Network Cable Types:Cat5e vs Cat6,Cat7 vs Cat8

Today's article will thoroughly introduce the network cable types including Cat5e vs Cat6,Cat7 vs Cat8.

 

 

The most frequently used network cable types include the following:Cat5e vs Cat6,Cat7 vs Cat8.They play a crucial role in IP networks, serving as the physical medium that connects network devices such as routers, ethernet switches, computers, and other network terminals. The quality and types of network cables directly affect network performance, including data transfer rates, signal stability, and transmission distance.

High-quality network cables types can reduce signal attenuation and electromagnetic interference, ensuring reliable and efficient data transmission. For example, in high-speed network applications such as data centers or large enterprise networks, using Cat6a or Cat7 cables can support higher data transfer rates and longer transmission distances. Additionally, the shielding type of network cables also impacts their performance. Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) and Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) are two common shielding types. STP provides better anti-interference capabilities through a metal shielding layer, while UTP is widely used in most applications due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of installation.

When choosing network cables, it is necessary to consider the network's transmission rate requirements, transmission distance, cost, and installation environment. For example, home networks may use Cat5e or Cat6 cables, while commercial environments that require high-speed data transmission and long-distance transmission may choose Cat6a or Cat7 cables. For environments with extremely high performance requirements such as data centers, Cat8 Cables may be used. In short, choose network cables based on your network needs and budget to ensure efficiency and stability.

 

Network cables can be classified from many angles, but the most common is by the data transfer rate they support, as the data transfer rate involves the purpose of the cable. The most commonly used network cables today are Cat5e cables, which support Gigabit Ethernet. However, if you visit a professional network cable manufacturer such as COBTEL, you will see that current network cables can support up to 40Gbps, which is Cat8.

As shown in the figure above, network cables can currently support transmission rates from 100Mbps, 1000Mbps, 10Gbps to 40Gbps. We typically refer to them by their category. Cat5 cables, abbreviated as CAT5, support a transmission rate of 100Mbps and are now rarely found on the market. However, they are still present in many older, pre-installed network setups. Cat5e cables, abbreviated as CAT5E, support a transmission rate of 1000Mbps and are the most common network cables on the market.

In actual engineering cases, Cat6 cables, abbreviated as CAT6, are also used, with a transmission rate of 1000Mbps, but with a higher signal transmission frequency of 250MHz, thus providing stronger anti-interference capabilities. Many Cat6 cables also come with a central spine for higher tensile strength. Cat6a and Cat7 cables are less commonly seen in actual engineering projects, with a transmission rate of up to 10Gbps and a signal transmission frequency of up to 500MHz. For 10Gbps transmission, SFP+ 10G Optical Modules and fiber optics are often preferred in engineering projects. Current network cables have a transmission distance of only 100 meters, which is suitable for building transmission, but even for building transmission, they are being replaced by fiber optics.

Fiber optic drop cables have two steel wires on the outside for added strength and one or two optical fibers inside.

 

Additionally, there are Cat8 Cables, which are even rarer in actual engineering projects, with a transmission rate of 40Gbps and a signal transmission frequency of up to 2000MHz. Of course, to support higher transmission frequencies in the future, better materials such as oxygen-free copper (OFC) and surface gold plating technology must be used. There are also more shielding layers, not just aluminum foil, but also aluminum-magnesium braided shielding layers, to protect signal transmission from interference. Of course, this also means higher costs.

In the classification of network cables, twisted pair is the most common type. Twisted pair, also known as Twisted Pair (TP), is the most commonly used transmission medium in integrated wiring projects, consisting of two copper wires with an insulating protective layer, twisted together at a certain density. This twisting technique effectively minimizes signal interference, as the electromagnetic waves radiated by one wire during transmission are canceled out by the waves from the other wire. Twisted pair is usually made up of multiple pairs of such twisted wires bundled together in an insulating cable sheath. If one or more pairs of twisted wires are placed in an insulating sheath, a twisted pair cable is formed. In everyday usage, "twisted pair network cables" are often simply called "twisted pair."

There is also this flat network cable, which is quite common and a favorite of engineering maintenance personnel, as it is very convenient to carry around.

However, it is not commonly used in actual engineering wiring due to its weak anti-interference capability determined by its structure. Signal attenuation is relatively large for long-distance transmission.

