Category 6 Cabling
Last Updated: Monday 30 March 2009
CAT 6 is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols that is backward compatible with the Category 5/5e cable standards. Cat 6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise.
The cable standard is suitable for 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) connections. It provides performance of up to 250 MHz.
The cable contains four twisted copper wire pairs, just like earlier copper cable standards. Although Cat 6 is sometimes made with 23 gauge wire, this is not a requirement; the ANSI/TIA-568-B.2-1 specification states the cable may be made with 22 to 24 gauge wire, so long as the cable meets the specified testing standards.
When used as a patch cable, Cat-6 is normally terminated in RJ-45 electrical connectors, although some Cat-6 cable may be difficult to attach RJ-45 connectors without a special modular piece and is technically not standards compliant. If components of the various cable standards are intermixed, the performance of the signal path will be limited to that of the lowest category.
As with all cables defined by TIA/EIA-568-B, the maximum allowed length of a Cat-6 horizontal cable is 90 meters (295 feet). A complete channel (horizontal cable plus cords on either end) is allowed to be up to 100 meters in length, depending upon the ratio of cord length:horizontal cable length.
