When it comes to the Internet, you want to be sure you?re choosing the best option for your household. Therefore, you want to be sure you?re choosing the right Ethernet cable. Ethernet cables are twisted to prevent any interference or currents that may happen in the four pairs of twisted wires of which Ethernet cables consist of.
Ethernet cables can come in a plethora of varieties with differing Internet speeds. However, in terms of modernized Cat cables, there are typically three different types to choose from — Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat6.
What?s the difference between Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat6 cables?
Cat5 cables can last up to 10 years and are able to handle fast Ethernet speeds of 10/100 Mbps. While slower than the Cat5e cable bulk and Cat6 Ethernet cable, the Cat5 is still faster than the average WiFi connection.
Cat5e cables and the Cat5e cable bulk are significantly faster than the Cat5 and is therefore typically used in most Ethernet installations. Cat5e cable bulk reduces crosstalk, or interference within the cables, and enhances the speed of your Internet up to 1GB per second.
Cat6 cables are the fastest of the bunch and produce higher frequencies than a Cat5e cable bulk or a Cat5. The Cat6 reduces crosstalk within your cables even more than the Cat5e and the speed of your Ethernet is increased up to 10GB per second.
Which Ethernet cable is right for me?
The type of Ethernet cable you choose is really dominated by your desired Internet speed. Cat5 Ethernet cables are on their way out the door and so you may not even need to choose it in terms of your installation.
However, if you don?t have a lot of technology in your home, a Cat5 may actually be just right for you. If you have more technology in your home or multiple people using the Internet at once, you may consider using a Cat5e cable bulk or Cat6 cable as a means of reducing the crosstalk between the cables and enhancing the WiFi speed.
Cat5e Ethernet cables are standard and work efficiently, but if you?re not looking to have to change Ethernet cables over time the Cat6 may be the right choice for you. Cat6 Ethernet cables have a more futuristic outlook and so, despite the fact that they?re more expensive than the Cat5e or the Cat5, they?ll last far longer in terms of their sales than the soon-to-be-outdated Cat5.
Whichever Ethernet cable you choose, be sure to routinely check the status of your cable to ensure the safety of its wires and cables. Ethernet cables can last up to 10 years before they need to be replaced so be sure to check periodically every couple of months to ensure the working status of your cable.