Another classification angle is the type of shielding. Mainly divided into Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), Shielded Twisted Pair (STP), Foil Twisted Pair (FTP), and Shielded Foil Twisted Pair (SFTP) with braided shielding and foil.

UTP unshielded network cables refer to network cables without a metal shielding layer. These cables are usually composed of insulated wire pairs, with each pair twisted together to form a so-called "twisted pair" structure. Unshielded network cables have a simple design and a small diameter, thus having an advantage in space occupation. Due to the lack of a metal protective layer, their anti-interference capability is poor, making them more suitable for environments with less interference, such as homes or offices. Unshielded network cables are easier to install, with strong flexibility and independence, suitable for structured cabling. Additionally, the manufacturing process of unshielded network cables is relatively simple, with lower costs, making them a more economical choice when the budget is limited.

STP, also known as shielded twisted pair, features an independent aluminum foil shielding layer for each pair of wires to reduce signal attenuation and external electromagnetic interference. STP also features a metal braided shielding layer around multiple wire pairs, meeting Cat7 structural standards. STP is suitable for high-speed networks and high-security transmission, capable of supporting future application updates, and suitable for environments where multiple media information is transmitted together. FTP, or foil shielded twisted pair, has the advantages of using a larger bandwidth, having a certain anti-interference capability, and reducing signal attenuation. FTP has a layer of aluminum foil wrapped around the outer layer of the network cable, which can effectively isolate external electromagnetic field interference to the signal, but its suppression of electromagnetic interference (crosstalk) between internal wire pairs is limited.

SFTP adds a braided shielding layer on the basis of STP, usually using aluminum-magnesium braided mesh or tinned copper mesh, with an outer layer of PVC sheath. SFTP has two shielding layers, and there must be insulation between the two shielding layers. This design effectively reduces environmental magnetic field and signal interference, with lower internal signal attenuation. However, SFTP is relatively less flexible and more expensive, making it suitable for specialized cabling projects in special environments.

In addition to the three main types of shielded network cables mentioned above, there are other types of shielded network cables, such as F/FTP, U/FTP, SF/UTP, etc. These network cable types have their own characteristics in shielding methods and are suitable for different network environments and transmission needs.

F/FTP has aluminum foil on each wire core, and then the eight wire cores are wrapped together with another layer of aluminum foil, which can more effectively suppress electromagnetic interference between internal wire pairs, providing an advantage in long-distance transmission. It is commonly used in Cat6a products. Other types of network cables are less common and are mostly used in environments with various electromagnetic interferences or for long-distance high-bandwidth signal transmission. In environments with strong electromagnetic interference and long-distance transmission, people prefer to use fiber optic cables for transmission.

 

 

As the infrastructure of network connections, the selection of network cables is also very critical. The outer sheath of network cables, as an important part of network cable protection and aesthetics, also directly affects the performance and lifespan of network cables. Surprisingly, the network cable industry now even grades outer sheaths as high, medium, or low quality. The outer sheath of network cables is divided into the outer jacket, as shown in the gray color in the figure below, and the inner sheath, which is the orange-white-orange, blue-white-blue, green-white-green, brown-white-brown outer sheath that directly contacts the wire cores.

So what material should be chosen for the network cable sheath?

 

PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PVC is the most conventional material for network cable sheaths, characterized by high flexibility, resistance to falling, pressure, and bending, and is also relatively affordable. However, since PVC plastic itself contains chloride, its service life is relatively short.

TPU: Thermoplastic Polyurethane material, characterized by resistance to falling, corrosion resistance, and good flexibility. Compared to PVC plastic, TPU network cable sheaths have a longer service life, but the price is slightly higher. However, peeling during installation is more cumbersome, making it less popular among construction personnel. It was popular for a while a few years ago, but now it is rarely produced in whole boxes of TPU network cables. LSZH (low smoke zero halogen): Due to its environmental protection and flame retardant characteristics, LSZH is increasingly required in engineering projects. It is now a high-end product. Not only network cables, but also many electric cables, coaxial cables, and fiber optic cables use LSZH low smoke zero halogen sheaths.

PE (Polyethylene) material, generally used for network cable jackets of outdoor waterproof network cables in the industry. PE material is relatively rigid, offering excellent resistance to stretching, UV exposure, freezing, and aging, making it ideal for outdoor installations without conduits. At the same time, PE material is the most used in the inner sheath of network cables.