Cat5 vs. Cat6a Ethernet cables – Which one is the best?
Setting up internet connections in your home or office calls for the use of a good router and also excellent cabling. The Cat5 and Cat6a Ethernet cables are both options you can use for your connection. But which one is best?
Did you actually know that it is possible to have the best router under the sun but still suffer poor speed? Different Ethernet cables have different transmission speeds and bandwidths, and they determine, to a large extent, your experience with internet speeds.
The Cat5 cable has been around close to two decades now. It is quite popular, but is largely considered old technology. It had great internet speeds for its time. It has been replaced by structurally stronger and faster cables. If you are looking to install internet connections for your home, it is still possible to use this cable. Finding it in a retail store will be a tall order, though.
The Cat6a is one of the fastest and strongest cables around. It is quite popular for its ability to amply transmit internet in homes, offices and even data centers. It is not short of its own faults, though. The developers focused on giving it a strong build but overlooked flexibility. It is difficult to install it in places with sharp turns and tight corners, but it can handle heavy crisscrossing without many issues.
So which one of the two is the best cable? Is the Cat5 still good enough, and is the Cat6a too much for your home or office? This article will look into each cable in detail so you can decide what direction you should swing in.
Let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Cat5 and Cat6a Ethernet Cables?
Category |
Cat5 Ethernet Cable |
Cat6a Ethernet Cable |
Shielding |
Unshielded |
Shielded |
Maximum Transmission Speed |
10/100 Mbps |
10 Gbps |
Maximum Bandwidth |
100 MHz |
500 MHz |
Cat5 vs. Cat6a Ethernet Cables – How do they compare?
Shielding
Ethernet cables have copper wires in them for the purpose of transmitting electromagnetic impulses. He average Ethernet cable has 8 copper wires, and they are the heart of the cable. The wires should never come into direct contact as it would result in interference and subsequent crosstalk. For this reason, they are covered in flexible pvc. The pvc casing is color coded to help in attaching the cable to connectors among other things.
In the Cat5 cable, the copper wires are twisted in twos to make 4 pairs. This twisting helps to keep the cable secure and to reduce the occurrence of crosstalk. The twisting in this cable is a bit loose, so it is still quite susceptible to crosstalk. There is no other form of internal casing for the copper wires. The cable is then covered in a flexible outer jacket.
The Cat6a cable’s copper wires are more tightly twisted together. A firmer twist makes the cable more compact and thicker than the Cat5 cable. The copper wire pairs are covered in a foil shield. It helps to give a more secure hold and to prevent the occurrence of crosstalk. There is also a feature called the splein that runs the whole length of the cable. It keeps the wires from interacting closely and to reduce the chances of crosstalk. The outer jacket of the cable is also quite firm, and it makes the cable capable of handling heavy crisscrossing.
Maximum Transmission Speed
The Cat5 cable, as earlier mentioned, is old technology. It has a maximum transmission speed of 10/100 Mbps. This speed is quite low in this day and age. It will still work quite well in a home and small office setting.
The Cat6a has a maximum transmission speed of 10 Gbps. This cable can transmit at this sped at a distance of up to 100 meters. It is an ideal cable to use in offices and even data centers.
Maximum Bandwidth
The Cat5 has a maximum bandwidth of 100 MHz. This, though quite low, is quite the upgrade from the Cat3 Ethernet cable’s 16MHz. It gave the Cat5 the capacity to transfer more data within a shorter time.
The Cat6a Ethernet cable has a maximum bandwidth of 500 Mhz which is 5 times broader than the Cat5 cable. This bandwidth makes it one of the giants in the Ethernet industry. For this reason, it has no problem delivering in offices and data centers.
Cat5 vs. Cat6a Ethernet Cable Overview
The Cat5 Ethernet Cable
- Belkin Cat5e Patch Cable - 1000ft - Blue
This cable can be comfortably used in a home setting, or in a small office. It is old technology and is largely considered obsolete. It uses copper wires to transmit the data in form of electromagnetic impulses. The wires, usually 8, are covered in PVC casing that is color coded. They are then twisted in twos to make 4 pairs of wire. This cable has no other form of internal shielding. It is then covered in a pvc jacket on the outside.
It has a maximum transmission speed of 10/100 Mbps which is considerably low. The 100 MHz bandwidth is also low as compared to other Ethernet cables, but it serves sufficiently in environments that do not require heavy transmission. It is not as durable as other cables, and it may not be able to handle heavy crisscrossing with other cables.
Pros
- It is ideal for home and small office use
- It is quite flexible and easy to install in corners and sharp turns
- It is backward compatible
Cons
- It is quite hard to find in the market
- It has a low transmission speed
- It has a low bandwidth
- It cannot handle heavy crisscrossing
The Cat6a Ethernet Cable
- At half the size of standard Cat6A patch cables (0.149" v 0.29"), SlimRun Cat6A helps reduce congestion...
- With SlimRun Cat6A, you can fit more cables in the same space, saving you the time and cost of expanding...
This cable boasts fast speeds, a broad bandwidth and strong build. The most interesting thing about it is its unique shielding. The copper wires are twisted tighter which causes for a more structurally sound cable and less crosstalk. The copper wire pairs are secured by a foil casing that also helps to reduce the chances of crosstalk. There is a feature known as a spline that runs through the center of the cable. It helps to prevent the copper wires from developing crosstalk.
It has a maximum transmission speed of 10Gbps that it can transmit to 100 meters. it has a 500MHz bandwidth that makes it able to handle fast and heavy transmissions.
Pros
- It is quite strong
- It has a high transmission speed and broad bandwidth
- It is backward compatible
Cons
- It is not flexible
- It is expensive
Conclusion
Different cables have the capacity to deliver different speeds. Due to the difference in technology, these two cables are suited to handle different capacities and different settings. The Cat5 is okay for home use, but the Cat6a is made for offices and data centers.
Verdict: So, which one is best – Cat5 or Cat6a?
The Cat6a is definitely the better of the two cables. It combines a high maximum transmission speed, broad bandwidth and strong build. This makes it ideal for use in offices and even data centers. The Cat5 cable would be a downgrade, and you can improve your experience by getting the Cat6a cable.
FAQs
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Is the Cat6a Ethernet cable backward compatible?
Yes, the Cat6a is backward compatible. All Ethernet cables are made to be backward compatible and can be connected to other networks.
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Can these two cables use the same connector?
Yes, they usually use the Rj45 connector.
