Introduction to Data Cabling| Basic Specs | CAT5 – CAT6 UTP | CAT6 – CAT6a | CAT7 | CAT7a | Fiber Optic
Trying to understand which data cabling systems to provide the best service is difficult. There are many factors to determine the best solution.
We all want the best speed at the best price without limiting the installation. Improper planning can require many future upgrades.
If you have any questions, I have provided a basic understanding of the different data cable types below to help answer any questions you may have concerning one type of cable over another. Beyond the typical cables listed below, we also provide services for coaxial (television), and audio cables if needed.
Introduction to Data Cabling and Network Cabling Categories
Below you will find information explaining the differences between CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT7 and CAT7a.
The Comparison between CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT7 is In the context of the 100-ohm UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) type of cable used for Ethernet wiring.
CATx is an abbreviation for the category number that defines the performance of building telecommunications cabling (as outlined by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) standards).
UTP cabling has become the cable structure that most companies used because it was easier to install and less expensive. UTP CAT3 and CAT4 were used sparingly since the emergence of 100Base-TX networks resulted in a quick change over to CAT5.
The current demand of gigabit (1000Base-TX) Ethernet LANs created a need for another specification which is CAT6.
CAT5e – CAT5e is now being superseded by CAT6 cable and there is a developing standard for CAT7.
*Many of our clients have existing connectors that are designed to work with the emerging CAT6.
Basic Data and Network Cabling Specifications
Below you will find the specifications for the most common CATx categories.
Cat3, Cat4, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat7
All Items are listed by Category Type, Spectral R/W, Length, Lan Applications, and Notes
CAT3 UTP 16MHz 100m 10Base-T, 4Mbps For telephone
CAT4 UTP 20MHz 100m 16Mbps Rare
CAT5 UTP 100MHz 100m 100Base-T, ATM, CDDI LAN Use
CAT5e UTP 100MHz 100m 100Base-T LAN Use
CAT6 UTP 250MHz 100m Emerging
CAT7 ScTP 600MHz 100m
CAT5, CAT5e, and CAT6 UTP Data Cabling
CAT5 and CAT5e are almost the same. The CAT5e specification includes some additional limits over the CAT5 specification. The reality therefore is the CAT5 is in fact CAT5e. It’s just not certified as such.
To better assist our customers understanding of CAT5 vs. CAT5e data cabling specifications, this document is a comparison between Category 5, Category 5E, and Category 6. We carry numerous connectors that are manufactured to work with both CAT5 and CAT5e as well as the emerging CAT6 cables.
(Solid Cable) Specifications Comparison
Category 5 Category 5e Category 6
Frequency 100 MHz 100 MHz 250 MHz
Return Loss (Min. at 100MHz) 16.0 dB 20.1 dB 20.1 dB
Characteristic Impedance 100 ohms ± 15% 100 ohms ± 15% 100 ohms ± 15%
Attenuation (Min. at 100 MHz) 22 dB 22 dB 19.8 dB
Next (Min. at 100MHz) 32.3 dB 35.3 dB 44.3 dB
PS-Next (Min. at 100MHz) no specification 32.3 dB 42.3 dB
ELFEXT (Min. at 100 MHz) no specification 23.8 dB 27.8 dB
PS-ELFEXT (Min. at 100 MHz) no specification 20.8 dB 24.8 dB
Delay Skew (Max. per 100 m) no specification 45 ns 45 ns
CAT6 & CAT6a Data Cabling
Strict Specifications With More Stringent Cross-talk and System Noise Features.
Category 6 cable, commonly referred to as Cat-6, is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols that is backward compatible with the Category 5/5e and Category 3 cable standards. Cat-6 features more stringent specifications for cross-talk and system noise. The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T / 1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet).
