What is the difference between Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, etc.?
This is actually a somewhat complex question to answer as it involves a number of technical details. The most basic answer is that each Category of cable is supposed to meet (or exceed) a specific set of standards, the most significant of which, is the ability to pass all signals up to a particular carrier frequency (or signalling rate). Additional standards have to be met include values for attenuation, near end cross talk (NEXT), ACR, etc.
Below is a table of the types of Category Cable we install. The table shows the Maximum Carrier Frequencies required by the EIA/TIA 568 Standards for each category of cable and the Maximum Frequencies the manufacturer actually tests
the cable to:
| Category |
Typical Applications |
Frequency Required |
Tested to |
EIA/TIA Ratified Standard? |
| Cat 3 |
Voice |
16 MHz |
16 MHz |
Yes |
| Cat 5 |
Voice, Data (10/100 Mbps Ethernet) |
100 MHz |
100 MHz |
Yes |
| Cat 5e |
Voice, Data (10/100 Mbps/ Gigabit Ethernet) |
100 MHz |
200 MHz |
Yes |
| Cat 5 ENH1 |
Voice, Data (10/100 Mbps/ Gigabit Ethernet)
|
* |
350 MHz |
See note 1 |
| Cat 6 |
Voice, Data (10/100 Mbps/ Gigabit Ethernet) |
200 MHz |
500 MHz |
Yes |
Note 1. Cat 5 ENH is another version of Cat 5e offered by the
manufacturer we use that further exceeds the Cat 5e EIA/TIA
Standard.
<<go back
|
|
 |
