Upgrading to Cat6a cables from Cat5 or Cat6 cable is unquestionably the best choice you can make if you’re struggling with your bandwidth and Internet speeds. As demand for faster efficiency with our Internet continues to peak, the old Cat standards no longer work.
New Ethernet installations done today should be done with at least Cat6 Ethernet cable, although Cat6a is even better. This is the most advanced Category Ethernet cable there is, perfect for today’s speed and bandwidth needs. Cat5 was a mid-to-late-1990s favourite while Cat5e rose in popularity in the 2000s. Cat6 has been in use since the late 2000s and in the last five years, Cat6a has received much attention for its advancements.
When it comes to future-proofing, what we mean is by installing a high quality advanced cable today, you’re preventing yourself from having to upgrade in the future. And, make no mistake, there will come a time when you need to upgrade. As the Internet continues to grow and use more bandwidth, you need the cable to handle it. Ethernet network cables like Cat6a are your best bet.
Something which a lot of homeowners and commercial businesses forget about Cat6a networking cable is that in order to achieve the bandwidth, network, and speed promised, all cabling and accessories must meet the minimum standard set out by the IEEE. If any single component’s low quality or older, you may not see the bandwidth improvements expected.
Can you still get by with Cat5 cable – not really. The maximum frequency it has is 100 MHz and speeds up to 100 Mbps. Although it may work for a local area network in some commercial environments, Cat5 cable is too slow for most applications and within a decade, will be completely gone. Cat5e cable is an enhanced version of Cat5e cable however and is designed to handle speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Cat5e cable generally works for most applications, although when possible, switching to Cat6 cable is the better option.
If it’s a new Ethernet installation, Cat6 cable is absolutely a must. You’ll receive bandwidth allowance up to 250 MHZ and speeds up to 10 Gbps. Cat6a Ethernet cable has additional advantages over Cat6 and this includes higher bandwidth up to 500 MHZ, 10-gigabit speeds over 330 feet of cable which is double the length of what its cousin Cat6 allows.
Browse Ethernet cables in bulk at PrimeCables at the best prices in Canada. Upgrade and future-proof your home or commercial space today!
