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 CAT 5/5e and CAT 3 cable
standards. CAT 6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk 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). It is expected to suit the
10GBASE‐T (10Gigabit Ethernet) standard, although with limitations on length if unshielded
CAT 6 cable is used. CAT 6 cables can be identified by the printing on the side.
Currently there is a great deal of confusion among Ethernet cable buyers concerning
whether to purchase CAT 5e, or to use CAT 6. Most of this confusion comes from a
misunderstanding by the buyer that buying CAT 6 cable will give them an "all gigabit"
network. This is not the case. Unless every single component in the network is gigabit rated
you will never have a gigabit network, because your network will always run at the speed of
your slowest device. CAT 5e cable of good quality can run near or at gigabit speeds, it just
cannot be "certified" for this use. By comparison, CAT 6 is designed especially for gigabit use,
and is certified to operate at said speed.
The CAT 6 cable is terminated in either the T568A scheme or the T568B scheme. As long as
both ends of a cable are terminated using the same scheme, it doesn't matter which scheme
is used; they are both straight through (pin 1 to 1, pin 2 to 2, etc) and the pairing is the same.
Mixing T568A‐terminated patch cords with T568B‐terminated horizontal cables (or the
reverse) does not produce problems in a facility. The T568B Scheme is by far the most widely
used method of terminating patch cables.
and other network protocols that is backward compatible with the CAT 5/5e and CAT 3 cable
standards. CAT 6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk 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). It is expected to suit the
10GBASE‐T (10Gigabit Ethernet) standard, although with limitations on length if unshielded
CAT 6 cable is used. CAT 6 cables can be identified by the printing on the side.
Currently there is a great deal of confusion among Ethernet cable buyers concerning
whether to purchase CAT 5e, or to use CAT 6. Most of this confusion comes from a
misunderstanding by the buyer that buying CAT 6 cable will give them an "all gigabit"
network. This is not the case. Unless every single component in the network is gigabit rated
you will never have a gigabit network, because your network will always run at the speed of
your slowest device. CAT 5e cable of good quality can run near or at gigabit speeds, it just
cannot be "certified" for this use. By comparison, CAT 6 is designed especially for gigabit use,
and is certified to operate at said speed.
The CAT 6 cable is terminated in either the T568A scheme or the T568B scheme. As long as
both ends of a cable are terminated using the same scheme, it doesn't matter which scheme
is used; they are both straight through (pin 1 to 1, pin 2 to 2, etc) and the pairing is the same.
Mixing T568A‐terminated patch cords with T568B‐terminated horizontal cables (or the
reverse) does not produce problems in a facility. The T568B Scheme is by far the most widely
used method of terminating patch cables.
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