Today, Ethernet connects hundreds of millions of devices in homes and businesses. Selecting the appropriate network cable is crucial for companies aiming to ensure seamless connectivity and maximise network efficiency. On this topic page, we will assist you in purchasing by introducing the types of Ethernet cables and key parametres that form the foundation of many wired networks.
Copper Patch Cords
Copper patch cords are short Ethernet cables that connect devices to network ports or patch panels.
The patch cords are without punching down and commonly used for connecting computers, servers, or other networked devices to a switch or router in local area networks (LANs).
Pre-Term Copper Trunks
Pre-terminated copper trunks are bundles of cables by a braided sleeve that are pre-assembled with connectors or modular plugs on either end.
The trunk cables are used for larger backbone cabling installations of data centres where changes need to be made quickly and efficiently.
Bulk Copper Cables
Bulk copper cables are large spools or boxes of uncut and unterminated cabling. There are no connectors on the end of cables and require field termination.
Bulk copper cables can be made into custom-length patch cords using appropriate tools and connectors.
If you are buying an Ethernet cable for the first time, focus on these features and you'll make a good decision.
Data Rate
Used for 100Mbps Ethernet, residential homes and the maximum distance can reach 100m.
Used for Gigabit Ethernet, commercial buildings and the maximum distance can reach 100m for 1G / 37m for 10G.
Used for Gigabit Ethernet in data centres and commercial buildings and the maximum distance can reach 100m.
Used for 10Gbps core infrastructure and the maximum distance can reach 100m.
Used for 10Gbps core infrastructure and up to 100m for 10G / 30m for 25G.
Used for 25/40Gbps core infrastructure and the maximum distance can reach 30m.
Shielding
Cable shielding is wrapped around the wires inside a cable to reduce interference and improve signal quality. FS offers six types of shielding to meet various disturbed scenes.
None cable shielding and none conductor shielding.
None cable shielding and foil conductor shielding.
Foil cable shielding and none conductor shielding.
Foil cable shielding and foil conductor shielding.
Braid cable shielding and foil conductor shielding.
Braid＆Foil cable shielding and none conductor shielding.
Cable Length
The further a signal has to travel along a cable, the more it will degrade, so longer Ethernet cables can suffer from signal degradation. The maximum length of cable must not be exceeded to ensure the stable transmission of signals. FS offers 0.15m, 0.3m, 0.6m, 0.9m, 1.5m, 2.1m, 3m, etc., and provides length customisation services from 0.15m to 100m for meeting various network requirements.
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Upgrading to Cat6 makes sense if the equipment on either end is capable of 10 Gbps. For example, core network connections between switches, routers or bridges would benefit from the higher bandwidth.
There's no problem mixing Cat5e and Cat6 cables in the same network so long as you don't create a bottleneck. Use Cat6 in the parts of your network where fast data transfer is important, such as between a switch and a router.
All good quality cables that have been tested and certified by the manufacturer for a certain bandwidth and data rate are essentially the same. FS offers four types of Cat6 cables, such as regular cables, slim cables, flat cables and angle cables.
Cat8 is designed for switch-to-switch communications in 25G and 40G networks. Residential and commercial projects outside the data centre would be better using Cat6a cable. Not only is it less expensive, it's also easier and faster to install.
Unshielded: There is no shielding layer, and four pairs of transmission lines are intertwined to form a local area network, such as small and medium-sized enterprise data centres. Advantages: Cheap and easy to install. Disadvantages: Unable to shield more electromagnetic interference.
Shielded: There is an internal shielding layer. The shielding layer refers to aluminium foil and braided mesh. Advantages: Shielding electromagnetic interference and signal noise; good confidentiality performance; higher transmission rate than similar UTP cables.
