Should I Upgrade to CAT-6 Cable?

Category 6 Cable, or as it is sometimes referred to, CAT-6, is a certain cable that is standard for Gigabit Ethernet and some other network protocols that prove to be backward compatible with this cable and category 3 cables. Cat-6 has more severe specifications for system noise as well as crosstalk. The standard of the cable offers a performance of anything up to 250 MHz and it can even be used for 100BASE-TX/10BASE-T as well as 1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet) /1000BASE-T. It is also known to go well with the 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) standards, even though this is with some restrictions on its length if a Cat 6 cable is used.

Many people confuse the Cat-6 cable with other cables, but there is a way in which you can tell the difference and that is by the printing that can be found on the side of the sheath of the cable. The Cat-6 cable typically contains just four twisted copper wires, however they are sometimes made using 23 gauge wire, although this isn't a requirement. There are certain specifications that state that the cable can be made using 22 or 24 AWG wire. All that matters is that the cable meets the testing standards that have been set for it. Sometimes the CAT-6 cable is used as a patch cable in 8P8C connectors, and mistakenly referred to as "RJ-45" electrical connectors. There are CAT-6 connectors that are specifically made to meet higher standards than other cables so that they assist in reducing noise that is commonly caused by system interference and crosstalk.

There are also some CAT-6 cables that are too big, which make it rather difficult to connect to the 8P8C connectors if you don't have a special modular piece. If you mix the different standards of the cables together they are not guaranteed to work and the signal path's performance would probably be limited to the lowest category of the wires. There are different lengths that this cable is available in, but the maximum length it can be is thirty feet or one-hundred meters.

The Cat-6 cable will either be terminated in the T568B scheme or the T568A. Both of these schemes are straight through so it doesn't really make a difference which one you choose to use. Mixing these two schemes together does not make any trouble in a facility. It might just degrade the quality of the signal, but that is about it; it does not cause any other major damage. When terminating patch cables, the most common method to use would be the T568B scheme.

If you think that it is time for an upgrade, the CAT-6 cable is an awesome choice for you. There are many others to choose from, but if you want something that is going to benefit you in the long run, then this is the cable for you to choose. The final decision of whether to upgrade to a CAT-6 cable is ultimately up to you, as long as you know that this is your number one option if you decide that it is time for an upgrade.