FS Cat5e/6/6a/7/8 Patch Cable Selection Guide

Introduction

FS Cat5e/6/6a/7/8 patch cables are suitable for 10/100/1000Base-T and 10/25/40GBase-T networks, providing an easier, faster and more reliable network connectivity and offering our customers a more cost-effective copper cabling solution for multiple network applications such as Ethernet data centers, offices and advanced network installations where high bandwidth is required.

FS Cat5e/6/6a/7/8 Patch Cable Overview

Cat5e

Cat5e Ethernet cable, also known as Enhanced Category 5, can support a data transmission speed up to 1000Mb/s and 100MHz, which is one of the most common types of cabling used for deployments due to its ability to support Gigabit speeds at a cost-effective price. FS offers different types of Cat5e patch cables for our customers to choose from. The form below lists FS Cat5e Ethernet cables specifications:

Cat6

A Cat6 Ethernet cable has a bandwidth capacity of 250 MHz, supporting a speed of up to 10 Gbps. Below is listed the specifications of part Cat6 Ethernet cables on FS website:

Product ID	Shielding Type	Wire Gauge	Boot Type	Jacket Material	Color	Length
#70595	UTP	24 AWG	Snagless	PVC CM		0.15m/0.3m/0.6m 0.9m/1.2m/1.5m 1.8m/2.1m/2.4m/3m 3.7m/4.6m/6.1m 7.6m/10.7m/15.2m
#70652	UTP	24 AWG	Non-booted	PVC CM		0.15m/0.3m/0.6m 0.9m/1.2m/1.5m 1.8m/2.1m/2.4m/3m
#70659	SFTP	26 AWG	Snagless	PVC CMX		0.15m/0.3m/0.6m 0.9m/1.2m/1.5m 1.8m/2.1m/2.4m/3m
#63440	UTP	28 AWG	Snagless	PVC CM		0.15m/0.3m/0.5m 0.6m/0.9m/1.2m 1.5m/1.8m/2.1m 3m/4.9m

Cat6a

For Cat6a, the "a" stands for "Augmented". Cat6a cable supports bandwidth frequencies of up to 500 MHz, and can also support 10Gbps like its predecessor Cat6. Thus, Cat6a Ethernet cables are able to maintain higher transmission speeds over longer network cable lengths. FS Cat6a Ethernet cable specifications are listed in the form below:

Cat7

Cat7 cables can also support 10 Gbps and it is suitable for applications where transmission of frequencies up to 600MHz is required. Below are the specifications of FS Cat7 Ethernet cables:

Cat8

Cat8 cables are able to support 25Gb and 40Gb Ethernet and can provide even faster transmission frequencies up to 2000MHz, which makes them especially suitable for extreme high-speed networking areas. Below are FS Cat8 Ethernet cables detailed specifications:

FS Cable Parameter Explanation

Shielding Type:

UTP - Unshielded twisted-pair, referring to the cable that has no shield protection. It has the smallest cable diameter which enables it to be used in low-noise controlled environments such as inside a metal cabinet or a conduit, where it is protected from ambient EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference).

FTP - For foil twisted-pair, each twisted pair of the cable is wrapped in a shielding of foil to protect the cable from EMI and crosswalk.

SFTP - Shield foil twisted pair is a combination of both STP and FTP shielding. The wires inside the cable are twisted and shielded with foil wrapping, and then the foiled wires are shielded by a wrapping of either foil or a braided screening, providing the highest protection level against EMI and crosswalk.

Boot Type:

Snagless - Snagless refers to an extra part of the boot that covers the end of the locking tab. It has a strain-relief capability or protection for the locking tab on the connector.

Non-booted - The non-booted type has no strain relief capabilities or protection for the locking tab on the connector. It is easier for plugging or unplugging.

Jacket Material:

PVC CM - CM refers to "Communications Multipurpose". Cables with PVC CM jacket are the most commonly used commercial-grade communication cables. Their applications are primarily in-room patch cords, for instance, from a wall plate to a computer. In the interior of any residential application, these cables can be used almost anywhere.

PVC CMX - CMX is a residential-grade cable. CMX rated cables are suitable for residential or other small applications where the number of communication cables used is very little.

Gauge (AWG):

AWG stands for American Wire Gauge. It is a standardized system for describing the diameter of the individual conductors (wires) that make up a copper network cable. The smaller the gauge, the larger the diameter of the wire; the larger the diameter of a wire, the less electrical resistance there is for the signals it carries.

FS Cat5e/6/6a/7/8 Patch Cable Q&As

Q: What is the difference between shielded and unshielded cable?

A: Unshielded cable consists of color-coded copper wires but does not include any foil or braiding as an insulator to protect against interference, which makes it suitable for offices and homes. While shielded cable contains an extra foil wrapping or copper braid jacket to help shield the cable signals from interference, which makes them often be used in situations nearby equipment causing EMI. For example, airports, medical centers and factories.

Q: Are the cable conductors completely copper or copper clad aluminum?

A: All cable conductor materials are pure bare copper or oxygen-free copper (OFC), copper content is above 99.95%, which guaranteed a stable and reliable transmission performance.

Q: Can you provide Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cables for outdoor use?

A: Yes. FS provides outdoor bulk Ethernet cables, you can check on our website for more information.

Q: Have all cables been tested and passed the network-cable testing?

A: Yes. All FS Ethernet patch cables pass Fluke Channel Test and deliver a specified testing report.

Q: What are the differences of transmission speed or bandwidth between cat5e/6/6a/7/8 Ethernet cables?

A: The form below can be a good reference for you:

Notice:

All FS Ethernet cables have different lengths and colors to choose from. For customization needs, please contact us via sales@fs.com for more information.