Cat 6 & Cat 6A Cables - How Are They Different?

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Cat 6 Cat 6A Cables - How Are They Different?
When it comes to Ethernet Cables, the most
commonly asked question is, What is the
difference between CAT6 ethernet cables and CAT6A
ethernet cables? It is not just the letter a
that sets them apart. At first, only CAT6 was
used for networking purposes. As 6A came in,
people started upgrading and switching to CAT 6A.
So what are the basic differences between these
two and how can you tell the difference
between them? Read further to know.
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? Telling them apart A very apparent way to
identify the difference between them is to read
their names on the cable jacket itself. They both
have their names imprinted on the cable jacket
when you buy them. One more difference between
them is that CAT6A cables are thicker as
compared to Cat 6 cables. Both are
available in several colours. ? Shielded vs.
Unshielded One more small difference between
these two is their insulation. Ethernet cable is
usually surrounded by thin jackets to protect the
inner twisted pair of wires. These jackets are a
reason why we identify the Ethernet cables as
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP). The cables without
these jackets are known as unshielded twisted
pair (UTP) cables. Although you can buy
shielded Cat6 cables, there are more chances
that you will find unshielded ones. On the other
hand, all of Cat6A cables are shielded.
Shielded cable stops the interference caused
due to the heavy electromagnetic
interference (EMI). Shielded cables are
mostly needed for industrial surroundings
and unshielded ones can be used at home or
offices. ? Performance Even though Cat6A
doesnt push up the speed of data transmission,
it has the capacity to transmit upto 10 Gbps. It
doubles up the frequency of data transmission
from 250 MHZ to 500 MHZ. This also
enables remote data transmission. Cat6A can
make this possible if its twisted wire
pairs are twisted around a plastic support.
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? Wiring CAT6A cable is manufactured by using 4
to 10 pairs of tightly twisted copper wires. It
is possible to transmit data by using these
wires. However, cable length and interference
might become a hindrance. If the pair is very
tightly woven, it can resolve such problems.
Cat6 cable is manufactured using precise
standards unlike its previous
versions. The intent behind
manufacturing them was to provide the speed of 10
gigabytes per second. Hence, the difference
between CAT6 and CAT6A cable is wiring. ?
Costs As compared to CAT5E cables, Cat6 and
6A cables are more expensive. There is a 20
to 35 cost difference between Cat6 and 6A
cables. So now you know the difference
between the two. It is better to install
CAT6A cable when there are more
chances of alien crosstalk or
interferences as they are shielded. You can
decide which Ethernet cable out of the two would
suit you depending on the surroundings where you
intend to use it.

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