That’s not as straightforward as it might seem, though. Where Cat 6 is a clear evolution of Cat 5e Ethernet cables, and Cat 6a is a further development in turn, Cat 7 is a whole other style of cable entirely. It has less support, non-standard connectors at either end of the cable, and a performance that is as best competitive as Cat 6a. This is mostly thanks to its rather low production costs, which ensures its affordability. That, and the fact that it suffers from no crosstalk issues and can support much faster speeds when compared to its predecessor—Cat5. Sounds good so far? As mentioned, these days WiFi is ubiquitous and there are plenty of reasons to prefer wireless over wired connections, but here are a few more reasons that make Ethernet stand out as a choice of connection mode: The Need for Speed If you are running a data center or really interested in future-proofing your network and want more than Cat6A has to offer, then you’d be better off choosing a Cat8 cable . Cat8 has the blessing of the industry and is approved by the IEEE and EIA and even comes with the familiar RJ45 connectors . Though length limitations do apply, Cat8 is rated for 25 & 40G speeds and provides an excellent alternative to more expensive fiber connections. As a quadruple-shielded Ethernet cable, it’s designed for heavy-duty use, making it ideal for outdoor or buried connectivity.

What are the differences between Cat5, Cat6, and Cat7 What are the differences between Cat5, Cat6, and Cat7

In this case, Cat6a (“a” here standing for “augmented”) is a better cable than the original Cat6 and is also capable of supporting twice as much bandwidth as Cat6. This makes Cat6a Ethernet cables a bit less flexible and more secure as far as crosstalk and interference are concerned. When Cat 6A cables became available a few years after the launch of Cat 7, they cannibalized any potential market for Cat 7. It was further improved to Cat 7A a few years later, and that specific standard did find some use in Europe in niche A/V systems, but ultimately Cat 7 Ethernet cables have been left as a forgotten standard; even if you can still get Cat 7 cables today. Cat 6 vs. Cat 6a vs. Cat 7: Comparison NBASE-T is also a game changer. Now, 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T are realities for existing Cat5e and Cat6 (respectively) unshielded cable installations. These speeds will satisfy all but the most demanding home and small business users. See more about NBASE-T in Just What is NBASE-T? A note on both Cat7 and Cat8 As Cat5 fades into obscurity (it’s currently rated as obsolete), Cat5e is one of the most popular Ethernet cables in the telco industry.Cat8 Ethernet cables are just now beginning to penetrate the market. As an emerging technology, they aren’t widely used, though they offer incredible bandwidth and speeds over much longer distances than their predecessors. The specifications and use cases for Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat7 are well suited to home and office use. But for large corporations with billions of gigabytes of sensitive data, Cat7e and Cat8 cables more appropriate. Although, technically speaking, Cat5e is a more popular option because it performs pretty well (good speeds and bandwidth).

Cat 6 vs. Cat 6a. vs. Cat 7: Which One Should You Choose? Cat 6 vs. Cat 6a. vs. Cat 7: Which One Should You Choose?

In addition to enthusiast gaming setups, Cat7 cables have become increasingly popular with home users across a wide range of domestic LAN cable networks and connectivity setups in recent years. So, that covers the North American ANSI/TIA side. How does Cat7 compare? Cat7 is defined by ISO/IEC 11801. In terms of shielding both cables are roughly equal as standards. They both require shielded twisted pairs and an overall shielding over the cable itself, but Cat 8 comes in a wider range of shielded options. Some have splines, others add additional foil or braided shielding for the overall wire, and some have both. You never know what this cable will be exposed to with regards to perhaps people maybe walking on it and of course rain and sun Everything’s two sides of the same coin as they say, so let’s keep in mind some of the disadvantages of using Ethernet cable. Interference is a FactorWe test all of our products using our own CAT 7 cable so we know that by using CAT 7, you’re going to get a reliable Smart Home that works, every time. However, if you are one of the few who want or need a Cat7 Ethernet cable or three, then you need to be sure that what you're buying is Cat7. Don't be caught out by Cat6A masquerading as the older standard. Be sure you buy from a reputable cable trader like Cable Matters and if in doubt, get in touch with support to find out exactly what type of Ethernet cable you’re buying. Do You Need Cat7 in 2023? Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables use standard 8P8C connectors, whereas Cat 7 uses a proprietary GG45 connector. Although the Cat 7 connector is compatible with 8P8C ports, it’s not officially supported by most hardware and may lead to compatibility issues in some network setups.