For smartphones, laptops, and tablets we prefer WiFi as the go-to option for connecting with local networks. Wired ethernet cables like cat5e ethernet cable still are the fastest and stable way to connect to the internet.

A wide array of cables, adapters, and various keystone jacks like cat6 keystone jack and many more makes for faster connection options.

We all know the number of ethernet cables we use in our everyday lives and its advantages. So, to understand them better, let's dive deep into the ethernet cables.

Brief History of Ethernet Cables:

"Ethernet" means a collection of technologies that are useful to connect computers and other devices together. It forms a connective branch of local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN).

The early standard of ethernet networking originated in the early 1970s, drawing inspiration from early networking tests. It went through a continuous iteration throughout the 70s and then went on to become commercially available and standardized in the early 1980s.

During coaxial cables, the dominant form of connective technology has a bit rate of 10 megabits per second across local networks. In the decades that followed, the cables got higher bit rates and bandwidth as well. A slow transition made with twisted pair and fiber optic hardware, along with a new technology switch. It enables speeds up to 400 gigabits per second.

There are thousands of networking technologies that have come up over the years. Today ethernet networks are the strongest wired network connection in the world and provide better stability and speed by connecting billions of devices, homes, data centers, and many such things.

Going further, let's understand importance of ethernet cables in our homes:

It is widely useful in a variety of industries but best known for its use in general public cables which connect home networks to the wider internet. Cables with RJ45 header or cat6 keystone jack connect desktops and laptops to local routers.

There are various types of cables such as cat 5, cat 5e, cat 6, cat7, and many more. These different types have different importance and play different roles based on their capabilities.

Categories older than Cat 5 provide low speed and fewer features. Whereas, modern ones provide better features and high bandwidth.

Which one to pick, Cat 5e or Cat 6?

The two most famous ethernet cables in current time are Cat5e ethernet cable and Cat 6 twisted pair cable. Picking the right cable is difficult as there are many variations with different features.

So, here we will be discussing some of the specifications of both cables and help you choose the right one. Let's first understand the acronyms i.e. TP stands for Twisted Pair, S and U stands for Shielded and Unshielded, F stands for Foiled.

So, when you see a word UTP, then it stands for unshielded twisted pair, FTP means foiled twisted pair, SFTP is a shielded and foiled twisted pair.

I know understanding tech stuff is very difficult and sometimes investing in them is costly too. But, data integrity is important, and investing wisely can help you get the most of your buck:

2. Cat 5e:

    

4. It's an old but enhanced version of Cat5 specification and overcomes the limitations of Cat5. It provides improved bandwidth capabilities and reduced crosstalk.

   It expands the maximum network speed to 1000 Mbps or one gigabit per second. It has a wire gauge of 24-36 meter and the cable 100 meters long.

6. Cat6:

    

8. Cat6 has overcome the limitations of Cat5e. It uses long cables for better performance and decreases crosstalk. It supports frequencies up to two and half times of Cat5e cables.

    

10. They can deliver up to 10,000 Mbps or 10 gigabits per second over lengths of cable up to 55 meters. It maximizes length of 100 meters with the longest cable length of Cat6 cables.

     

12. Apart from speed, Cat6 cables give less crosstalk and system noise mitigation. To provide these features, manufacturers use spline, a longitudinal separator within the cable to isolate individual wires within ethernet cabling.

     

14. Cat6 wires twist tighter and provide extra protection from external noise sources. This provides an extra benefit by preventing a Cat6 cable from stretching.

Further, there is a variant available of Cat6 like Cat 6a which is an enhanced version of Cat6 in terms of speed and cross talk.

Remember, even if Cat 6 is a new standard and provides improved features over Cat5e, it is backward compatible. It means they are available with the same endpoint connectors.

Thus, you will not run into problems while buying a Cat6 cable. If your network previously uses Cat5e or Cat5 cables and you are thinking to upgrade them then you can do so easily.

Final Words:

Cables or wires are very difficult to understand initially. But, once you know, you can handle them with ease. Today not a single infrastructure can exist without ethernet cables; be it internet or intranet. Hence, it's very important to understand the various types, differences, and uses of each.

Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/communications-articles/broadband-internet-articles/what-ethernet-cables-1782920.html

COVID-19 is changing things. There are revolutionary changes happening in the working landscape. Here, in our very own Silicon Valley, famous for tech companies, things have shifted. Everyone moved to working from home, with barely any signs of going back to the office.

