As a digitally connected culture, how we work is as important as what we choose to work on. The technological setup and network configuration is a crucial piece of any business environment in today’s world. With a bad setup, you easily lose valuable chunks of time, energy, and resources. But when you ensure that your technology is up to date, every aspect of your business enjoys tremendous returns in the form of extra time, increased productivity, and an improved potential for upward growth. When it comes to ethernet cables, it’s easy to get confused and misled, which typically leads most businesses to cutting corners that end up costing them in the long run. When you understand the three main types of ethernet cables, and the unique advantages offered by each, you will be much more prepared to make the choices that enable and empower all parts of your business.
The invention and implementation of fiber optic cables have revolutionized the way the world conducts business, regardless of the industry. The very first fiber optic cable in recorded history was used to connect the U.S. to France and Britain in the year 1988. Since that point, hundreds more have been installed all across the globe. This is important because there have been vast improvements to cable technology since the invention of the fiber optic cable.
Cat5 Cables
Perhaps the most common type of cable that you will encounter in today’s market is what’s known as a Category cable, more commonly referred to as cat cables. In the world of Cat cables, Cat5 cables are the most basic option and are not readily available as they have been replaced by Cat5e. While they are not the newest variety of cable, and they don’t offer the advantages of Cat 6 cables bulk (more on that later) they are far superior to connecting to the internet with a WiFi connection. If your business is not in need of all the latest features, then Cat5 cables are a great option, as they deliver adequate speeds and last up to 10 years when properly installed and handled. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more difficult to find Cat5 cables for sale.
Cat5e Cables
If you’re in need of a slightly better networking cable, then Cat5e Cables are a great option. This category is differentiated in name by the “e” which stands for enhanced. Why are these cables enhanced? Well, they offer better connection speeds, up to 1GB/second at 100MHz frequencies. These cables are a great option if you need something faster than Cat5, but don’t have room in your budget for Cat 6 cables bulk. Cat5e is a great choice for businesses that have more network demand than the typical business environment.
Cat6 Cables
As you have probably guessed, Cat6 cables offer speed and performance that you won’t find in the other two cables we’ve discussed so far. With these cables, you can enjoy higher speeds and less crosstalk over your network. While they are a bit more expensive up front, and take a little more work to install, they are your best option if you want the best performance from your connection. To offset some of the costs associated with purchasing and installation, it’s wise to use a dealer that offers Cat 6 cables bulk.
Regardless of your business goals, using the right cables is an important piece of network infrastructure. By informing yourself and purchasing cables through a reliable company, you can be sure that your network performs to meet the standards of your operation.