The cable contains four twisted copper wire pairs. This is the same as CAT5 and CAT5e copper cable standards. Cat-6 is also made with 23 gauge wire, however this is not a requirement. The ANSI/TIA-568-B.2-1 specification indicates the cable may be made with 22 to 24 AWG wire. For local area network patch cables, Cat-6 is normally terminated with 8P8C modular connectors. The modular connectors are the RJ-45″ electrical connectors manufactured by Xmultiple and other connector companies. Cat-6 RJ45 connectors are made to higher standards with improved gold plating and higher performance design of contact pins alignment which reduce noise caused by crosstalk and system interference. Attenuation, NEXT (Near End Crosstalk), and PSNEXT (Power Sum NEXT) are all significantly lower when compared to Cat-5/5e. There is one problem with Cat-6 cables which is they are larger and increase size. Therefore they are more difficult to attach to 8P8C connectors without a special modular piece. They are technically not standard compliant if they do not insert into a RJ45 connector. The maximum allowed length of a Cat-6 cable is 100 meters (330 ft) when used for 10/100/1000baseT and 55 meters (180 ft) when used for 10GbaseT.
CAT7 Data Cabling
Strict Specifications For Cross-talk
Category 7 cable (Cat7), (ISO/IEC 11801:2002 category 7/class F), is a cable standard for Ethernet and other interconnect technologies. CAT 7 is backwards compatible with traditional Cat5 and Cat6 Ethernet. Cat7 features even more strict specifications for cross-talk and system noise than Cat6. Shielding has been added for individual wire pairs on the Category 7 cable.
Cat7 has been designed as a standard for Gigabit Ethernet over 100m of copper cabling The cable contains four twisted copper wire pairs, just like the earlier standards. Cat7 can be terminated either with 8P8C compatible GG45 electrical connectors which incorporate the 8P8C standard or with TERA connectors. When combined with GG45 or TERA connectors, Cat7 cable is rated for transmission frequencies of up to 600 MHz. Xmultiple’s UltraJAX connectors are designed specifically for these high speeds with not contact pins and a printed circuit board with contact pads integrated into the RJ45 style housing.
CAT7a Data Cabling
For Frequencies up to 1000MHz
Category 7a which is also commonly referred to as Augmented Category 7, operates at frequencies up to 1000 MHz. CAT7a is designed for multiple applications in a single cable including 40 Gigabit Ethernet, 100 Gigabit Ethernet, and CATV (862 MHz).[1][2][3). Test results have shown 40 Gigabit Ethernet will work up to 50 meters and 100 Gigabit Ethernet is possible up to 15 meters. Small form factor pluggable products are available by Xmultiple in both copper and fiber optics for the 40GB and 100 GB applications.
Fiber Optic Data Cabling
The Fiber Optic Association
Specifications For Fiber Optic Networks
Per current standards and specs, maximum supportable distances and attenuation for optical fiber applications by fiber type.
Multi-mode Fiber Network Data Cabling Specifications
| Application | Parameter | Multi-mode Fiber Type | |||||||
| 62.5/125 μm | 50/125 μm | 850 nm laser-optimized 50/125 μm |
850 nm laser-optimized 50/125 μm |
||||||
| TIA 492AAAA (OM1) | TIA 492AAAB (OM2) | TIA 492AAAC (OM3) |
TIA 492AAAD (OM4) |
||||||
| Nominal wavelength (nm) | 850 | 1300 | 850 | 1300 | 850 | 1300 | 850 | 1300 | |
| Ethernet
10/100BASE-SX |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 4.0 | – | 4.0 | – | 4.0 | – | 4.0 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 300 (984) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | |
| Ethernet
100BASE-FX |
Channel attenuation (dB) | – | 11.0 | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | – | 2000 (6560) |
– | 2000 (6560) |
– | 2000 (6560) |
– | 2000 (6560) |
|
| Ethernet
1000BASE-SX |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 2.6 | – | 3.6 | – | 4.5 | – | 4.8 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 275 (900) |
– | 550 (1804) |
– | 800 (2625) |
– | 880 (2887) |
– | |
| Ethernet
1000BASE-LX |
Channel attenuation (dB) | – | 2.3 | – | 2.3 | – | 2.3 | – | 2.3 |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | – | 550 (1804) |
– | 550 (1804) |
– | 550 (1804) |
– | 550 (1804) |
|
| Ethernet