An office brings with it plenty of tools, like computers that your work actually needs, headphones, webcams, if required, camera equipment, video sets, desks, and chairs, tablets, external monitors, and reliable internet. I should also mention the snacks and coffee breaks that come with this package.

Tech companies have great internet connectivity, generally speaking. So, leaving behind those offices has not been comfortable while doing the exact same internet heavy work. Not to mention the added usage of data for video conferencing.

Over the last few weeks, some companies have started issuing orders about working from home through the end of the year or even permanently. This changes quite a lot in terms of looking at the tools people require to work.

At the beginning of the lockdown across the world, people were beginning to set up their workstations at home, thinking about how they needed to create space and set up for a couple of months only.

As the working from home duration increases though, not to mention the learning and education duration, the one thing that we miss the most is that internet connection.

There is also talk of not needing to be in the same area or city as your office anymore, temporarily or permanently. So, some of you may even be moving home or closer to nature. Whether you are looking to start a new house or redo your old one to make it more compatible for your current working situation, you will need certain equipment.

The biggest dilemma is which are the best ethernet cables to use. Right now, for your home office and home classroom, the best ones to install are Cat8 cables. And this especially applies if you are changing the wall wiring of the house. You want to use cabling that is new so that you can use it extensively for a greater number of years without affecting performance.

Only having the best ethernet cables won’t do the trick though. You will need advanced Wifi equipment as well. Certain devices will require wired connections, and some might not require it, but can be easy to use wired. These are your TV, desktop computer, gaming console, the main router of a mesh network system, smart hubs, etc.

If the wiring in your home is Cat8, and you are investing in these tools, you should spring for Cat8 cables for all these tools as well.

A speedier, more reliable internet connection can make you miss your office less. Especially if you have chosen to move to a lakeside home.

With This Connection, You Can Do These Things:

• Smooth video conferencing (provided your webcam is great, and if you use a DSLR, you will look like you are standing next to your colleagues).
• Multiplayer gaming nights with people across the globe. While streaming the whole on the internet.
• Your kid will have a classroom experience where they might actually learn something or show off their new found painting skills in HD.
• Kid playdates. Because they are just as bored without seeing their friends as you are.
• Have a truly connected home.
• Edit videos along with fellow editors without anyone leaving their homes.
• Watch the TV shows you always meant to watch.
• Work.

… all at the same time.

The Internet is central to our lives, and is now a part of Maslow’s pyramid. Unofficially. If you can’t get the benefits of your office network, you are going to want to upgrade your house setup. After all, the photo of a clean desk with everything placed equidistant means nothing if you pause awkwardly in a video meeting, right?

Everyone eventually figures out that the best desk is just in photos, the real challenge comes when the internet demands that you use it well.

SF Cable, a Silicon Valley company, understands your upgrade requirement. We stock all the cables, from ethernet to computer to USB, and HDMI. Let us know your needs and we will even recommend the right lengths of the cables for you.

Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/ethernet-cable-unphotographed-secret-of-functional-home

COVID-19 is changing things. There are revolutionary changes happening in the working landscape. Here, in our very own Silicon Valley, famous for tech companies, things have shifted. Everyone moved to working from home, with barely any signs of going back to the office.

An office brings with it plenty of tools, like computers that your work actually needs, headphones, webcams, if required, camera equipment, video sets, desks, and chairs, tablets, external monitors, and reliable internet. I should also mention the snacks and coffee breaks that come with this package.

Tech companies have great internet connectivity, generally speaking. So, leaving behind those offices has not been comfortable while doing the exact same internet heavy work. Not to mention the added usage of data for video conferencing.

Over the last few weeks, some companies have started issuing orders about working from home through the end of the year or even permanently. This changes quite a lot in terms of looking at the tools people require to work.

At the beginning of the lockdown across the world, people were beginning to set up their workstations at home, thinking about how they needed to create space and set up for a couple of months only.

As the working from home duration increases though, not to mention the learning and education duration, the one thing that we miss the most is that internet connection.

There is also talk of not needing to be in the same area or city as your office anymore, temporarily or permanently. So, some of you may even be moving home or closer to nature. Whether you are looking to start a new house or redo your old one to make it more compatible for your current working situation, you will need certain equipment.

The biggest dilemma is which are the best ethernet cables to use. Right now, for your home office and home classroom, the best ones to install are Cat8 cables. And this especially applies if you are changing the wall wiring of the house. You want to use cabling that is new so that you can use it extensively for a greater number of years without affecting performance.

