How to Choose the Best Ethernet Cable

With the increasing need for the internet, everyone wants a fast network in their house or office computers. But how to choose a right ethernet cable for the diffirent spot ?

These cables are responsible for internet networking between a modem and your computers. Different types have different speeds. This article will tell you how to choose the best Ethernet cable for you.

First to know

Cat5e Ethernet cable: Standard Bandwidth 100MHz, used for home and offices.

Cat6 Ethernet cable: Standard Bandwidth 250MHz, used for offices.

Cat6a and Cat7 Ethernet cable: Standard Bandwidth 500-1000MHz, used for big Buildings and Schools.

Cat8 Ethernet cable: Standard Bandwidth 2000MHz, used for Data Center.

Types of Ethernet Cable

Learning about it can be helpful when choosing the best Ethernet cable, although most of the time, Ethernet cables come with modems, and you don’t have to worry about choosing one.

Ethernet cable made of fiber optics made of glass is used for longer distances, like across countries, to transmit signals. Fiber optics transmit signals to far reaches at the speed of light.

When buying an Ethernet cable Cat is the word that comes up repeatedly. The category is termed a cat. When selecting the Ethernet cable cat, 8 is the newest technology.

Cat 1 to Cat 5 and 5e

In ethernet cables, categories 1 to 5 are considered old-fashioned and are not used anymore because of the slow internet transmittance.

Whereas 5e means enhanced, this type of cable is relatively better because less signal is lost in this cable. It has a speed of more than cat5 and is used extensively and affordable.

Cat 6 and 6a

Category 6 ethernet cable can provide a speed of 1- 10Gbps. You can use this cable when you need noise cancellation and cable with insulation materials like foil and braids.

Category 6a is the augmented cable we can use for a dense, high-speed transmission. With the more speed provision, these cables are more expensive than cat 5 and cat5e ethernet cables.

Cat 7 and 7a

Many people do not use category 7 and 7a ethernet cables, but they are highly functional. These categories could be improved; many people call cat 6a and cat 7.

If you have a 10 Gigabit ethernet connection, you can use a cat7a cable, but it is costly and advised to use cat 7a in particular conditions.

Cat 8

Cat 8 has the speediest technology; the cables are always shielded and work on the highest frequencies.

Cat 8 is your best choice, becoming less expensive every day. It is the best choice to buy the best ethernet cable for your internet connection.

Qualities of Ethernet Cable to Look for

The best ethernet cable is the one that makes your connection possible, and you have to check the following points for the selection of the best ethernet cable that is,

1.       Check all the ethernet cable categories, and according to your internet speed, select the one that suits you.

2.       Ethernet cable quality determines your internet speed rate, so always go for a well-known company.

3.       You also have to consider the price before buying.

4.       Always check the performance of the category of ethernet cable you are selecting.

5.       Different length options are available for different categories of ethernet cable. For example, cat 6 and cat 5e cables have a maximum of 328 feet in length (100m). You have to choose the size that suits you the best

6.       You can get different colors in ethernet cables to manage your desk and the wires.

It is in your best interest to consider these points before buying to replace your old ethernet cable or get a new cable and internet connection.

Ethernet Cable and Your Internet

When you want to buy an ethernet cable for your computer, considering your internet speed is essential. If you don’t have more than 50 Mbps download capacity, purchasing a 10Gbps ethernet cable is not wise.

You can quickly check the speed by running a test on your computer. For a slower connection, like a speed of 10 to twenty megabits, the best ethernet would be cat 5 or any new version like cat 6, 6a, or cat 5e.

Insulation of Ethernet Cables

Different words indicate the insulation provided to the ethernet cables by shielding. The internet signals get damaged and sometimes eliminated by the outer electromagnetic rays that weaken our internet connection.

U

Another specification indicates that this ethernet cable does not have any special insulations and, therefore, could be used mainly for household purposes.

U/UTP typically denotes complete lack of shielding: These cables are becoming less common in our technologically advanced world, but they are still adequate for basic home uses as long as they are kept away from large appliances.  Usually, there are Cat5e and Cat6.

F

An “F” indicates the presence of a foil shield, a polyester insulating cover also presents the outer covering of the ethernet cable. That consists of a copper, aluminum, or metal foil layer covered in durable polyester. The foil can degrade over time and is prone to tearing in some environments, but it is a very effective and reasonably priced method of shielding Ethernet cables. Used for cat6 and cat6a.

S

When the letter “s” appears in the description of an Ethernet cable, it denotes that the coils’ insulation is made up of weavings made of copper or tin. Although the coverage is not nearly as thorough as foil, this is more resilient. Used for cat6 and cat6a

SF and FF

Double shielded (braid + foil), used for cat7 ant cat8. The function same as foil +foil shielded, but higher cost. So often use F/FTP(Foil + Foil).

The S/FTP Ethernet cables are doubly shielded, with foil shielding on one side and braid shielding on the other. They perform the same functions as F/FTP cables, though. However, when comparing prices, S/FTP Ethernet cables are more expensive than F/FTP cables. As a result, you can choose to use F/FTP cables rather than S/FTP cables..

What Are the Styles of Ethernet Cables?

There are different styles of ethernet cables that make them distinctive to be used in other conditions. You can get a slim cable. This type of cable style is used in server rooms, and specific data enters because of the less space.

Solid wires that are highly insulated are used where other systems are working, and there is a chance of mixing the signals. It is relatively thick because of the insulation materials, and it does not let your signals get mixed up or eliminated.

If your ethernet cables are in a space where they are touched and folded regularly, you can get braided or even armored styles of ethernet to get them safe and not damaged again and again.

Colors of Ethernet Cable

In terms of performance, the color of your Ethernet cable is irrelevant and has no bearing on anything. To recognize what a given cable is being used for, to identify the type of connection, or to set their connection apart from other suppliers, cable vendors may assign distinct colors.

For instance, the colors green and yellow could indicate crossover connections, PoE (Power over Ethernet), blue could indicate server-specific cables, etc. However, there is no hard and fast rule here. Many installers merely utilize colors to keep intricate Ethernet cable installations in data centers better organized.

But for our daily using, don’t care about it. You may buy what color you like most. You may get more expertize from us!