Cat6 ethernet cables — be it Cat6 Plenum Cable, Cat6 Riser Cable, or Cat6 PVC cable — are one of the most in-demand ethernet cables both for residential and commercial use. This high demand is attributed to their top-notch performance like higher bandwidth capabilities and data transfer rates, among several others. If you are a novice, you should read this ultimate guide so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing bulk Cat6 Plenum cable.
Which Type of Cat6 Cable do You Need?
The Cat6 ethernet cable comes in three variants: Cat6 Plenum Cable, Cat6 Riser Cable, and Cat6 PVC cable.
The Cat6 Plenum Cable is designed for usage in plenum spaces. Plenum spaces are separate spaces that are created to provide passage for air circulation for air-conditioning, ventilation, and heating. In plenum spaces of the buildings, there is usually a greater risk of fire eruption and progression. Therefore, Cat6 Plenum Cable comes with plenum-rated cable jackets that are made up of high-quality polyvinyl chloride. This high-quality material is fire resistant and halts fire progression. Also, when exposed to fire, this top-notch material emits no hazardous gases or smoke. You can use plenum cables in riser spaces too.
Cat6 riser cables are ideal for installation in riser spaces or vertical spaces of the buildings. The cable jacket of this variant is also made up of good material but it is not as fine as that of plenum cables. You can’t use riser cables in plenum spaces. But you can use them for outdoor installations.
The third variant is PVC cables. These cables are meant for outdoor installations only. Their jacket is made up of low-quality PVC material and this is the very reason that you can’t use them for outdoor installations.
Pure Copper & CCA
Unarguably, the most important component in an ethernet cable is its conductor. A Cat6 Plenum 1000ft cable comprises eight conductors that are bundled together in four twisted pairs to give high-quality signal strength. These conductors are either made up of pure copper (also known as bare copper or solid copper) or copper-clad aluminum. The pure copper Cat6 Plenum 1000ft is expensive and much better in performance than CCA cables. Pure copper Cat6 cables can maintain signal quality at longer wavelengths.
Shielded & Unshielded
The bulk Cat6 plenum cable is either shielded or unshielded. A shielded ethernet cable is one that has an extra layer (s) of protection against crosstalk. This extra layer is usually a foil wrapping or copper braid jacket around each twisted pair. Such cables are called STP (shielded twisted pair) ethernet cables. If another foil wrapping is done on all four twisted pairs, then these cables are called SFTP (shielded foil twisted pair).
Then, there is Cat6 cable that doesn’t have an extra layer of protection, and tbh, it is fine because the jacket material of bulk Cat6 Plenum cable is already made up of very fine material that provides sufficient protection against all sort of interferences including crosstalk and electromagnetic interferences. So, why spend extra money when top-notch protection is already there?
Bandwidth Capabilities
Another factor that you should consider when buying plenum ethernet cable is whether or not it meets the TIA/EIA bandwidth requirements; these requirements are 350MHz for Cat6 cables. Our Cat6 cables not only meet these standards but also surpass them by a wide margin. Our Cat6 ethernet cables demonstrate bandwidth capabilities of 550MHz and can hence maintain signal quality at longer wavelengths.
Data Transfer Rates
The data transfer rates matter the most! The Cat6 cable can transfer data at a speed of 10Gbps at a distance of 50 meters whereas it can transfer data at speed of 1Gbps at a distance of 100 meters.
AWG
AWG stands for American Gauge Wire. The higher the AWG number, the thinner the diameter, and the thinner the conductor. Thinner conductors carry less current as there is more electrical resistance. Thicker conductors carry more current because electrical resistance is less. Cat6 usually runs between 23 AWG to 26AWG. Here at New York Cables, our Cat6 cables run 23AWG that is ideal.
Price
The price factor remains an important factor when buying a Cat6 ethernet cable. And is said in the commercial world: Quality comes at a higher price tag. The cable that meets and surpasses all existing standards will obviously come at a higher price tag. Fortunately, here at New York Cables, our prices are economical. We also run discount campaigns while offering free shipping on orders above $99.
