Top Tip: Be aware of copper clad aluminium (CCA) cable, although tested in a laboratory it will result in future issues!
CAT5e
This is the most common cable grade, providing Gigabit Ethernet support at the lowest cost. It is also the easiest cable to fit and terminate correctly, so reduces the risk of problems.
Devices are supported for total distances (including leads) of up to 100m, although for longer runs, especially those requiring support for power (wireless & CCTV), we will recommend CAT6.
CAT6
CAT6 has been adopted as the minimum standard for network cabling by many clients.
Due to the increased size of these cables, containment must be planned more carefully, otherwise it may be used for all general requirements.
The size is due to the construction including a greater use of copper, thus improving transmission of PoE, especially over longer lengths.
If you are utilising green technology within your network switches (that reduce the power to ports based on the quality of the connection), CAT6 technology is ideal, as there is less signal loss than a CAT5e alternative.
CAT6a
We provide CAT6a connections for high speed (10 Gbps) devices (normally servers) although this technology has also been beneficial for clients transmitting high quality images.
As CAT6a is the bulkiest of cables and requires care when planning routes and it must be fitted carefully to ensure the performance is achieved.
