| ANSI (American National Standards Institute) | | | | Ethernet 1000Base-T. Cat 5e is able to carry data |
| Standard #568 describes the different types of | | | | longer distances than Cat 5. Cat 5e can be used |
| categories (or Cat when talking about a piece of | | | | confidently for 350 meters. Cat 5e has better |
| cable). The three most popular and widely used | | | | performance measures. It also has more complex |
| cables are Cat 5, Cat 5e, and Cat 6. It is | | | | internals. Cat 5e exists in both solid conductor |
| important to pick the right category cable for the | | | | forms and stranded forms. Stranded is much |
| project that you are doing. The reason why it is | | | | more flexible and is used for military applications. |
| important is because you will know that you will | | | | Cat 5e is terminated in two different schemes, |
| be able to obtain a certain level of performance | | | | but there is no difference in the scheme used. |
| from your network by having installed the correct | | | | Cat 6 is similar to Cat 5e but is designed with |
| category cable. | | | | even stricter standards. Cat 6 is backward |
| Cat 5 | | | | compatible with Cat 5/Cat 5e. Cat 6 has a |
| Category 5 cable can be used to carry Ethernet | | | | standard performance of 250 MHz and works |
| traffic of up to 100Mbit/s and ATM of up to | | | | with both 1000BASE-T and 10BASE-T / |
| 155Mbit/s. The standard cable of an Ethernet | | | | 100BASE-TX. It also works with 10GBASE-T |
| 100Base-TX is Cat 5. Cat 5 is a twisted pair cable | | | | standard, but there are limits if Cat 6 unshielded |
| created for high signal integrity. Some are | | | | cable is used. Like earlier Cat 5e/ Cat 5, Cat 6 |
| unshielded while others are shielded. Cat 5 is used | | | | contains four twisted copper wire pairs. The cable |
| in structured cabling for computer networks, | | | | is made usually with 22 to 24 AWG gauge wire. |
| token ring, basic voice services, and ATM. The | | | | Cat 6, when used in a patch cable function, is |
| Category 5 cable has four twisted pairs in a single | | | | often terminated with a RJ-45 connection. |
| cable jacket. Cat 5 generally has three twists per | | | | One may use Cat 5, Cat 5e, or Cat 6 in the |
| inch of each individual twisted pair of 24 gauge | | | | same project, but the signal will be limited to the |
| wires inside of the cable. | | | | lowest category copper cable. When deciding on |
| Cat 5e | | | | which category cable to use, make sure to pick a |
| Category 5e is an upgraded version of the Cat 5 | | | | cable that not only meets your current needs but |
| standard and is capable of carrying data up to | | | | your future needs as well. |
| 1000Mbit/s. Cat 5e is the standard cable for use in | | | | |