The Electronic Industries Association and Telecommunications Industry Association have established Category 6 as an ethernet cable standard. Twisted pair ethernet cabling, known as Cat 6, is the sixth generation and is utilized in residential and commercial networks. In this article, we have answered the questions that you have related to Cat cable 6. Keep reading to know about what is Cat 6 cable used for. Also, you will get to know the Cat 6 cable specification and other information.
1. What is a Cat 6 Cable?
Cat in the Cat 6 means category, and Cat 6 cable is an ethernet cable that consists of four pairs of copper wires. It utilizes all these four pairs of copper wire for signaling. It does this to offer you high-level performance. It is used by those who want data rates of at least 1 gigabit per second. You can identify a cable as Cat 6 by the printed text on the insulation sheath. Its enhanced version is also available in the market and is referred to as Cat6a. Must read What are Some Parallel Circuit Appliances at Home?
2. What is the Cat 6 Cable Speed?
After learning what is a Cat 6 cable, let us look at its speed. The Cat 6 cable speed for data transfer is up to 10 Gbps. This speed is 250 MHz. But you cannot expect this speed beyond 164 feet.
3. What is the Cat 6 Cable Specification?
The below table will tell you about the specification for the Cat 6 cables.
| Specification | Details |
| Conductor | It uses copper as a conductor. |
| Insulation | For insulation, its nominal wall thickness is 0.178 mm, and the minimum thickness that Cat 6 cables should possess is 0.153 mm. |
| Length | Cat 6 cable’s maximum length is 100 meters, and it cannot be beyond that. |
| Colour Code |
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| Jackets | Its minimum thickness should be 0.458 mm, and its nominal wall thickness should be 0.585 mm. Its overall diameter should be 5.8 mm, but it can vary by 0.3 mm. |
| Nominal Velocity of Propagation | The propagation for the Cat 6 cables is 69%. |
| Cable Construction | Cat 6 cable construction is of UTP or shielded. |
| Mutual Capacitance | The mutual capacitance for the Cat 6 cables is 5.6nF/m Max. |
| DC Resistance Capacitance Unbalance | The DC resistance capacitance unbalances for the Cat 6 cable is 5%. |
| Pair-to-Ground Capacitance Unbalance | The pair-to-ground unbalance is 330pF/100 m Max. |
| Characteristic Impedance | The characteristic impedance for Cat 6 cables is 85–115 ohms. |
Now, continue reading the article to know what is Cat 6 cable used for. (Also read What Happens to Metal at High Temperature?)
4. What is Cat 6 Cable Used For?
Computer networks that send data at speeds of 1 Gbps, 1000 Mbps, or more typically employ Cat 6 cables. So, you can use Cat 6 cable for this purpose.
5. What are the Benefits of Cat 6 Cable?
After knowing what is Cat 6 cable used for, let us look at the benefits of Cat 6 cable.
- Cat 6 cables offer tougher performance requirements and much faster data transfer speeds over longer distances than Cat5/5e lines.
- In addition to having thicker conductors and sheaths than Cat 5 cables, they are more tightly wrapped.
- Together, these elements limit signal/EMI interference from the inside and outside more effectively than Cat 5 cables. This is a fantastic networking option for industrial environments where motors, generators, or wireless equipment significantly interfere with the signal.
- It is also cheaper than new categories of Cat cable.
6. What are the Disadvantages of Cat 6 Cable?
We have listed the disadvantages of Cat 6 cable below:
- Expensive: Most households today don’t require Cat 6 cables, which are more expensive than Cat 5 cables (often 10%–20% more expensive than Cat 5e). That doesn’t mean they won’t be required in five to ten years as connected IoT homes become more prevalent.
- Less Flexible: If space is restricted, the added rigidity and thickness of Cat 6 cables may be of issue. This makes the line less flexible and more challenging to work with. In addition, Cat 6a cables are about 40%–50% thicker, heavier, and significantly more expensive than Cat 6 cables.
7. What is the Cat 6 Price?
When discussing what is Cat 6 cable used for, knowing its price is inevitable. The Cat 6 price can be between $70 and $80. (Also read Are Husky Tools Good?)
