How to pick the right cables for your home network (Cat 5, Cat 6, and Cat 7)
When purchasing an Ethernet cable, you may have noticed the several different types available on the market. Without a little basic knowledge, figuring out the right Ethernet cables for your home network can be confusing. In this article, we shall look at the different types of cables available and the factors to consider when selecting the right one for your home network.
Cat, standing for category, refers to the specification version supported by a specific cable. The higher the number, the higher the frequency and data transfer speeds the cable can handle. As a result, newer cable standards can withstand higher bandwidth and increased download speeds. Most cables made for personal use rarely exceed 100 meters and are unlikely to experience bottleneck speeds. Similarly, longer Ethernet cables possess slower transmission speeds.
Choosing the right Ethernet cable ensures the best performance for the best possible price. Buying an over-specified cable means you will pay too much for it while picking an underspecified option means it will have impaired performance, and the Ethernet or LAN link will not work to its full potential. As a result, here is a list of the capabilities of each cable standard.
Category |
Maximum Frequency |
Shielding |
Maximum Transmission speed (100 meters) |
Cat3 |
16MHz |
Unshielded |
10Mbps |
Cat5
|
100MHz |
Unshielded |
10/100Mbps |
100MHz |
Unshielded |
1000Mbps/1Gbps |
|
Cat6 |
250MHz |
Unshielded or shielded |
1000Mbps/1Gbps |
500MHz |
Shielded |
10,000Mbps/10Gbps |
|
Cat7 |
600MHz |
Shielded |
10,000Mbps/10Gbps |
Cat7a |
1000MHz |
Shielded |
10,000Mbps/10Gbps |
Table of Contents
How to pick the right cables for your home network (Cat 5, Cat 6, and Cat 7)
Cat3 and Cat5
Despite Cat3 and Cat5 Ethernet cables being obsolete, you may find them still in use in old telephone or mobile lines. They are longer available on the market.
Specs
- A maximum length of 100 meters
- Cat3 has a maximum bandwidth of 16MHz for up to 10Mbps
- Cat5 has a maximum frequency of 100Mhz for up to 100Mbps
- No insulation in the entire cable
Before internet plans with speeds of 100Mbps and higher were so prevalent in home networks, Cat3 and Cat5 cables provided sufficient support. They are both unshielded twisted pair cables that supported connectivity at a maximum distance of 100 meters.
Cat3 cables offered a maximum data transfer speed of 10Mbps, while Cat5 cables provide a maximum transfer rate of 100Mbps. Being that the current minimum home network speed is 1 Gigabyte, these cables are no longer useful. As a result, if you are still using these cable standards, it is advisable to replace them with a more recent cable.
Pros
- Ideal for internet plans with speeds lower than 100Mbps
- A maximum distance of 100 meters
Cons
- Superseded by much more advanced cable standards
Verdict
True Cat3 and Cat5 cables are obsolete, and you probably cannot purchase them anywhere anymore. You should upgrade these cables to Cat5e as it supports faster speeds.
Cat5e
Referring to Cat 5 enhance, these cables are cost-effective and support Gigabyte Ethernet.
Specs
- A maximum distance of 100 meters
- Optimum data transfer limit is 1000Mbps/1 Gigabyte for up to 100Mhz
- Four unshielded twisted pair cables
Cat5e is currently the most popular Ethernet cable in use in commercial and residential establishments. It is a cost-effective solution and is soft enough to provide neat wiring around the walls. These cables undergo a more stringent testing standard to eliminate any unwanted signal transfers between various communication channels.
These Ethernet cables have a bandwidth of 100MHz and a maximum rated speed of 1000Mbps and 1 Gigabyte over 100m. Unlike Cat5 cable with two twisted pair wires, Cat5e cables consist of four twisted pair wires, meaning that they are capable of carrying more data than that specified in their rating. More so, existing Cat5e cables can cater to up to 5Gbps transmission speeds due to the new standard of IEEE P802.3bz. As a result, you do not need to replace your existing cabling to cater for faster transmission speeds.
Pros
- Reduced crosstalk
- Flexible
- Cost-effective option
- Compatible with Cat5 jacks
Cons
- Can confuse as it is physically similar to Cat 5 cables
Verdict
Cat5e consists of high-quality premium cables that support Gigabyte internet. It is also compatible with Ethernet plans of up to 5Gbps.
Cat6
If you are not sure of the network cable you want, Cat6 is a safe option. It comes in a moderate price range, and it future proofs your cable, at least for a while.
Specs
- A maximum frequency of 250MHz
- High transfer speeds of 10Gbps at a limited distance of 37-55 meters
- Comes with a thicker shielding to eliminate Alien Crosstalk and Near-End Crosstalk
Cat6 cables are more tightly wound than Cat5e cables and often come covered with braided or foil shielding to prevent noise interference and crosstalk of the twisted pair wires inside the Ethernet cable. These cables support incredible throughput speeds of up to 10Gbps, but only up to 55 meters. The rest of the range up to 100 meters enjoys 1Gbps.