10GBASE-S |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 2.4 | – | 2.3 | – | 2.6 | – | 3.1 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 33 (108) |
– | 82 (269) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | 450 (1476) |
– | |
| Ethernet
10GBASE-LX4 |
Channel attenuation (dB) | – | 2.5 | – | 2.0 | – | 2.0 | – | 2.0 |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | – | 300 (984) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | 300 (984) |
|
| Ethernet
10GBASE-LRM |
Channel attenuation (dB) | – | 1.9 | – | 1.9 | – | 1.9 | – | 1.9 |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | – | 220 (720) |
– | 220 (720) |
– | 220 (720) |
– | 220 (720) |
|
| Ethernet
40GBASE-SR4 |
Channel attenuation (dB) | – | – | – | – | 1.9 | – | 1.9 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | – | – | – | – | 100 (328) |
– | 125 (410) |
– | |
| Ethernet
100GBASE-SR10 |
Channel attenuation (dB) | – | – | – | – | 1.9 | – | 1.9 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | – | – | – | – | 100 (328) |
– | 125 (410) |
– | |
| 1G Fibre Channel
100-MX-SN-I (1062 Mbaud) |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 3.0 | – | 3.9 | – | 4.6 | – | 4.6 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 300 (984) |
– | 500 (1640) |
– | 860 (2822) |
– | 860 (2822) |
– | |
| 2G Fibre Channel
200-MX-SN-I (2125 Mbaud) |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 2.1 | – | 2.6 | – | 3.3 | – | 3.3 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 150 (492) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | 500 (1640) |
– | 500 (1640) |
– | |
| 4G Fibre Channel
400-MX-SN-I (4250 Mbaud) |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 1.8 | – | 2.1 | – | 2.9 | – | 3.0 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 70 (230) |
– | 150 (492) |
– | 380 (1247) |
– | 400 (1312) |
– | |
| 10G Fibre Channel
1200-MX-SN-I (10512 Mbaud) |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 2.4 | – | 2.2 | 2.6 | – | 2.6 | – | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 33 (108) |
– | 82 (269) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | 300 (984) |
– | |
| 16G Fibre Channel
1600-MX-SN (10512 Mbaud) |
Channel attenuation (dB) | – | – | 1.6 | – | 1.9 | – | 1..9 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | – | – | 35
(115) |
– | 100
(328) |
– | 125
(410) |
– | |
| FDDI PMD
ANSI X3.166 |
Channel attenuation (dB) | – | 11.0 | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | – | 2000 (6560) |
– | 2000 (6560) |
– | 2000 (6560) |
– | 2000 (6560) |
|
– means Not Applicable
Single-mode Fiber Network Data Cabling Specifications
| Application | Parameter | Single-mode | |
| TIA 492CAAA (OS1) orTIA 492CAAB (OS2) | |||
| Nominal wavelength (nm) | 1310 | 1550 | |
| Ethernet
1000BASE-LX |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 4.5 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 5000 (16405) |
– | |
| Ethernet
10GBASE-LX4 |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 6.3 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
| Ethernet
10GBASE-L |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 6.2 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
| Ethernet
10GBASE-E |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 11.0 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 40000
(131240) |
||
| Ethernet
40GBASE-LR4 |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 6.7 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
||
| Ethernet
100GBASE-LR4 |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 6.3 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
||
| 1G Fibre Channel
100-SM-LC-L |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 7.8 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
| 2G Fibre Channel
200-SM-LC-L |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 7.8 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
| 4G Fibre Channel
400-SM-LC-M |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 4.8 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 4000 (13124) |
– | |
| 4G Fibre Channel
400-SM-LC-L |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 7.8 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
| 8G Fibre Channel
800-SM-LC-I |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 2.6 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 1400 (4593) |
– | |
| 8G Fibre Channel
