Cat 6 Systems
Welcome to Educational Networks by HSdataline
Definition: CAT 6 is an Ethernet cable standard defined by the Electronic Industries Association and Telecommunications Industry Association (commonly known as EIA/TIA). CAT 6 is the 6th generation of twisted pair Ethernet cabling.
CAT 6 cable contains four pairs of copper wire and unlike CAT 5, utilizes all four pairs. CAT 6 supports Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Ethernet and supports communications at more than twice the speed of CAT 5e, the other popular standard for Gigabit Ethernet cabling.
As with all other types of twisted pair EIA/TIA cabling, CAT 6 cable runs are limited to a maximum recommended run rate of 100m (328 feet).
Twisted pair cable like CAT 6 comes in two main varieties, solid and stranded. Solid CAT 6 cable supports longer runs and works best in fixed wiring configurations like office buildings. Stranded CAT 6 cable, on the other hand, is more pliable and better suited for shorter-distance, movable cabling such as "patch" cables.
CAT 6 comes at a significantly higher price tag than CAT 5 or CAT 5e, and today's applications simply can't take advantage of CAT 6's better performance. However, if wiring a home or building for the long term, one may still consider using CAT 6.