Furthermore, most Cat6 cables are flat in shape, meaning they are easy to install around tight corners in the house. Unlike Cat5 and Cat5e cables, Cat6 comes with four twisted pairs of wires that come with either a plastic core or a foil separating each pair of twisted wires. As a result, the foil produces insulation that reduces the interference from each twisted pair. Similarly, each twisted pair contains copper wires that help reduce the crosstalk between each cable within the twisted pair.
Pros
- Higher bandwidth than Cat5 and Cat5e cables
- Contains in-built shielding
- High transmission speeds
- Reduced crosstalk and interference
Cons
- A bit more expensive than Cat5 and Cat5e cables
- High throughput speeds of 10Gbps are only applicable for a limited distance of 37-55 meters
Verdict
Cat6 cables are an excellent choice for those who do not know the specifics about the cable most suitable for them. Not only will you be able to use it for the near future, but it also offers excellent throughput speeds.
Cat6a
Standing for Cat6 augmented, these cable support twice the bandwidth of Cat6 cables
Specs
- Come with shielding and thick sheathing
- A maximum distance of 100 meters
- Impressive throughput speed of 10Gbps
The primary difference between Cat6 and Cat6a cables is that Cat6a cables transfer data at a maximum speed of 10Gbps at a maximum distance of 100meters, instead of 55 meters. The cables also feature a maximum frequency rating of 500MHz, meaning it is more reliable when transmitting full speed performance to various components.
Cat6a cables are also thicker than Cat6 cables and come with shielding to prevent Alien Crosstalk (AXT) and Near-End Crosstalk (NEAR). As a result, such cables are perfect for industrial applications as opposed to residential deployment.
Pros
- Super fast transmission speeds of 10Gbps at 100m
- A maximum frequency of 500MHz
- Consists of shielded twisted pair wires
Cons
- Inflexible
Verdict
If you have a 10 Gigabyte network, Cat6a cables are more efficient for use as they provide more features that help in completely eliminating crosstalk and noise interference.
Cat7
Often referred to as the fastest Ethernet cable available on the market, Cat7 cables have significantly faster transmission speeds and support higher bandwidths than Cat6 cables.
Specs
- A maximum speed of 100Gbps within a range of 15 meters
- Contains shielded twisted pair wires
- Uses a modified GigaGate45 connector that has backward compatibility with other regular Ethernet cables
- A maximum bandwidth of 600MHz
Cat7 cables utilize the newest widely available Ethernet technology to provide high transmission speeds of 10,000Mbps at a maximum distance of 100m and have a much larger frequency of 600MHz than Cat6 and Cat6a cables. The outside coating of these cables is also much thicker than any other cable standard.
Furthermore, Cat7 cables have a much stricter crosstalk specification as individual wiring pairs must have adequate shielding in the cable, and the entire cable must have mesh insulation. Mesh insulation helps in reducing interference from the external environment while maintaining the cable’s durability.
Pros
- Extremely fast throughput speeds of 10Gbps
- Durable
- No crosstalk or noise interference
- It has backward compatibility to other cable standards
Cons
- Expensive
Verdict
Cat7 cables are ideal for extreme future-proofing of permanent wire insulators. More so, it can provide higher speeds than that provided in its rating by using a switch capable of transmitting faster speeds than 10Gbps.
Cat7a
Although not widely available, Cat7a cables offer the highest specification of Ethernet cables. You might also find some cables claiming Cat8 cables, but they are merely emerging technology and do not have any related products in the market.
Specs
- A maximum bandwidth of 1000MHz
- Support maximum data transfer speeds of 10,000Mbps
- Shielded cable
Although Cat7a cables support limited networking hardware options, it provides a similar transmission speed to Cat7 cables but with twice the frequency. As a result, these cables are only useful in niche cases and come attached to a reasonably high price tag.
Pros
- High frequency of 1000MHz
- Durable
- Provides reliable performance
Cons
- Expensive
Verdict
Cat7a cables have only one advantage over Cat7 cables, which is that they feature twice the frequency of the latter. All the other specifications between these two cables are just about the same.
What to consider when choosing the right cable for your home network
Essential considerations when choosing a home network cable is its performance and coverage range.
Performance
If you have a megabyte or gigabyte home internet connection, you have to the relevant cable. An old cable cannot support Gigabyte connections, meaning you will need a Cat5 cable or newer. However, if you have a slower internet plan of about 10-20Mbps, you can use any cable available on the market. However, it is advisable to use one with future-proofing to ensure it will serve you for years to come.
Range
The range of your router plays a significant role in the performance of your Ethernet cable. Different routers have varied specifications, with many regular routers not capable of supporting the bandwidth of fast performing Ethernet cables. Therefore, always consider the coverage of your router to avoid purchasing the wrong cable standard.
Conclusion
Everyone has different connectivity needs for their home network. With many cables available on the market, it is crucial to understand each cable standard’s specifications to pick the one most suitable for your network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Cat7 cables suitable for home networking use?
Particularly, Cat7a cables are the most appropriate for new house internet networks as they offer 40 Gigabyte Ethernet for up to 50 meters and under 100 Gigabyte Ethernet for up to 15 meters.
Do long Ethernet cables reduce speed?
The length of an Ethernet cable does not affect its speed, but you are likely to experience a significant amount of delay.
