Ethernet cables are those types of network cables that are commonly used with wired networks. These cables connect your computer to a router or modem physically. It may look clumsy or constraining, yet it can significantly increase your internet’s speed and stability.
Here’s everything you need to know about these types of cables, including how they work and why they’re a better option than Wi-Fi.
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Ethernet vs phone cables
- Both cables look similar, but ethernet cables look like a standard phone cable; however, they’re larger and include more wires. The connectors on these cables are similarly larger and contain eight wires, whereas the phone cables have four. Phone cables are usually grey, whereas the best ethernet cables come in various colours.
- It connects to larger ethernet ports than phone cable ports. The ethernet card on the motherboard provides access to a computer’s ethernet port. The port is typically found on the backside of the desktop or the side of your device.
- You’ll indeed observe a vital difference between the two in the size of the plastic connectors on the ends of the cable. Phone cable utilises an RJ11/RJ12 connector, whereas Ethernet utilises RJ45. RJ11/RJ12 only uses four or six pins, whereas RJ45 uses eight.
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Different categories and types
Categories
There are up to 8 ethernet cable categories. Cat 3 supports a maximum of 16 MHz and is used in the two-line telephone system. Cat 5 is slower than Cat 5e with a cost-effective price. Among all the categories, Cat 5e and Cat 6 are faster. Cat 6a is well suited to the industrial environment.
Cat 7 and 7a are stiff compared to the previous generations of cables and are best suited for datacentres and large enterprises. Let’s read about the last category, Cat 8, which works ideally where the distance between the units is short.
| Category | Speed | Bandwidth |
| Cat 3 | 10 Mbps | 16 MHz |
| Cat 5 | 100 Mbps | 100 MHz |
| Cat 5e | 1 Gbps | 100 MHz |
| Cat 6 | 1 Gbps | 250 MHz |
| Cat 6a | 10 Gbps | 500 MHz |
| Cat 7 | 10 Gbps | 600 MHz |
| Cat 7a | 10 Gbps | 1,000 MHz |
| Cat 8 | 25 Gbps | 2,000 MHz |
Types of Ethernet Cables
Ethernet cables come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Continue reading the different types of ethernet cables mentioned below.
- Twisted-pair cabling: This type of cable has two pairs of wires. With this cable type, you can connect your computer to your router or modem to get internet access.
- Coaxial cabling: The outer covering of the wire is made up of PVC or fire-resistant plastic with metal electromagnetic interference. It uses radio guide numbers. These wires consist internal conductor enveloped by a concentric conducting shield. And they are used to transmit internet data, video and voice communication.
- Fibre-optic cables: Compared to the other wires, they offer effective throughput. They protect the inner components with PVC or Teflon. The second layer comprises more optical fibres to resist more physical trauma. These cables generally transmit HD television signals, as it offers more bandwidth and faster speed.
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Drawbacks
- A limited distance capacity: an ethernet cable has a limited distance capacity. It can only be used for a certain amount of time before the signal loss occurs. And this issue happens due to the electrical resistance of a long cable with an impact on the performance.
- Before forming a connection, you’ll need to check both ends of the wire and are kept close enough to receive the signals rapidly to prevent interruptions. Although, this shield provided does not restrict the extent of a network because the routers or hubs can connect many ethernet cables on the same network. And the distance between the two devices is called the network diameter.
- A CAT5 can be up to 100 meters long before it starts to attenuate(328ft). And the CAT6 is capable of reaching a distance of 700ft. Although Ethernet cables can be made longer, signal loss is still possible, particularly if they pass near large electrical appliances.
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What are the alternatives to Ethernet cables?
There are quite a few options other than ethernet cables available for you to choose from. These options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which are now used in many residential and commercial networks. A network port isn’t found on most tablets or other mobile devices. These wireless solutions are beneficial and used when there is a high risk of wire damage.
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How to choose the best ethernet cable?
You can choose the ethernet cable types ranging from cat5 to cat7. And cat 5e is the best option with the faster speed and is easier to install. Although Wi-Fi technology has progressed over the years, Ethernet is still in use.
Final Words
Even though most of the recent, slimmer laptops lack ethernet ports, if you wish, you can still use an ethernet cable option using a USB or USB-C adapter. We hope you like this article and have learned everything about Ethernet cables.
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Anuja Koul
I’m an enthusiastic writer with a passion for technology. I enjoy writing and sharing my expertise and experiences with the latest gadgets in the market.