3 Reasons to Get Rid of Cat5e Cables Right Now
Using 1000ft Cat5e cable on your home or office network? Here’s why you should stop and use Cat6 or Cat6a instead… Cat5e Ethernet Cables are quickly becoming outdated, thanks to the new and improved Cat6 and Cat6a cables. In this article, we will explain the three main reasons you should swap out your old Ethernet cables as soon as possible. Keep reading to find out the 3 Reasons to Get Rid of Cat5e Cables Right Now.
What is Cat5e Ethernet Cable?
Ethernet cables are used in a variety of home, commercial, and industrial applications. There are two main types of ethernet cable – Cat5e plenum and Cat5e riser.
Cat5e Cable has a data transfer speed of up to 100 MBit/s over 100 meters with a 350 MHz bandwidth. The conductors are twisted into pairs to keep EMI at a minimum.
Plenum ethernet cables are installed in air spaces that contain air – such as attics or crawlspaces. Riser ethernet cables are typically found in the vertical shafts of buildings where they connect data terminals on multiple floors together.
The differences between these two types of cables extend beyond their use – they also differ in terms of the materials they’re made from, the speed at which they can transfer data, and their crosstalk capabilities.
What is Cat5e Plenum 1000ft?
Cat5e plenum cable is a type of cabling system that is used in horizontal spaces in commercial and residential buildings. Plenum cables are designed to be fire resistant, and they meet the requirements for low-smoke density and no toxicity.
They also have an insulation rating of 300 volts which allows them to be used in situations where there is a risk of electric shock.
When installed correctly, the Cat 5e plenum cable will not emit any toxic fumes if it catches on fire. This makes it ideal for use in high-traffic areas. Because it poses less of a danger than other types of cables when there is a potential for an accident.
What is Cat5e Riser 1000 ft?
A Cat5e riser runs through the vertical ducts and installations in buildings. This type of Cat5e cable is known for its jacket which is a CMR. CMR (communications multipurpose riser) jacket is made to be highly resistant to fire. It also prevents the vertical propagation of flame in case of a fire hazard.
However, it must be noted that it can emit toxic smoke should it catch fire. And therefore, it must not be installed in horizontal plenum spaces.
Now, you know what the Cat5e bulk ethernet cable is and what its main types are. Let’s take a detailed look at the 3 reasons which should convince you to get rid of your old Cat5e cables and get the modern Cat6 or Cat6a cables.
- You’re sacrificing speed
Speed is something that you should compromise on when it comes to ethernet networking. A 1000 ft Cat5e Plenum cable will only achieve max speeds up to 100mbps and for most people, that’s more than enough speed.
But, if you have a business with many computers or are a gamer then you might need faster speeds. In that case, you’ll want to use the Cat6 cable or Cat6.
If you run the cable at only up to 50 meters in length, you can achieve gigabit speeds. But that will require a network that is not too crowded and cables with expensive bare copper wires.
In any case, the Cat5e is slower as compared to the other options available. And getting the other options does not cost a fortune. In fact, they have almost similar costs.
- They’re expensive
The second reason you need to get rid of them is that they’re almost as expensive as their newer counterparts. A 1000-foot Cat5e Plenum-rated cable will set you back around $200, while the same length of Cat6 Plenum-rated cable costs just over $200. And if you know where to look, you can even find the cable for the same price.
- They’re not as durable
Cat5e cables are not as durable as the newer standards, so they have to be replaced more often. These cables are also unshielded which means they will not only wear out soon but will also entertain more interference.
By replacing these cables with newer ones, you are improving the speed of your network and making it more durable. The new generation of ethernet cables will also last longer, which means you will be saving costs of replacement in the long run.
Benefits of using bulk Cat6 ethernet cable instead of Cat5e
Cat6 cables have several benefits over the older cat5e ethernet cables. They are more durable, which means they are less likely to break and less likely to get damaged from pulling or twisting.
They also have better noise suppression, which means a higher quality signal is sent and received when you use them.
There is also more bandwidth for data transfer, meaning you can transfer large files faster using cat6 ethernet cable than with cat5e ethernet cable.
Finally, because they are shielded, they do not emit as much EMF radiation as the Cat5e ethernet cables. It is great if you work in an office and need flawless connections.
Conclusion
In short, the Cat5e cable is relatively outdated when you compare it with other ethernet cables. But it certainly has the capacity to be used in residential buildings if you are looking for something easy to install and use. So overall, the Cat5e plenum or riser can be used if you don’t really need the cutting-edge generation of category cables.
