Cat 5e Cabling Installation and Network Cable Installation
Cat 5e Cabling Installation using Category 5e and 6 Cabling
Category 5e is rated handle up to 1000 Mbps speeds (Gigabit Ethernet) at 100 MHz. This measurement is used to determine how much data the cable can move or its bandwidth. Previously, telephone wiring used a pair of wires, Cat 5e introduced 4 pair of wires in a single cable. These 8 wires allow data to be processed and sent through the network at very fast speeds. Cat 5e cabling installation is needed when new computers or printers are added to the office. Cat 5e cables are usually 24 gauge twisted pair wires, which can produce a Gigibit network at distances up to 328 ft., including patch cables at both ends. When comparing Cat 6 cables is limited to 164 ft to offer 10 Gigabit speeds., including patch cables. After that distance, its ultimate speed is the same as cat 5e, i.e. 1 Gigabit.
According to www.serverackandcable.com, the faster the speed and better the quality of cable and installation, the more data can flow from each device to the Internet. Bandwidth and the rate of data transfer are related to each other in the same way as a highway is related to traffic. Increasing the data transfer rate is similar to increasing the quantity of lanes on a thoroughfare to increase the traffic flow. It has been observed that the data rates increase by 100% every eighteen months and due to this there is a need to use new means of transmission with better transfer rates. Today the apps moving at a transfer rate of 1 Gb/sec are hitting the ceiling of category 5e cables capabilities. Applications which require streaming of data like video and multimedia transfer demand high transfer rates and this demand can only be fulfilled by Cat 6 cables, which offer higher bandwidth. Use of Cat 6 will also boost the development of new applications which work with higher bandwidth.
If your office doesn't require fast data transfer, Category 5e is a very good choice. Network jacks, cabling, patch panels, patch cords and other equipment used with Cat 5e cabling are less expensive when compared to Category 6 cabling. The termination of Cat 6 cabling takes longer and the testing is more strict. If you upgrade your network switch to Gigabit speeds, you may want to consider installing Category 6 cabling to allow the data to move as fast as the switch will process it. Hardware companies continue to introduce new equipment to the market that is faster and faster. Consider your use now and years down the road when installing your network cabling.
