Cat 6 wire is the cable you would use for your Gigabit Ethernet and network protocols, and it is backward compatible with earlier Category 5/5e and Category 3 standards. The Cat 6 wire improves issues related to crosstalk and system noise that have been a problem in earlier versions of cabling, by using higher standard connectors.

Cat 6 wire, or Category 6 cable, is the standard line to be used with Gigabit Ethernet. The cable contains four copper wire pairs that are twisted together. This configuration is different than in earlier grades of Gigabit Ethernet cabling as it is intended that two sets each will go in opposite directions, therefore improving quality and reducing Ethernet implementation costs. Cat 6 wire doubles the bandwidth of the previous Category 5 bandwidth to 250 Mhz.

Even though bandwidth usage has not reached a requirement of 200 MHz standards, there are reasons to use Cat 6 wire over Category 5/5e. Think of bandwidth as lanes on the information super highway. By doubling the lanes, you double the amount of traffic that can flow. Now add to that two way roads and you can see the savings. And with technology continuing to double about every 18 months, it is only a matter of time before we see a real need for Cat 6 wire, and eventually the need for Category 7 cables which have been created to allow 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and Category 7a which operates at frequencies over 1000 MHz and can support 40 Gigabit Ethernet at 50 meters and even 100 Gigabit Ethernet at 15 meters.

Most of us, however, will continue to work along happily with the extra bandwidth and efficiency afforded by the Cat 6 wire and could even use Cat 5e for some time to come without a noticeable difference in speed and efficiency.

Gigabit Ethernets that recommend use of Cat 6 wire are: 1000BASE-T, 100BASE-TX/10BASE-T, and 10GBASE-T. Though Cat 6 wire can also be used with 1000BASE-CX, 1000-BX10, 1000BASE-LX, 1000BASE-ZX, 1000BASE-SX, and 1000BASE-LH. Cat 6 wire can also be used for 10GBASE-T, which is the fastest among internet standards used for transferring Ethernet frames with a high rate of gigabit per second, however with some limitations.

When using the Cat 6 wire as a patch cable you’ll want to use 8P8C modular connectors, sometimes referred to as the RJ-45, though this would be incorrect. The 8 Position 8 Contact, 8P8C connectors, are used to terminate a twisted pair cable. There is a male plug and female socket for the ends of the Cat 6 wire, each with 8 conducting channels that position across the tip of each unit and are equally spaced. There are two types of 8P8C plugs and sockets, and they are not interchangeable. You’ll need to know which type you have and use the proper dieset when crimping to avoid crushing the top of the connector.

Though Category 5/5e is still an acceptable standard for Gigabit Ethernet, it is only a matter of time before Cat 6 wire will replace 5e as the standard. Considering that Cat 6 wire is backward compatible, it can be the better choice.

George Edmondson is an accomplished writer and editor about network cabling. For more information on Cat 6 wire please visit http://www.HighCable.com

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