Category 5 Cable (CAT5 Cable)

Category 5 cable, commonly known as the CAT5 cable, has four pairs of twisted cables inside a rubber insulator. The CAT5 cable is a data cable that needs to have a high signal integrity. Typically, the CAT5 cable is unshielded but the more recent Category 6 (CAT6) and Cat 7 offer greater levels of shielding.

The CAT5 cable has now been superseded by the Category 5e (CAT5e) specification, which is typically used in structured cabling for computer networks (e.g. Ethernet), but also used to provide VOIP (Voice Over IP), the traditional token ring or ATM traffic.

Category 5 Cable (CAT5 Cable)

Category 5 cable, commonly known as the CAT5 cable, has four pairs of twisted cables inside a rubber insulator. The CAT5 cable is a data cable that needs to have a high signal integrity. Typically, the CAT5 cable is unshielded but the more recent Category 6 (CAT6) and Cat 7 offer greater levels of shielding.

The CAT5 cable has now been superseded by the Category 5e (CAT5e) specification, which is typically used in structured cabling for computer networks (e.g. Ethernet), but also used to provide VOIP (Voice Over IP), the traditional token ring or ATM traffic.

CAT5 cable Usage and CAT5 cable Wiring

ANSI specifications test requirements for frequencies of up to 100 MHz.

The CAT5 cable includes four twisted pairs in a single cable jacket using 24 gauge copper wire. To reduce the possibility of 'cross-talk' interference, the wires are twisted in pairs.

The CAT5 cable used to be used in 10 Mbps (Mega Bits Per Second) networks and now most commonly used for 100 Mbps networks, such as 100BASE-TX Ethernet, IEEE 802.3ab defines standards for 1000BASE-T.

Many organisations are now moving to the latest 'Gigabit' CAT6 ethernet cable instead of the CAT5 cable. With mixed networks, it may be necessary to use a hub or switch that can deliver 10Mbps, 100Mbps and 1Gbps ethernet speeds.

CAT5 cable Usage and CAT5 cable Wiring

ANSI specifications test requirements for frequencies of up to 100 MHz.

The CAT5 cable includes four twisted pairs in a single cable jacket using 24 gauge copper wire. To reduce the possibility of 'cross-talk' interference, the wires are twisted in pairs.

The CAT5 cable used to be used in 10 Mbps (Mega Bits Per Second) networks and now most commonly used for 100 Mbps networks, such as 100BASE-TX Ethernet, IEEE 802.3ab defines standards for 1000BASE-T.

Many organisations are now moving to the latest 'Gigabit' CAT6 ethernet cable instead of the CAT5 cable. With mixed networks, it may be necessary to use a hub or switch that can deliver 10Mbps, 100Mbps and 1Gbps ethernet speeds.

Category 5e (CAT5e) Cable

The CAT5e cable is an enhanced version of the CAT5 cable and has stricter performance specifications, to the TIA/EIA-568-B standard (where 1000BASE-T performs better).

Whilst the CAT5e cable is capable of operating up to 100 metres in length it is advised that a 90 metre ethernet cables are used, where additional 5 metre patch cables are often added to a cable run.

Bending Radius of the CAT5e Cable

The CAT5e cable can be bent at a radius approximately 4 times the diameter of the cable, however, the more gentler the curvature the less fatigue is put on the copper inside of the CAT5e cable. Where potential movement is involved, it is worth considering how you can build in some strain relief or cable support.

Category 5e (CAT5e) Cable

The CAT5e cable is an enhanced version of the CAT5 cable and has stricter performance specifications, to the TIA/EIA-568-B standard (where 1000BASE-T performs better).

Whilst the CAT5e cable is capable of operating up to 100 metres in length it is advised that a 90 metre ethernet cables are used, where additional 5 metre patch cables are often added to a cable run.

Bending Radius of the CAT5e Cable

The CAT5e cable can be bent at a radius approximately 4 times the diameter of the cable, however, the more gentler the curvature the less fatigue is put on the copper inside of the CAT5e cable. Where potential movement is involved, it is worth considering how you can build in some strain relief or cable support.