800-SM-LC-L (4250 Mbaud) |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 6.4 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
| 10G Fibre Channel
1200-SM-LL-L |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 6.0 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
| 16G Fibre Channel
1600-SM-LC-L |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 6.4 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
| FDDI SMF-PMDANSI X3.184 |
Channel attenuation (dB) | 10.0 | – |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
– | |
– means Not Applicable
Link Specifications for FTTx Data Cabling
Single-mode |
||||
| Parameter | TIA 492CAAA (OS1) or TIA 492CAAB (OS2) | |||
| Application | Nominal wavelength (nm) | 1270/1310 | 1490 | 1550 |
| EPON
(IEEE 802.3) PX10 /PRX10 |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 5 > 20 | 5 > 19.5 | 5 > 20 |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32808) |
|||
| EPON
(IEEE 802.3AH) PX20 |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 10 > 24 | 10 > 24 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 20000 (65616) |
|||
| 10G EPON
(IEEE 802.3AV) PR10 /PRX10 |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 5 > 20 | 5 > 20- | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 10000 (32810) |
|||
| 10G EPON
(IEEE 802.3AV) PR20 /PRX20 |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 10 > 24 | 10 > 24 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 20000 (65616) |
|||
| 10G EPON
(IEEE 802.3AV) PR30 /PRX30 |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 15 > 29 | 15 > 29 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 30000 (98424) |
|||
| GPON
(ITU G.983) Class B+ |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 13 > 28 | 13 > 28 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 20000 (65616) |
|||
| GPON
(ITU G.984) Class C+ |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 17 > 32 | 17 > 32 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 30000 (98424) |
|||
| 10GPON
(ITU G.987) Class N1 |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 14 > 29 | 14 > 29 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 20000 (65616) |
|||
| 10GPON
(ITU G.987) Class N2 |
Channel attenuation (dB, min > max) | 16 > 31 | 16 > 31 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 30000 (98424) |
|||
| RFOG
(SCTE IPS SP910) |
Channel attenuation (dB, range, max) | 5, 25 | 5, 25 | |
| Supportable distance m (ft) | 20000 (65616) |
|||
Specifications For Legacy Fiber Optic Networks
A listing of many fiber optic LANs and links available in the last 30 years with basic data cabling operational specs.
| Application | Wavelength | Max distance (m)
for fiber type |
Link Margin (dB)
for fiber type |
||||
| 62.5/125 | 50/125 | SM | 62.5 | 50 | SM | ||
| 10Base-F | 850 | 2000 | 2000 | – | 12.5 | 7.8 | – |
| FOIRL | 850 | 2000 | – | – | 8 | – | – |
| T oken Ring 4/16 | 850 | 2000 | 2000 | – | 13 | 8.3 | – |
| Demand Priority
(100VG-AnyLAN) |
850 | 500 | 500 | – | 7.5 | 2.8 | – |
| Demand Priority
(100VG-AnyLAN) |
1300 | 2000 | 2000 | – | 7.0 | 2.3 | – |
| 100Base-FX
(Fast Ethernet) |
1300 | 2000 | 2000 | – | 11 | 6.3 | – |
| 10/100Base-SX | 850 | 300 | 300 | – | 4.0 | 4.0 | – |
| FDDI | 1300 | 2000 | 2000 | 40,000 | 11.0 | 6.3 | 10-32 |
| FDDI (low cost) | 1300 | 500 | 500 | NA | 7.0 | 2.3 | – |
| ATM 52 | 1300 | 3000 | 3000 | 15,000 | 10 | 5.3 | 7-12 |
| ATM 155 | 1300 | 2000 | 2000 | 15,000 | 10 | 5.3 | 7-12 |
| ATM 155 | 850(laser) | 1000 | 1000 | – | 7.2 | 7.2 | – |
| ATM 622 | 1300 | 500 | 500 | 15,000 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 7-12 |
| ATM 622 | 850(laser) | 300 | 300 | – | 4.0 | 4.0 | – |
| Fibre Channel 266 | 1300 | 1500 | 1500 | 10,000 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 6-14 |
| Fibre Channel 266 | 850(laser) | 700 | 2000 | – | 12.0 | 12.0 | – |
| Fibre Channel 1062 | 850(laser) | 300 | 500 | – | 4.0 | 4.0 | – |
| Fibre Channel 1062 | 1300 | – | – | 10,000 | – | – | 6-14 |
| 1000Base-SX | 850(laser) | 220 | 550 | – | 3.2 | 3.9 | – |
| 1000Base-LX | 1300 | 550 | 550 | 5000 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.7 |
| ESCON | 1300 | 3000 | – | 20,000 | 11 | – | 16 |
– means Not Applicable
NS = Not Specified. Most LANs and links not specified to run on SM fiber have media converters available to allow them to run on SM fiber.