Building a home network, you may be asking yourself what the right kind of Ethernet cable is for you. Some may also be wondering about the differences between and whether Cat5, Cat6, or Cat7 network cable is preferable. For all of the PrimeCables customers across Canada, we hope to provide some insight here into these questions.
For those completely new to Ethernet cables, ‘Cat’ stands for ‘category’. In your home, you probably already have Cat 5 or Cat 5e wire. Although this was once the standard for Ethernet connections, it has since become Cat 6 which is more reliable, has higher speeds, and which is backward compatible with earlier Ethernet cables making it highly adaptable.
Now, Cat5 can still be used in some cases and supports gigabit speeds however its performance can be lacking. When you’re connecting Cat5 cable to a Gigabit Ethernet router, you’re really pushing its limits. Cat6 cable is far and away the recommended cable. It can easily handle Gigabit speeds and also carries with it more specifications relating to limitations on crosstalk or system noise than its predecessor.
Although the benefits of Cat6 cable are well understood by industry players and Ethernet fanatics, there are many who believe Cat6 Ethernet cable is more difficult to install. Its conductors are twisted more tightly and there’s more insulation to work out. Therefore, one must go slower when cutting the cable. Cost-wise, Cat5 cable is going to be a little bit cheaper than Cat6 however in short, Cat6 networking cable is always going to be our recommendation. The Internet’s speeds are always increasing and you need to ensure you have a cable that can handle what’s happening.
Now, if you’re cheap or if your budget is not where it needs to be to afford Cat6 cable immediately, Cat5e should serve you well for now. Cat5e is a little more advanced than Cat5 cable and should be equipped with enough tech to stay around for the next few years at least. That said, down the line, you’ll want to switch out to Cat6 cable to get everything up to par. Thankfully, you can browse all these Ethernet cables at PrimeCables and you can compare lengths, prices, and types according with what you need it for and what you need it to do.
Buy Ethernet networking cables online from PrimeCables today and pay a fraction of what you would elsewhere. Get it all on-sale and receive fast, free shipping to anywhere in Canada on orders above $49.