Cat 6 Cable Specification
The Cat 6 cable is designed for Gigabit Ethernet, and it is the highest developed
of the various cables in use today. Though it is of the highest standard, it
is backward compatible with all the low cable standards. The advantages of using
Cat 6 cables over other cables is that it is best suited for reducing crosstalk
interference, which ensures reception of the best quality of data from the network.
The following are the points in the Cat 6 cable specification as laid down
by the ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1.
- The Cat 6 cable is suited for the Gigabit Ethernet, which are described
as 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T. It is also expected to suit 10GBASE-T
standard, which is a much higher level of Gigabit Ethernet, but this will
be curtailed if the Cat 6 cable used is unshielded.
- The Cat 6 cable specification states that it can be used for good performance
up to 250 MHz.
- The Cat 6 is a UTP, which means Unshielded Twisted Pair. It contains eight
insulated copper wires twisted in pairs and surrounded by an outer insulating
jacket. There is no metallic conducting sheath around the wires, which categorizes
it as unshielded.
- The Cat 6 cable specification states that the cable must be made with 22
to 24 American Wire Gauge; however most of them are made with 23 AWG. This
ensures good conductivity.
- Cat 6 cable can be used both as a patch cable (for shorter connections;
connecting devices to a single unit, example) or as a bulk cable (for longer
LAN connections where several computers are needed to be connected together).
- Cat 6 patch cables must be compliant with RJ45 connectors. If they need
to be connected to the RJ45 plug through a module, then they do not comply
with the Cat 6 cable specifications.
- When used horizontally, the allowable cable length is up to 90 meters.
- The scheme used for making connections with the Cat 6 cable is either the
T568A or the T568B. Both of these are straight through schemes, and hence
they can be alternatively used.
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