Facts About Cat6 Plenum & Other Ethernet Cables Jacket Types
To design an efficient and effective network design, the role of Ethernet cables is a vital one. One wrong decision may ruin your whole investment. This is why network engineers select the Ethernet cables with great care and caution. First, they study the requirements of their network and then take this decision very carefully.
It is never been an easy task to select an appropriate Ethernet cable for a network. These cables are available in the market in different types of jackets. To select the right one from among those is a tricky thing like choosing between cat6 plenum and cat5e plenum. Network engineers who understand the needs and demands of their networks can do this job perfectly.
Normally, we find Ethernet cables in the market in three different types of jackets.
- Plenum Cable Jackets
- Riser Cable Jackets
- PVC Cable Jackets
Each of them comes with different technical features and qualities. Until the users do not understand those technical features properly, they cannot take the right decision about their selection. These technical features describe the usage and installation benefits of each Ethernet cable. Therefore, the network administrators must understand them properly to make the best use of them.
Ethernet Cable Cat6 Plenum & Other Cables
Ethernet cable with plenum jacket is also known as CMP-rated (Communications Multipurpose Cable Plenum) cables. It is one of the highest-rated Ethernet cables available in the market. Plenum jacket comes with the best features and qualities as compared to other jackets.
According to the quality standards set by the governing bodies, plenum jacket Ethernet cables are the most efficient and effective ones. They always put the Cat6 Plenum 1000ft cable on the top spot of their rankings due to their better features.
Plenum cable is made from supreme quality polyvinyl chloride. This material upgrades this cable jacket with some great features like making it highly fire-retardant and UV-resistant. Plenum cable resists fire progression effectively and does not emit any kind of toxic substances.
It is a very thick cable jacket that protects the signals from any kind of interruption from external factors. They are very good against crosstalk and EMI. Therefore, these cables will provide you with the maximum performance to run your networks professionally.
The superior features of the Cat6 CMP Cable jacket allow the network engineers to use them at any place in the networks. They can also use them in place of riser and PVC cables. These cables can be installed at riser places and outdoors without any problem.
Ethernet Plenum Jacket Cables are available in the following categories.
- Cat5e Plenum Cable
- Cat6 Plenum Cable
- Cat6a Plenum Cable
- Cat7 Plenum Cable
All these above-mentioned Ethernet cables are available in premium-rate plenum jackets. What differs them from each other is their data transfer speeds and bandwidth capacities. Therefore, network engineers can choose one of them according to their network needs and requirements.
For example, if they are looking for a very high-speed Ethernet cable with a plenum jacket then Cat7 is the best available option for them with a data transfer speed of up to 40 GB at 50 meters. They can even transfer 100 GB at 15 meters distance. Normally, these cables are used in networks where data transmission is the main concern. They are the most expensive cables that are mentioned above.
Similarly, if they are designing a network for a small business or a home then they can go for cat5e plenum or Cat6 Plenum cables as well. Cat5e plenum comes with a data transfer speed of 1 Gbps with a bandwidth capacity of 350 MHz. On other hand, cat6 will provide you with data transfer speed up to 10 Gbps with a bandwidth capacity of 55 MHz. You can select one as per your network requirements.
Ethernet Cable Cat6 Riser & Other Cables
Ethernet cable with riser jacket is also known as CMR-rated (Communication Multipurpose Cable Riser) cables. After plenum Ethernet cables, it is the second-best option of Ethernet cables available in the market. Their strong and sturdy riser jacket makes them highly efficient and effective to be used in any kind of network.
The riser jacket is also UV-resistant and fire-retardant just like the plenum jacket. They do not produce any toxic substance while burning and resist fire progressions. The drawback with riser jacket cables is that they can only be used at the riser places of the room or building. They cannot be installed at the plenum places.
Ethernet Riser Jacket Cables are also available in the following categories.
- Cat5e Riser Cable
- Cat6 Riser Cable
- Cat6a Riser Cable
- Cat7 Riser Cable
All these above-mentioned Ethernet cables are available in the riser jacket. It is an individual’s choice or its network demands that force them to select one out of them. As far as the quality of the cables is concerned, they are all same. What makes one superior to the other is its data transfer limit and bandwidth.
The riser jacket of the cables is very thick in a structure that keeps the signal strengths intact. They will not drop at any stage or be interrupted by external factors like crosstalk and EMI. The factor makes it a better option than Cat6 Plenum Rated Cable is its low price. They are relatively cheaper than them but still, they are much more expensive in comparison to PVC Ethernet cables.