Only having the best ethernet cables won’t do the trick though. You will need advanced Wifi equipment as well. Certain devices will require wired connections, and some might not require it, but can be easy to use wired. These are your TV, desktop computer, gaming console, the main router of a mesh network system, smart hubs, etc.

If the wiring in your home is Cat8, and you are investing in these tools, you should spring for Cat8 cables for all these tools as well.

A speedier, more reliable internet connection can make you miss your office less. Especially if you have chosen to move to a lakeside home.

With This Connection, You Can Do These Things:

• Smooth video conferencing (provided your webcam is great, and if you use a DSLR, you will look like you are standing next to your colleagues).
• Multiplayer gaming nights with people across the globe. While streaming the whole on the internet.
• Your kid will have a classroom experience where they might actually learn something or show off their new found painting skills in HD.
• Kid playdates. Because they are just as bored without seeing their friends as you are.
• Have a truly connected home.
• Edit videos along with fellow editors without anyone leaving their homes.
• Watch the TV shows you always meant to watch.
• Work.

… all at the same time.

The Internet is central to our lives, and is now a part of Maslow’s pyramid. Unofficially. If you can’t get the benefits of your office network, you are going to want to upgrade your house setup. After all, the photo of a clean desk with everything placed equidistant means nothing if you pause awkwardly in a video meeting, right?

Everyone eventually figures out that the best desk is just in photos, the real challenge comes when the internet demands that you use it well.

SF Cable, a Silicon Valley company, understands your upgrade requirement. We stock all the cables, from ethernet to computer to USB, and HDMI. Let us know your needs and we will even recommend the right lengths of the cables for you.

Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/ethernet-cable-unphotographed-secret-of-functional-home

COVID-19 is changing things. There are revolutionary changes happening in the working landscape. Here, in our very own Silicon Valley, famous for tech companies, things have shifted. Everyone moved to working from home, with barely any signs of going back to the office.

An office brings with it plenty of tools, like computers that your work actually needs, headphones, webcams, if required, camera equipment, video sets, desks, and chairs, tablets, external monitors, and reliable internet. I should also mention the snacks and coffee breaks that come with this package.

Tech companies have great internet connectivity, generally speaking. So, leaving behind those offices has not been comfortable while doing the exact same internet heavy work. Not to mention the added usage of data for video conferencing.

Over the last few weeks, some companies have started issuing orders about working from home through the end of the year or even permanently. This changes quite a lot in terms of looking at the tools people require to work.

At the beginning of the lockdown across the world, people were beginning to set up their workstations at home, thinking about how they needed to create space and set up for a couple of months only.

As the working from home duration increases though, not to mention the learning and education duration, the one thing that we miss the most is that internet connection.

There is also talk of not needing to be in the same area or city as your office anymore, temporarily or permanently. So, some of you may even be moving home or closer to nature. Whether you are looking to start a new house or redo your old one to make it more compatible for your current working situation, you will need certain equipment.

The biggest dilemma is which are the best ethernet cables to use. Right now, for your home office and home classroom, the best ones to install are Cat8 cables. And this especially applies if you are changing the wall wiring of the house. You want to use cabling that is new so that you can use it extensively for a greater number of years without affecting performance.

Only having the best ethernet cables won’t do the trick though. You will need advanced Wifi equipment as well. Certain devices will require wired connections, and some might not require it, but can be easy to use wired. These are your TV, desktop computer, gaming console, the main router of a mesh network system, smart hubs, etc.

If the wiring in your home is Cat8, and you are investing in these tools, you should spring for Cat8 cables for all these tools as well.

A speedier, more reliable internet connection can make you miss your office less. Especially if you have chosen to move to a lakeside home.

With This Connection, You Can Do These Things:

• Smooth video conferencing (provided your webcam is great, and if you use a DSLR, you will look like you are standing next to your colleagues).
• Multiplayer gaming nights with people across the globe. While streaming the whole on the internet.
• Your kid will have a classroom experience where they might actually learn something or show off their new found painting skills in HD.
• Kid playdates. Because they are just as bored without seeing their friends as you are.
• Have a truly connected home.
• Edit videos along with fellow editors without anyone leaving their homes.
• Watch the TV shows you always meant to watch.
• Work.

… all at the same time.

