While we usually just talk about having a wired internet connection, there are several types of Ethernet cable. LANs, or local area networks, use Ethernet cables to connect to personal computers and routers. Ethernet cables carry broadband signals between your modem, router, computer, and other wired Internet-capable devices. There is really no such thing as a generic cable. Ethernet cables are standardized and placed in different categories, abbreviated ?Cat.,? such as Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6 and son on. Each higher number represents a new standard. Ethernet cables are capable of accommodating a variety of Internet speeds.
Bulk category 6 Ethernet cables, Cat 6 and Cat6A, consist of twisted pair cables, for a total of four pairs. However, this is nothing new. There are a few differences between cat5e network cables and cat6 cable. The first difference you?ll notice is faster speeds; in fact, up to 10 Gb/s from 1 Gb/s, just by switching from Cat5 to Cat6 or 6a. Of course, the rest of your system has to support it, but without great cables, it won?t make much difference.
Another difference is that bulk category 6 Ethernet cables can perform at a higher megahertz. A last difference is that between bulk Category 6 Ethernet cables and bulk cat 5e Ethernet cables for audio is a reduction crosstalk or electromagnetic interference (EMI). Crosstalk occurs when other devices interfere with the transmission, but bulk category 6 Ethernet cables are shielded with aluminum that absorbs any crosstalk. However, it?s also necessary to include a drainwire connected to a ground.
Ethernet cables come in a wide range of colors, although white, tan and blue are the most common. The color has nothing to do with performance, but rather is helpful for keeping your wiring organized and easy to follow. Some people also consider the way the color will look with the rest of the room, if the wires will be at all visible.
Since there is really very little difference between bulk category 6 Ethernet cables and their older versions, they are backwards compatible. The connector type is the same for both. Frankly, for home use it doesn?t matter much what kind of network Ethernet cable you use. There?s no need to do a complete technology hardware makeover all at once. But keep in mind that as hardware improves and changes, better cable will be needed to maximize the other components.
However, for large buildings that house important services, upgrading to bulk category 6 Ethernet cables might be a good idea. Consider the example of a hospital, in which thousands of records, information, and conversations are conducted, recorded, and emailed either internally or externally. In this case, the benefits of bulk category 6 Ethernet cables can be substantial. Recently, Iatric Systems, Inc., of Boxford, Massachusetts, surveyed more than 4,000 hospital Chief Nursing Officers to identify barriers to medical device connectivity; in that study, lack of IT support was an issue for 14 percent of respondents, and 7 percent said that outdated hardware with no network connectivity hindered their performance. In addition, West Health Institute reported that hospitals can save more than $30 billion annually by connecting medical devices with electronic health records. Improvements and advancements in data connectivity require hardware that can handle the job, and bulk category 6 Ethernet cables are an important part of that upgrade.
