Ethernet with fiber --- "Cat 6" or better?

General discussions and other topics.
6 posts Page 1 of 1
by ankh » Sat Oct 06, 2018 10:50 am
OK, we're up and running with fiber.
I threw out a lot of old Cat5 Ethernet and have only Cat6 remaining.

When I look at my usually reliable supplier, Monoprice, I find Cat6 listed as good up to 550 mHz

https://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=105&cp_id=10232

Is that really as good as it gets? Or is there a better source I should look for?
My Sonic speedtest (Ethernet from Macbook Pro to the new fiber Pace router) is close to that, and I wonder if I can do better?

download speed is 519.08 Mbps
upload speed is 517.76 Mbps
by ankh » Sat Oct 06, 2018 10:53 am
I found this info online:
https://planetechusa.com/blog/ethernet- ... 7-vs-cat8/
Category 6a

Cat6a supports bandwidth frequencies of up to 500 MHz, twice the amount of Cat6 cable, and can also support 10Gbps like its predecessor. However, unlike Cat6 cabling, Cat6a can support 10 Gigabit Ethernet at 100 meters. [Cat6 cabling on the other hand, can transmit the same speeds at up to 37 meters.]

Cat6a also features more robust sheathing which eliminates alien crosstalk (AXT) and improves upon the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). “A” = augmented. The stronger sheathing makes Cat6a cabling considerably thicker than Cat6, also making it less flexible to work with, and therefore, better suited for industrial environments at a lower price point.

NOTE: 250-500Mhz/10 Gbps /100m.
Category 7

Cat7 can also support 10 Gbps, but laboratory testing has successfully shown its ability to transmit up to 40 Gb at 50 meters and even 100 Gb at 15 meters. The newer “Class F” cabling can support frequencies of up to 600 Mhz. That said, Cat7 has not been approved as a cable standard for telecommunications.
by ankh » Sat Oct 06, 2018 11:09 am
Aha -- they rate their Ethernet grades for lower speeds than the references claim.

But they have Cat8!

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=31087
by igorru » Sat Oct 06, 2018 11:28 am
Cat5e is capable of 1Gbps. Cat6 can do 10Gbps. Either one will be perfectly fine for your needs. Anything above is overkill.

500Mhz that you see in the description is not the transmission rate (bandwidth), it is the frequency of the transmission.
by ankh » Sat Oct 06, 2018 12:19 pm
That's reassuring, thanks.
by virtualmike » Sat Oct 06, 2018 10:58 pm
[Content deleted-redundant to another post seen after this message originally posted.]
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