Ethernet Cable Standards

Question 1

CAT 5

• Speed?
• Bandwidth?
• Distance?
• Usage?

Answer 1

• Speed: 100Mbps
• Bandwidth: 100MHz
• Distance: 100 meters (328 ft)
• Usage: 100BaseT Ethernet

Question 2

CAT 5e

• Speed?
• Bandwidth?
• Distance?
• Usage?

Answer 2

• Speed: 100/1,000Mbps
• Bandwidth: 100MHz
• Distance: 100 meters (328 ft)
• Usage: 100BaseT Ethernet (Residential homes)

Question 3

CAT 6

• Speed?
• Bandwidth?
• Distance?
• Usage?

Answer 3

• Speed: 1Gbps / 10Gbps (Up to 10,000Mbps/10Gbps)
• Bandwidth: 250MHz
• Distance: 100 meters (328 ft) @ 1Gbps / 55 meters (180.45 ft) @ 10Gbps
• Usage: 1000BaseT (gigabit) Ethernet (Commercial buildings)

Question 4

CAT 6a

• Speed?
• Bandwidth?
• Distance?
• Usage?

Answer 4

• Speed: 10Gbps
• Bandwidth: 500MHz
• Distance: 100 meters (328 ft)
• Usage: 10G Core (Commercial buildings and Datacenters)

Question 5

CAT 7

• Speed?
• Bandwidth?
• Distance?
• Usage?

Answer 5

• Speed: 10Gbps
• Bandwidth: 600MHz
• Distance: 100 meters (328 ft)
• Usage: 10 Gbps Core Infrastructure

Question 6

CAT 7a

• Speed?
• Bandwidth?
• Distance?
• Usage?

Answer 6

• Speed: 10Gbps / Up to 40Gb
• Bandwidth: 1000MHz
• Distance: 100 meters (328 ft) / 55 meters (180.45 ft) @ 40Gbps
• Usage: 10 Gbps Core Infrastructure

Question 7

CAT 8

• Speed?
• Bandwidth?
• Distance?
• Usage?

Answer 7

• Speed: 25Gbps (Cat 8.1) / 40Gb (Cat 8.2)
• Bandwidth: 2000MHz
• Distance: 30 meters (98 ft)
• Usage: 25 Gbps/40 Gbps Core Infrastructure