The Internet is central to our lives, and is now a part of Maslow’s pyramid. Unofficially. If you can’t get the benefits of your office network, you are going to want to upgrade your house setup. After all, the photo of a clean desk with everything placed equidistant means nothing if you pause awkwardly in a video meeting, right?

Everyone eventually figures out that the best desk is just in photos, the real challenge comes when the internet demands that you use it well.

SF Cable, a Silicon Valley company, understands your upgrade requirement. We stock all the cables, from ethernet to computer to USB, and HDMI. Let us know your needs and we will even recommend the right lengths of the cables for you.

Source : https://www.sfcable.com/blog/ethernet-cable-unphotographed-secret-of-functional-home

Ethernet cables have been part of our lives for years now. Today they have taken space in our homes, offices, studios, and many such places.

They are our medium of connecting with the world. But, we know only a little about them.

Often, these cables come free with the equipment which uses Ethernet connectivity in some or other way. So, we don't have to learn more about them but there are various types of Ethernet cables that are available in the market.

To name a few: crossover cable, cat 5 cable, cat5e cable, Cat 6a cable, Cat 7 cable, and many more.

These network cables are useful to connect various network devices such as Ethernet switches, routers, computers, servers, etc. to the gadgets we use. Any device which has an Ethernet interface can connect to Ethernet cables.

Let's understand the basics of these cables:

The long Ethernet cable for connectivity in offices or homes rely on the twisted wire pair cables; Cat 5, Cat 6, and Cat 7 use this format.

Twisting the cables together enables the current to balance i.e. in one wire the cable is moving in one direction and in another, it is moving in the opposite direction. This makes it easy for the data to travel long distances.

There are four different types of shielding available for Ethernet cables:

U/UTP - Unshielded cable, unshielded twisted pairs

F/UTP - Foil shielded cable, unshielded twisted pairs

U/FTP - Unshielded cable, foil shielded twisted pairs

S/FTP - braided shielded cable, foil shielded twisted pairs

Where: TP = twisted pair, U = unshielded, F = foil shielded, S = braided shielding.

Further, there are differences between the Ethernet cables like cat 5, cat 5e, cat 6, or cat 7 as some of them can be solid or stranded wires which are useful within the cables. When we are installing the long cable, it is important to know the type suitable for your application.

There are two types of cables available. They are:

Stranded Cables: This type of wire is flexible and is very useful for Ethernet cables because they make it easy for the wires to move. They are often useful for general connections to PCs, desks, laptops, etc. as in such areas we expect movements.

Solid Cables: They are durable and useful for permanent installations. These types of cables are useful for installations under floors, walls, or ceilings.

There are various types of cables available for Ethernet and other telecommunications and networking. These network cables are available in different categories. Some of these cables have recognition from TIA (telecommunication industries association).

Cat 1: They are useful for standard telephone wiring or ISDN, etc.

Cat 2: TIA does not recognize this type of cable. They are useful in a 4Mbit/s token ring network.

Cat 3: It is useful for data networks and employee frequency until 16 MHz. It was a go-to 10Mbps Ethernet network but today Cat 5 cable replaced it.

Cat 4: They are useful for a network carrying frequency up to 20MHz. They are often useful for 16Mbps token ring networks.

Cat 5: This type of network cable is useful for 100Base-T and 1000 Base-T networks as it provides performance and allows data transmission at the rate of 100Mbps or more. Cat 5 cables use twisted pairs to prevent internal crosstalk and also crosstalk for external wires.

Cat 5e: This form of cable is recognizable by TIA. It has a slightly higher frequency specification in comparison to Cat-5 cable. Cat 5e cables look similar to Cat 5 but the data transmission rate is higher.

Cat 6: it provides a significant improvement in performance in comparison with cat 5 and cat5e. They have an outer braid shielding and protect the twisted pair of wires inside the Ethernet cable. They help prevent crosstalk and noise interference. They support a speed of 10Gbps but their limit is only till 55 meters.

Cat 6a: The "a" in Cat 6a stands for "Augmented." The revision of this standard happened in 2008 and supports twice the maximum bandwidth. They are capable of maintaining high transmission speed.

Final words:

Ethernet cables have been a part of our evolving lives for ages and they are here to stay. They are one of the most convenient and the fastest ways to access the internet. Having at least the basic knowledge of these cables is necessary as we use them every day in our daily lives.

There are many reasons why companies prefer Ethernet cables. But, above all the most important factor is reliability which they bring along.

Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/types-ethernet-cables-1775098.html