The frequency or “bandwidth” of any ethernet cable is the data transfer rate of that specific cable. I measure it in megahertz and its symbol is MHZ. Every cable has a different frequency based on its category. A general rule of thumb is that the higher numbers represent higher speed and higher frequencies.?
Below in this article, I have compared Cat5e, Cat6,
and Cat6a based on their frequencies:
Frequency in Different Categories of Ethernet Cable
There are various categories available in ethernet cables. Every category comes with different specifications. You can select these cables based on your network requirements. Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a have commonly used ethernet cables these days. All these cables differ from each other based on their internal structure, wiring, and shielding. Cat5e is good for home networks and it comes with a speed of 350 MHZ. We highly recommend Cat6 in many networks. They make it of 23 AWG wire with extra twisted pairing. Cat6 comes with a bandwidth of 550 MHZ. This speed makes it ideal to use this cable for application, which requires a high transfer data rate. Cat6a is an augmented version of Cat6. If you are looking for high speed, high bandwidth, and high data transfer rate then Cat6a is simply perfect for you. This cable has a frequency of 650 MHZ.
Not Every Ethernet Cable is Equal
This is one of the most important things to understand that every ethernet cable comes with different provisions. You can choose a perfect cable for your network if you do a little research. There are various factors you can look into while buying a cable. Data transfer speed, internal wiring, and shielding are some basic things you can look into while shopping for a cable. You can buy a premium quality cable at a premium price from Newyork cable with free shipping.?
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Specification
Cat5e
Cat6
Cat6a
Cable Jacket
Plenum, Riser & PVC
Plenum, Riser & PVC
Plenum & Riser
Wire Gauge
24-AWG
23-AWG
23-AWG Highly Twisted
Frequencies
350 MHZ
550 MHZ
750 MHZ
Installation Temp
0°C to 60°C
0°C to 60°C
0°C to 60°C
Pairs
4 Twisted Pairs
4 Twisted Pairs
4 Twisted Pairs
Package
Easy Pull Box
Easy Pull Box
Wood Spool
Colors
Black, Blue, White, Red, Green, Yellow
Black, Blue, White, Red, Green, Yellow
Black, Blue, White, Red, Green, Yellow
Standard Compliance
ETL, FCC, CE, CSA, ISO/IES, RoHS
FCC, CE, CSA, ISO/IES, RoHS
ETL, FCC, CE, CSA, ISO/IES, RoHS