Cat 5 Ethernet Cable
Cat 5 is called by many as the original Ethernet cable because it is the most
popularly used in all kinds of Ethernet network connections. Though categories such as the Cat 5e and Cat 6 have superseded the Cat 5 Ethernet cable, it still maintains its place of importance in the Ethernet connections industry.
Cat 5 stands for Category 5, and this cable marks the fifth generation of cables.
Essentially, cables contain several wires in twisted pairs covered in a sheath,
with or without a central core. The Cat 5 Ethernet cables contain four twisted
pairs of wires, i.e. eight individual wires in all. These are made of copper,
which is the best conducting material available. The wires are insulated and
are colored in a specific manner. This is color coding which helps to identify
the wires when they are being connected. Though the wires are twisted in pairs,
the twisted pairs themselves are kept open and unshielded, due to which Cat
5 Ethernet cables are also categorized as UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cables.
The specifications of the Cat 5 cables are laid down by Electronic Industries
Association and Telecommunication Industry Association, commonly referred to
as EIA/TIA standards. They are best used for fast Ethernet connections, for
up to 100 Mbps, though the uses of Cat 5 Ethernet cable in Gigabit Ethernet
transmission is doubtful. Cat 5 Ethernet cables can work best up to frequencies
of 100 MHz.
There are two types of Cat 5 Ethernet cables in use. They are the stranded
and the solid core forms. In the stranded form, it is the inner core that is
stranded. This is the cable of choice for patch cables that are used to make
connections between the computer network card and the computer jack. The other
is the solid core cable, which contains the core in a completely solid form,
and it is used in bulk cabling. Connections between computers, or from patch
panels to computers, use solid core cables. The stranded cables are much more
flexible and lighter than solid core cables.
The following are some of the benefits of the Cat 5 Ethernet cables due to
which they have retained their popularity even in presence of advanced versions
of cables:-
- Due to twisted pair cables present in the Cat 5 cable, the magnetic interference
produced by one wire is nullified by the other. As a result, there is minimum
crosstalk interference. The transmitted data is free of any kind of distortion.
- The Cat 5 cables are cheaper when it comes to price per unit, and therefore
they are better preferred for home use, as well as use in office connections.
- They can be used for both patch cabling or for wall to wall cabling with
excellent results.
Cat 5 Ethernet cables are usually better for short distance. The specification
states that they can be used without any loss of quality for a distance of 100
feet. The stranded cables provide excellent transmission of data for very short
distances. But for transmission over a few feet (less than 100 feet), the solid
core cables will be a better choice.
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