Buying Ethernet Cables is unlike buying anything else. Because you don’t buy ethernet cables every day, the task becomes a bit of a challenge. When you have to buy the Cat6 ethernet cable, you need to have sufficient knowledge about its specifications, uses, and price to make a good purchase. Further, you also need to have a clear and thorough understanding of the types of the Cat6 Cable: cat6 Plenum and cat6 Riser.
Cat6 Cable is a high-performance cable used in commercial and residential local area networking (LAN). It has a data transfer speed of up to 1 GBit/s over 100 meters which can be increased up to 10 GBit/s by running it at up to 50 meters. ‘Cat’ stands for the category which is the 6th of standard twisted-pair Ethernet cables. The cable is 23 AWG standard with 550 MHz bandwidth in case you need this cable for longer runs inside the building.
Cat6 Ethernet Cable
Cat6 Ethernet Cable is the go-to LAN Cabling solution for almost all high-speed ethernet applications. It is used in commercial networks from offices and corporate centers to hospitals and schools. It is also used in all kinds of residential buildings because of the rise in home offices as well as the rise in performance requirements of modern electronic equipment.
How to Buy?
Once you have enough information about the Cat6 Cable, buying it is the easy bit. Well, not that easy! You will need to keep several factors in mind while choosing the right cable. For instance, the cable shielding, conductor type, jacket type, cost, and manufacturer are key to buying the perfect Cat6 cable.
In any case, you can simply start by understanding your cable requirements. How long a cable you need, how fast and reliable it should be, and your budget of course. After figuring out your requirements, you will compare them to the factors aforementioned (shielding, conductor type, jacket type, etc). Because these factors ultimately define how fast or slow, or reliable the cable will be.
Shielding: If the Cat6 Ethernet Cable you are buying is shielded, it will relay stronger signals that are free from any external noise. Shielded cables are also good for transmission over long distances. Similarly, if the cable is unshielded, expect some electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Conductor Type: Cat6 cable comes with two different types of conductors. Bare copper and copper-clad aluminum (CCA). The CCA conductor is a decent solution but cannot be used for PoE (Power Over Ethernet) applications. Bare copper conductors on the other hand is the finest option. Easy to install, highly efficient, and long-lasting.
Jacket Type: The jacket is the most critical part of the cable. It comes primarily in two types: plenum and riser. More on what these are and why they matter later.
Cost: It is common to think that the costly cable is better performing which is mostly true as well. However, on many occasions, one doesn’t necessarily need a costly cable. For instance, the Cat6 Riser cable is more affordable than its plenum counterpart but can perform just as well as the plenum in riser spaces or outdoors.
Reliability: When buying the Cat6 cable, understanding its reliability is important. Can you afford interruptions in your connections? You may or may not but it is not desirable. So, make sure that the cable is reliable before buying.
Buying Cat6 Plenum Cable
Cat6 Plenum Cable is the top-notch ethernet cable with its halogen-free CMP-rated jacket. The jacket of the cable is its primary identification which is designed to meet the most strict fire safety standards. It does not burn, nor carry a flame, and does not emit any toxic smoke in fire hazards. Therefore, this cable can be installed in indoor open spaces, riser spaces, and outdoors as well.
The Cat6 plenum cable is mostly used in indoor spaces called plenum spaces. These spaces pose a risk to the lives of building inhabitants if the cables emit toxic smoke in a fire hazard. Therefore, this plenum-rated cable is installed in such spaces to mitigate the threat.
Buying Cat6 Riser Cable
Buying the Cat6 riser cable is similar to buying the aforementioned plenum cable. It is almost similar to the other Cat6 cables except for its riser jacket. This jacket is ideal to be used in indoor-contained spaces as well as outdoors. However, it must not be left exposed when installed indoors.
The riser jacket of the Cat6 cable can emit toxic smoke in fire hazards which is why it is not right to install it in the horizontal spaces of the building as a substitute for plenum. If you are searching for maximum fire safety use plenum cables as this ethernet cable might be a bit costly but offers maximum protection against fire and to the conductors.
Where to Buy?
Buy the Cat6 Ethernet cable with the Plenum or the Riser jacket at affordable prices from a renowned manufacturer and online vendor. The key to buying the perfect cables is getting a warranty for your purchase. These bulk Cat6 cables are offered at market-competitive prices and come with a 10-year warranty (terms and conditions apply). Multiple variants with different specifications and costs are also available to choose from.
