| Put simply Ethernet cables are used the world | | | | industry however this cable has almost completely |
| over to connect computers together. They can | | | | been replaced by Cat 5e cable which has become |
| also be used to connect computers ton other | | | | the cabling of choice for the creation of computer |
| devices such as scanners and printers. Without | | | | networks. Basically Cat 5e is an improved, simpler |
| these cables network capabilities would be greatly | | | | version of the previous Cat 5 which is now the |
| reduced, it may even be impossible to create a | | | | standard. |
| network without them. Fundamentally Ethernet | | | | As well as the Cat 5 and 5e variants there is also |
| cables allow computers to share large amounts of | | | | Cat 6 Ethernet cable. Cat 6 is typically more |
| information as well as utilise shared network | | | | expensive but is capable of handling larger |
| facilities. | | | | amounts of data. In most cases this form of |
| Under the umbrella of Ethernet cable there are | | | | cabling is used in instances where the existing |
| many different types of cable available on the | | | | network is running at or close to its maximum |
| market. Usually these are referred to as | | | | data capacity. The higher data transfer speeds |
| categories, normally shortened to cat. For the | | | | that cat 6 can deliver are the reason it is used in |
| uninitiated these classifications can be confusing | | | | such instances. |
| but they do not have to be; basically the names | | | | In most cases, whether in the home or in a small |
| given to each type of cable refer to features and | | | | to medium sized office Cat 5e cable will be |
| data handling capabilities. | | | | suitable, however high data carriers may want to |
| One of the most common Ethernet cables was | | | | utilise the Cat 6 option as this will deliver more |
| the cat 5, used both for creating computer | | | | efficient network. |
| networks and within telecommunications. In | | | | |