CAT4 UTP Ethernet Cable | Legacy systems, basic voice/data networks | - 20 MHz (16 Mbps max) - 100m max length - UTP (no EMI protection) - CCA/CCS conductors (lower cost) - LDPE jacket (-5°C to 60°C) | ▲ Cost-effective ▲ Lightweight ▲ Compatible with older systems | ▲▲ Limited speed (16 Mbps) ▲▲ No EMI shielding ▲▲ Higher conductor resistance |
CAT5e UTP Ethernet Cable | Standard offices, VoIP systems | - 100 MHz (1 Gbps) - 100m max length - UTP - Copper conductors (better conductivity) - PVC jacket (durable) | ▲▲ 5x faster than CAT4 ▲ Backward compatible ▲ Affordable for most needs | ▲▲ No shielding ▲▲ Limited to 1 Gbps at 100m ▲▲ Susceptible to interference |
CAT6 UTP Ethernet Cable | Data centers, high-speed networks | - 250 MHz (10 Gbps @ 55m) - 100m max length for 1 Gbps - Improved insulation/crosstalk reduction | ▲▲▲ 10 Gbps support (shorter runs) ▲ Thinner than CAT6a ▲ Better crosstalk reduction | ▲▲▲ Bulky design ▲▲ Costlier than CAT5e ▲▲ No shielding for EMI-prone areas |
CAT6a STP Ethernet Cable | Industrial settings, 10Gbps backbone | - 500 MHz (10 Gbps @ 100m) - Foil shielding (EMI protection) - Robust jacket (up to 80°C) | ▲▲▲▲ 10 Gbps at full 100m ▲▲ Shielding against interference ▲▲ Longer lifespan | ▲▲▲ Heavier/thicker ▲▲ Higher cost ▲▲ Requires specialized installation |
CAT7 Shielded Ethernet Cable | High-interference environments | - 600 MHz (10 Gbps) - Fully shielded (individual pairs + overall) - Metallic braid + foil shielding | ▲▲▲▲▲ Best EMI protection ▲▲▲ Ultra-high frequency support ▲▲▲ Ideal for industrial automation | ▲▲▲▲ Bulkiest design ▲▲ Most expensive ▲▲ Requires specialized connectors |
Fiber Optic Cable (Single-Mode) | Long-distance backbone networks | - 100+ Gbps - 10+ km distance - Glass core (no EMI) - RoHS compliant | ▲▲▲▲▲ Immune to EMI ▲▲▲▲ Unmatched bandwidth/distance ▲▲▲ No crosstalk | ▲▲▲▲ High initial cost ▲▲▲ Requires specialized equipment ▲▲ Brittle compared to copper |