The riser jacket of the cables is very thick in a structure that keeps the signal strengths intact. They will not drop at any stage or be interrupted by external factors like crosstalk and EMI. The factor makes it a better option than Cat6 Plenum Rated Cable is its low price. They are relatively cheaper than them but still, they are much more expensive in comparison to PVC Ethernet cables.
Ethernet Cable Cat6 PVC & Other Cables
Sometimes Ethernet cables are needed by the network designers that are cost-effective and cheaper than the plenum and riser cables. In this scenario, PVC jacket Ethernet cable is the best option for them. These cables are much cheaper in comparison to plenum and riser cables but the only problem with them is that they can only be installed in the outdoor spaces. They are not made to be installed at the plenum or riser spaces of the buildings.
You will find different types of PVC jacked Ethernet cables in the market.
- Cat5e PVC Cable
- Cat6 PVC Cable
- Cat6a PVC Cable
- Cat7 PVC Cable
All these above-mentioned Ethernet cables are the same in one way that they have PVC jackets. The difference between them is their data speed transferability and bandwidth capacities. The users can select them based on their needs and requirements.
The PVC-rated cables are a much cheaper option as compared to Cat6 Plenum and cat6 riser. This is why some network designers who have limited budget limits opt for these cables to design their networks.
Ethernet Cable with CMX Jacket
CMX Ethernet cables are specially designed to be installed outdoors. CMX jackets are sturdy enough to bear outdoor conditions such as sunlight, rain, and wind. Normally, they come with water-blocking tape to protect them from rainwater and atmospheric moisture.
These cables are durable enough to be buried directly in the ground. They remain intact for a long time and keep your network running smoothly. Most network designers prefer these cables when they are designing an outdoor network solution.
Why iTechCables Should Be Your First Preference?
A basic need of every network designer is to acquire quality products. It allows them to design a network that gives them better performance and results. This is why iTechCables should be your first preference. We deliver quality products to our customers that satisfy their needs and demands appropriately.
Especially, our Ethernet cables are highly in demand from the designers due to their superior quality and technical features. We are producing all types of Ethernet cables in different jackets such as plenum, riser, and PVC. All of them possess high technical features and qualities that make any network efficient and effective for a long time.
After using our Ethernet cables, we guarantee you that it will reduce your maintenance cost to a great extent, and with that, you do not need to worry about the up-gradation of your network for a long time. We meet our customer demands and needs through our superior quality products.
On top of it, our free shipping services (terms and conditions apply) works as icing on the cake for the customers. We are offering same-day dispatching services of the orders we received from our customers. Our quick and fast services force the customers to come to us again and again to fulfill their network product’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a better understanding of Ethernet cables and their types, these frequently asked questions clarify many things to its frequent users.
Q1: What is the main use of Ethernet cables?
A: The main use of these cables is to connect technological devices like computers, routers, and others with local area networks.
Q2: Which Ethernet cables are best to use for the setup of a normal network?
A: If you are setting up a normal network for a small business or a home then Cat5e and cat6 cables are the best options to use.
Q3: What are they made of?
A: Ethernet cables are manufactured in layers. The outer layer of the cable is called its jacket. Then we find 4 pairs of twisted wires inside it like Cat 6 UTP Cable. In most of the Ethernet cables, these twisted pairs of wires remain unshielded but in some cases, they are shielded with another layer of copper or aluminium foil. So me Ethernet cables come with pure copper conductors while some use clad-aluminium conductors as well.
Q4: What are the benefits of using higher category Ethernet cables?
A: Using higher category Ethernet cables like Cat6 and Cat6a instead of Cat5 or Cat5e gives you faster data transfer speeds and more bandwidth capacities up to longer distances.
Q5: What is the life of connectors used with the Ethernet cables?
A: RJ45 connectors are mostly used with the Ethernet cables. They have a quite long life and can be used between 1000 to 2000 insertions.
Q6: What is the maximum length of a Cat6a cable?
A: The maximum length of Cat6a cable is 100 meters or 328 feet.
Q7: Do we find Ethernet cables in different colors?
A: Yes, Ethernet cables are available in the market in different colours such as red, yellow, and blue. They all are the same in quality and functionality. The only difference is their outer jacket colour. You can use different colour cables in a single network to make it easily manageable during troubleshooting.