transmission performance, the TERA™ interface was ranked the best overall choice for delivering the demanding bandwidth specified in the standard.
Finally, the Siemon “Tera” connector was chosen by the IEC as the official Cat7 connector and is described in IEC 61076-3-104. It is now the standard interface for Category 7/Class F and broadcast communications technology (BCT) cabling and is commercially available.
“TERA™ system offers enhanced performance to 1.2 GHz that constitutes an electrical superset of all other balanced cabling categories and classes. It has the unique ability to replace other high-speed media such as 50- and 75-ohm coaxial media used for broadband video, as well as 150-ohm Shielded Twisted Pair (STP). Its innovative design allows for up to four individual 1.2 GHz balanced pair connections in the same space as a single keystone jack permitting users to integrate video, voice and data services over a single cabling link. The outstanding pair isolation that makes this capability possible provides for unsurpassed alien crosstalk performance – an important consideration for emerging applications like 10GBASE-T. It is positioned to revolutionize structured cabling systems both for commercial and residential applications.”
In addition to this ISO/IEC approval , the Siemon TERA™ connector interface has been chosen by ISO/IEC as the primary interface for the Broadcast and Communications technology (BCT) and Small Office Home Office (SOHO) standard being developed by draft standard ISO/IEC 15018 (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25 N822)
Siemon offers a complete line of TERA™ products including cable, outlets, patch panels, modular patch cords and more. TERA™ is a fully shielded (S/FTP) cabling solution that virtually eliminates emissions and susceptibility to electromagnetic interference.
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