Cat 5 vs. Cat 6 vs. Cat 7 vs. Cat 8 Ethernet network cable comparison

Aug. 8, 2018
"Beware of marketing schemes that tell you to pay extra for over-priced cable you might not even need," exhorts AV solutions cable and connectivity designer supplier Sewell Direct.

"Beware of marketing schemes that tell you to pay extra for over-priced cable you might not even need," exhorts Sewell Direct, a designer and supplier of network cable and connectivity for the AV solutions market. The company has produced the following video with the intent to educate its customers on how to choose appropriate network cables vis a via an illustrated Cat5 vs Cat6 vs Cat7 vs Cat8 Ethernet media comparison. "Learn what the differences are between each Category of network cable and decide what you really need based on the specs and limitations of each cable," advises the company.

[Ed. Note -- This video mentions copper-clad aluminum (CCA) cable as among the range of available options for Category 5e and Category 6 media. CablingInstall.com would like to emphasize that, per the guidance of the Communications Cable and Connectivity Association (CCCA), copper clad aluminum conductors as found in Cat 5e and Cat 6 cables violate UL, TIA and NEC standards, and should NEVER be used.]

See Also: CCCA, CDA warn against copper-clad aluminum cables

Case study: One installer's schooling in counterfeit cabling infrastructure

Potential liabilities of copper-clad aluminum cable manufacture, installation

Copper-clad aluminum conductors the latest counterfeiting ploy

Sponsored Recommendations

What you need to know about 6A cabling

Aug. 3, 2022
Did you know that Category 6A cable is the best choice for structured cabling?

Cat 6A Hard Facts

Aug. 3, 2022
At CommScope we know about network change and the importance of getting it right. Conclusion Category 6A cabling and connectivity.

Why CommScope 6A?

Nov. 7, 2022
Inside buildings and across campuses, network demands and economics are changing. As applications like IoT, 10GBASE-T, multigigabit Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 and PoE++ become more common, ...

Fiber solutions that drive Equinix performance

Aug. 25, 2023
CommScope and Equinix work hand in hand to provide client connectivity across the globe