What is Cat 6?

Cat 6, short for Category 6, is a cable standard used mainly for Ethernet computer networking,
security systems, and telephone services. Cat 6 cable is backward compatible with the Cat 5, Cat
5E, and Cat 3 cable standards. Category 6 cable is capable of transmitting voice and data up to
155 Mbps (mega bits per second), with a possible transmission frequencies up to 550 MHz.
Cat 6 is used to carry Ethernet 10Base-T, 100Base-TX, and 1000Base-T (Gigabit Ethernet)
connections. Cat 6 cable is backed with more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system
noise than earlier cabling standards.
Category 6 cable comes with four twisted copper wire pairs and each twisted pair is built of
larger 23 gauge copper. The earlier model, Category 5, used 24 gauge copper wires. In wire
gauges, a larger number means a smaller wire.
Cat 6 cables are generally terminated with RJ -45 electrical connectors. The performance of the
signal path will be limited to that of the lowest category if components of the various cable
standards are intermixed. The maximum length of one Cat 6 cable segment is 220 meters; a
repeater needs to be installed to send data over longer distances or data loss may occur.
Installing Cat 6 Cable
Installation of Cat 6 cable is thought to be more difficult than Cat 5 or Cat 5E cable. The main
reason behind this is that the conductors are twisted more tightly in Cat 6 cables, which makes it
more difficult to split them apart. Other than this, everything else is essentially the same as
installing Cat 5 or Cat 5E cables.
Cable manufacturing companies provide jacks and panels with much sharper teeth so as to help
divide the conductors into pairs and complete the installation of Cat 6 cables easily. However,
while doing the installation of Cat 6 cables it is advisable to take little more time and perform the
installation correctly without damaging your fingers.
Cat 5E Vs Cat 6
When comparing Cat 5E and Cat6, the main difference is in the transmission performance and
extension of the available bandwidth; that is 100 MHz for Cat 5E and 200 MHz for Cat 6. This
includes better insertion loss, near end crosstalk, return loss, and equal level far end crosstalk.
Due to its improved transmission performance and superior immunity from external noise,
systems operating over Cat 6 cabling will have fewer errors when compared with systems
operating over Cat 5E cabling. That is, systems using Cat 6 networks will have higher reliability
than Cat 5E networks due to fewer re-transmissions of corrupted or lost data packets.
The Future of Cat 6
According to technical experts, the use of Cat 6 cables will supersede Cat 5E cables in the near
future. The fact that Cat 6 link and channel requirements are backward compatible to Cat 5E
makes it very easy for customers to select Cat 6 in their networks.

What is Cat 5?
Cat 5, short for Category 5, is the current preferred industry standard for network and telephone
wiring. Cat 5 is an unshielded twisted pair type cable exclusively designed for high signal
integrity. The cable consists of four pairs of 24-guage twisted copper pairs terminating in an RJ -
45 jack. If a wire is certified as Category 5 and not just twisted pair wire, then it will have "Cat
5" printed on the shielding.
The actual Cat 5 standard describes specific electrical properties of the wire, but Cat 5 is most
widely known as being rated for its Ethernet capability of 100 Mbit/s. Category 5 cable comes
with three twists per inch of each twisted pair of 24 gauge copper wires within the cable. The
twisting of the cable helps to decrease electrical interference and crosstalk. Each wire in a Cat 5
cable is insulated with a plastic (FEP) which has low dispersion. The importance of this
insulation is that the dielectric constant of the plastic does not depend mainly on frequency.
Uses of Cat 5 Cables
Cat 5 cables are widely used in structured cabling for computer networks such as Fast Ethernet .
These types of cables are also ideal for carrying many other signals, including basic voice
services, ATM, and Token Ring (at up to 155 Mbit/s, over short distances).
Category 5 E cable is similar to Cat 5 cable, except that it is made to somewhat more stringent
standards. This enhanced version of Cat 5 cable is designed for using with 1000BASE-T
(gigabit) networks or for long distance 100BASE-TX links (350m, when compared with 100 m
for Cat 5).
Wiring Methods for Cat 5 Cable
Most Cat 5 cables are terminated with RJ -45 connectors. Solid core cables are commonly used
for connecting wall socket and patch panels. Stranded cables are used for connecting patch leads
between patch panel sockets and network switches. Stranded cable is also used for the
connections between computers wall ports.



What is RJ-11?

RJ -11 is the standard connector utilized on 2-pair (4-wire) telephone wiring. RJ stands for
"Registered J ack"- a physical connector interface most often used for telephone wire terminals.
Though the RJ -11 connector has a total of 6 connector positions, typically either only 2 or 4 are
actually utilized. RJ -11 connector wiring comes in two standard varieties- untwisted (flat-satin
cable) and Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP).
RJ 11 is the most familiar of the registered jacks, due to the fact that virtually all single line
(POTS) telephone jacks in most homes and offices in North America use this connector type, as
well as numerous other countries.
Other similar Registered J acks include RJ 14 (for a 2-line telephone jack), RJ 25 (for a 3-line
jack), and RJ61 (for a 4-line telephone jack), all of which utilize 6-position modular connectors.
An RJ 11 jack typically utilizes 2 out of the 6 positions, so could be wired with a 6P2C modular
jack (6-position, 2-conductor). However, these types of jacks are very rare. Most often, an RJ11
jack is a 6P4C jack (6-position, 4-conductor), with two of the four wires running to the junction
box, unused.
The extra wires can be pressed into service for a variety of different applications, including
preventing a pulse-dial telephone from ringing the extension phone bells (an 'anti-tinkle' circuit),
as a ground for selective ringers, powering an L.E.D. ring-indicator operating off the ringer
signal, etc.
In a powered-up state, Pins #5 (yellow- old color code/orange- new color code) and #2 (black-
old color code/white with orange stripe- new color code) may carry either low voltage AC or DC
power, from a central transformer plugged in, near a jack; which supplies power to each of the
other jacks throughout a dwelling, as well.
While in most cases, the telephone line directly supplies ample power for most phone terminals-
The antiquated telephone terminals contain incandescent lights in them (i.e. the old Western
Electric Princess phone and Trimline phone) and need more energy than the telephone line
supplies, as their dial lights need 6.3 volts and the typical transformer output ~5 volts (for long
life).
Depending on whether the wire is of the old or new color code convention (read left to right,
while holding the jack facing you, with contacts pointing upward) the positive and negative
terminals are:
Pin #3- Negative terminal (red- old color code/blue- new color code)
Pin #4- Positive terminal (green- old color code/white with blue stripe- new color code)


What is RJ-45?
RJ -45 is the standard connector utilized on 4-pair (8-wire) UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cable.
The RJ -45 connector is the standard connector for Ethernet, ISDN, T1, and modern digital
telephone systems.
RJ stands for "Registered J ack".