What is the difference between ethernet cables

This way, you can get your money back if powerline proves to be less than ideal for your home or office. Simply connect an ethernet cable into your router, and plug the other end into the wall outlet. Next, plug the other powerline adapter into the wall near your device, and then plug the last ethernet cable into your device.

Make sure you plug your adapters directly into the wall UPS battery backups, power conditioners, surge protectors, power and strips may filter and block networking frequencies, mistaking them for unwanted noise.

It would also be wise to follow your powerline adapters security instructions after installation, especially if you are living in an apartment or townhouse. You can set up a password for the powerline network, keeping your sensitive information safe from unwanted eyes. Anyone sharing an electrical circuit with you has the ability to access your powerline network if it is not password protected. Just like you password protect your WiFi network, you also need to secure your powerline network.

Power over Long Reach Ethernet PoLRE is another one of the easy alternatives and is a fantastic way to provide network data to devices that are too far away from your router to receive a reliable WiFi signal. Marketed by Cisco, PoLRE uses telephone-grade unshielded twisted pair wiring to send data signals through your home using the existing infrastructure.

No latency issues associated with WiFi, and no Ethernet installation headaches. This option, unlike powerline adapters, allows you to supply not only data signal but power as well to your PDs Powered Devices.

Just like powerline adapters, MoCA adapters are faster than WiFi and far easier to install than traditional Ethernet cabling, making them one of the easier alternatives.

MoCA adapters use the existing COAX cabling in your home to transmit networking frequencies from your router to your devices. MoCA, also known as Multimedia over COAX, allows you to achieve network speeds close to that of a traditional Ethernet network without having to run Ethernet cables through your house. This is particularly useful if your router is on one side of your house, but your network devices are on the other side. The current MoCA generation is a 2. You can use the same COAX cable that was previously only used by your television, meaning installing a second cable is not necessary.

This added security will ensure the safety of your network from intruders on the same COAX line. In any event, MoCA is a fantastic way to provide network signal to your devices that are too far from your router to receive a strong WiFi signal, without shelling out a bunch of time and money.

Every space that demands an ethernet solution needs one appropriate for its unique regulations, safety standards and long-term performance. Hopefully the information here will help you make an informed decision. We take pride in helping your project run smoothly. Remember me. Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address.

You will receive a link to create a new password via email. Username or Email Address. Log In. Search for: Search. My Account Cart No products in the cart. Ethernet Cables. How to know what type of cabling to buy once deciding on a CAT type.

Why are copper pairs twisted? Shielded FTP vs. Unshielded UTP. Cat6 includes a physical separator called a "spline" between the four pairs to reduce crosstalk and foil shielding to reduce electromagnetic interference. Introduced in , Cat6a is an "augmented" Category 6 cable with a bandwidth of up to MHz.

While substantially similar to the performance characteristics of Cat6a, Cat7 cables features proprietary GG45 connectors and robust shielding. Cat7a Category 7 Augmented is a further refinement of Cat7, capable of 40 Gigabit speeds over 50 meters and Gbps up to 15 meters. Its conductors are wrapped in foil to virtually eliminate crosstalk and enable higher data rates. The result is a heavier gauge cable that is quite rigid and can be difficult to install in tight spaces.

It still uses RJ45 connectors and is backwards compatible with previous standards. What type of Ethernet cable should I buy for my home network? Even with a speedy WiFi6 router, your connection to the Internet is usually the bandwidth bottleneck. Currently, the fastest Internet plans available from the major carriers offer download speeds of 1 gigabit per second 1, Mbps.

If you already have the fastest Internet access available from your provider, use Cat6a cable. This will give you some headroom for future speed increases. For Internet download speeds up to a gigabit, Cat5e is a good choice. You'll save a little money over Cat6a and the thinner cable will be easier to install. The further a signal has to travel along a cable, the more it will degrade a process known as attenuation until it reaches the point where it can no longer be detected, or is too distorted to be interpreted by the receiving device.

Attenuation can also be caused by noise due to electrical currents and radio frequencies. Cables with shielding to minimize noise will work reliably over greater distances. The maximum length of a Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable is about ft. Beyond this, the signal begins to degrade, reducing the speed and reliability of the connection. Good quality cable can support runs in excess of meters but data transmission speed may be reduced.

Higher data rates can also be achieved over shorter distances. Ethernet cables made from four twisted pairs are terminated using an 8-pin RJ45 connector. Older telephone cable based on two twisted pairs typically use RJ11 connectors. The terms 8p8c Eight Position, Eight Contact and RJ45 are often used interchangeably but 8p8c actually refers to a category of connectors of which RJ45 is one.

The modern RJ45 Ethernet connector is the most common example of an 8p8c connector. GG45 connectors have 12 pins in total, 8 providing backwards compatibility with Cat6, and an additional 4 pins providing support for frequencies of up to MHz.

Why is an Ethernet cable connector called RJ45? The "45" simply refers to the number of the interface in the standard specification.

Molded connectors are permanently attached to a cable using a manufacturing process called over-molding. The connector and cable are covered with a thermoplastic or silicon material to form one solid piece called a boot, making the cable more durable and able to withstanding a high number of insertion cycles. Snagless connectors have a modified boot that protects the connector's lock from being accidentally snapped off. Snagless cables are typically used in situations where the cable is frequently connected and disconnected, such as a laptop-to-wall network connection.

