If you are into networking, you would surely have heard about ethernet cables and coax. You might have this question in mind: what’s the difference between Ethernet and coax cables? Both of these are technology standards used in the networking world. There are many simple and even technical differences between ethernet and coax cables. If you are a novice or just willing to learn the major difference between these two, this article is for you.
About Ethernet Cables?
Ethernet cables are used for connecting multiple network devices. Normally, these cables are used to connect different routers, ports, and switches within a LAN. The ethernet cable is also used to form a wide area network.
What Are The Coaxial Cables?
Coax cables are also quite old and one traditional network cable. Some people think that coaxial cable is only used by cable service providers. Whereas, their use is not just limited to cable services providers. These are also used by internet service providers and in commercial buildings and towers to form a wide area network system. The best part about coaxial cables is their premium jacketing. The internal conductor is covered by multiple layers. Though the outer jacket is made from PVC material, the multiple coatings make these cables an excellent choice for commercial use.
So, What’s The Difference Between Ethernet And Coaxial cables?
As discussed earlier, on paper it might seem like both the cables are nearly the same. In reality, there are differences. So, to know the answer to the query, what’s the difference between Ethernet and Coax? Let’s uncover the major differences.
1: Internal Structure
Apart from just the outside, there are some significant differences between ethernet and coax cables. The internals of these two cabling options is very different. Ethernet cables have both shielded and unshielded twisted pair conductors. The coaxial cables’ internals are protected by heavy shielding. We mostly use the coaxial cables for attaching satellite antennas with the cable box.
2: Price
The price is also one main difference between these two cables. As mentioned earlier, the coaxial cables are heavily shielded to avoid maximum interference. Therefore, their prices are also priced higher than other network cables. So, if you are on a budget you can consider getting ethernet network cables.
3: Bandwidth Speed
For some applications, the coaxial cable may offer slightly better networking speed, but now ethernet cables are much more enhanced. Now, you can get a full shielded twisted pair of ethernet cable that promises fast bandwidth speeds. So, the difference in bandwidth speed is not that much. Depending on the need of the user, he can opt for the one that suits his network.
Conclusion:
Now, you know what’s the difference between Ethernet and coax cables? Apart from a few technical differences, the overall performance of both these cables depends on the user’s need and the environment. So, you can choose the cable which is ideal for your kind of network use.