Snagless Connector NBL. Manufactured from small gauge copper wire, the four-pair stranded cable increases airflow in crowded equipment racks, which helps keep components cool and functioning properly. The slim design also makes the cable lighter and easier to install in high-density racks, cable trays and ductwork. Flat Cables Although not a common choice, flat cables have some unique characteristics that make them beneficial in certain applications.

Flat cables have good heat dissipation and more evenly distribute physical loads on the cable. They also bend only through the wide faces whereas a conventional round cable bends in all directions. A flat cable is a good choice if you need to carry an Ethernet patch cable around in your laptop bag. It is strong, light and will not tangle easily. Its flat shape makes it ideal for cable runs under carpet and behind baseboard.

Solid Core Cables Network cables are available in stranded and solid wire formats. As the name suggests, a solid core cable uses one solid copper wire for each conductor, so a 4-pair cable will have a total of 8 solid copper wires.

Solid conductor cable is easy to punch down, making it ideal for structured wiring applications. In situations where a cable is repeatedly flexed or connected and disconnected, choose a stranded cable. For horizontal cable runs not subject to repeated movement, or for Power-over-Ethernet PoE and outdoor applications, use solid core cable.

Armored cable is recommended for outdoor applications and any location where the cable could potentially be crushed or cut. What is a Crossover Cable? The difference is the pin assignment for the green and orange pairs.

TA pinouts are the most commonly used but either will work so long as both ends of the cable are similarly wired. The U. Government requires the use of the TA standard for networks installed under a federal contract. Cables with TA wiring on one end and TB on the other are known as "crossover" cables. You can identify a crossover cable by comparing the order of wires on each end. If the wires are the same on each end regardless of which pin configuration is used , it is a "straight-through" cable.

If they are different, it is a crossover cable. Nowadays, most Ethernet switches and routers have a feature called auto-MDIX, which can detect which type of port or cable crossover or straight-through is connected and swap the transmit and receive pins accordingly, removing the need for crossover wiring.

One of the factors limiting the length and data rate of Ethernet cable is the size of its conductors. Electrical current encounters greater resistance when transmitted over thinner wire. The larger the conductor, the easier it is for the electrons to pass through it resulting in lower resistance, lower signal loss and greater transmission distance. For example, a 24 AWG solid conductor is 0. Megabits, Cats, and cables get a bit confusing when you are looking at Ethernet cables.

So, start here when figuring out how to choose the best Ethernet cable for your home or work. Start with the speed of your home internet connection. If you have gigabit internet 1Gbps , an old Ethernet cord will hold you back. If your subscription only supports 50Mbps downloads, purchasing a 1Gbps Ethernet cable is simply overkill — at least for now.

Next, consider the speed needed for your network. This knowledge is irrelevant to most home users. Still, if you frequently move big files between computers or stream extremely high-bandwidth video, a better Ethernet cable can make a huge difference. A shielded Ethernet cable is covered with a layer of grounded foil that helps prevent electromagnetic interference. In the modern house, with plenty of Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth connections, and appliance activity, unshielded cables can run into interference and distortion issues.

This is especially true for Ethernet cables that are run for longer distances — so shielding quickly becomes important in more complex setups, which is why it became a mandatory part of the standard. However, more advanced versions may also add a foil shield as an inner layer of the cable sheath, for maximum protection. A general rule of thumb is that higher numbers represent faster speeds and higher frequencies, measured in megahertz MHz.

The most common structure is Twisted Pair cable. Two wires inside the cable are twisted together. Twisted Pairs is the industry standard cable. They have the best results in terms of maximum length and speed drops.

They are only beaten in performance by fibre-optic cabling. One of the reasons for their quality is that the two cables carry data in both directions, which balances the electrical fields. This reduces electrical noise within the wire. These additional signals often interfere with the data being carried through the wires.

Electrical noise can come from inside the cable, or from outside sources. Ultimately, the more electrical noise, the lower the quality of the signal. While unshielded cables are much cheaper, the signal quality decreases through electrical noise.

Shielded cables come with braided or foil shielding, which is usually made of copper or another conductive polymer. Shielding reduces electrical noise and improves connection quality. Straight-through cables, often known as patch cables, are used to connect different types of devices. For example, a computer to a router. Crossover cables are used to connect two devices of the same kind, for example, connecting two computers. Solid cables are generally used for business networks and offer a slightly better service than stranded.

They consist of a single run of wire. They cheaper to produce, and so are often much more affordable than their stranded counterparts. Stranded cables contain a few smaller wires which work together. Most patch cables are stranded cables. Stranded cables are more robust in terms of breakage. They are better suited for home use. Ethernet cables come in different variations, known as Categories or Cat.

Each category refers to a different set of standards. As the standards change over time, new categories are created. Currently, the lowest recommended standard available is Cat5. Anything under that is now obsolete.

As internet speeds get faster, Cat5 cables are heading towards becoming obsolete too. Category 5 Cat5 — an older form of Ethernet cable and enables speeds of up to Mbps. Megabits per second.