The debate about high-speed ethernet cable i.e Cat6 or cat 6a will never end as there are many cables in the market. What do you think bulk ethernet cables are purchased through consumers’ demand? The answer is quite simple. There are many possible ways to buy the cable speed demands according to the server speed. The second is the location-wise and the environment factor is also included when the one is dealing with the active interference field.
So which cable do you need right now? Before going in-depth let’s explore a bit about the server speed and the requirement for the Cat 6 riser cable or the Cat6a riser solid copper. Here is what you need to know: “What Is Server Speed?”.
Server Speed — What Is It?
The server speed refers to the maximum transmission speed of data a server can deliver or handle. The server speed is measured by Mbps (Megabit Per Second) or Gbps (Gigabit Per Second) respectively.
Different servers deliver high data transfer speeds and according to that the ethernet cables are selected. The Bulk Ethernet Cables like Cat6 Riser Cable or Bulk Cat6a Riser 1000ft both are used for supporting the speed of the server and data transmission and to utilize the maximum output of the cable to run Fast Ethernet Applications.
Cat6 vs Cat6a Ethernet Cable
Which one is my favorite: Cat6 vs Cat6a? This is hard to define the necessity of the bulk ethernet cable. But you can still judge the cable specs by identifying the speed and the other major functions bandwidth, EMI, or RFI immunity.
- Category 6 Ethernet Cable — An advanced ethernet cable after the successful practical of “Enhanced Category Cable” (Cat5e Cable). Cat6 Ethernet Cable is the high-graded ethernet cable to deliver the maximum throughput, especially for the Gigabit Speed or 10 Gbps speed ratings. There are following updates in the Cat6 riser cable which ensures that the cable is a better option.
- High-Speed bandwidth (550 MHz) to support the maximum data traffic.
- Tight twisted pairs (5-6 twists per inch) to overcome the EMI and signal attenuation.
- Spline — a plastic cross-skeleton material known as a twisted pair separator.
- Riser insulation outside the cable to protect the cable.
- Copper conductor is a better but costly choice.
- Augmented Category 6 Cable — the highly advanced cable that is authentic for indoor usage for residential and commercial setups. The cable has only one constant speed rating for longer or shorter distances — 10 Gbps speed. This is the last cable you can use for the home or commercial setups. The Cat7 or Cat8 are expensive and they are for the industrial or fast-paced environment. Similarly, the cable has some advanced features which make this cable a modern ethernet cable.
- 750 MHz bandwidth speed
- Copper conductor to pass the data more quickly
- Twisted pair separator — Spline
- Tight twisted pairs (6-7 twists per inch)
- 10 Gbps speed
- PVC riser jacket to prevent the cable from fire
For Cat6 vs Cat6a, the above information is for buying and matching the cable according to the speed ratings of the cable. Now let’s learn about the different aspects of the ethernet cable.
Where To Use Cat6 Riser Ethernet Cable?
Anywhere you want to use the cable besides outdoor installation. The riser cable is a PVC jacket. Though it is fire resistant, there are many other reasons that you adopt this cable for your internet connection or to provide futureproofing to the network infrastructure.
First, the riser jacket is made of PVC which means it can control flames but less than plenum-rated cables. Marked as an indoor jacket cable. The Cat 6 riser cable features to be used for riser space only. There are no other installation locations for the Cat6 riser 1000ft cable.
The reason is quite noticeable as the Riser jacket lacks waterproofing or UV resistance. There might be another reason the cable will wear and tear if you choose the wrong jacket. The perfect spots are riser shafts, inside walls, elevator shafts, etc.
What Is Good In Cat6a Riser Cable?
The bulk cat6a riser 1000ft cable ensures the speed due to low electrical resistance. The cable is only for high-speed servers — 10 Gbps. The Cat6a riser cable’s right spot is for commercial or industrial applications.
You often ask this question “Is Cat6a ethernet cable overkill for home use?” The answer is not tricky. Ask your “Internet Service Provider” about the speed readings and then assume the cable. It is not written anywhere that the Cat6a riser cable is not for home use. If you can afford the price of Cat6 riser solid copper cable you can buy this cable.
Similarities of Cat6 vs Cat6a Cable
Cat6 vs Cat6a Ethernet Cables both have some similarities which make them alike instead of internal specs. However, the similarities are for Cat6 ethernet cable and Cat6a riser copper cable as follows
- Both use pure copper conductor
- Support 10 Gbps speed
- RJ45 connector for termination
- Obey T568A and T568B wiring standards
- Backward Compatibility
- Both have indoor jacket ratings Plenum and Riser
- Cat6 vs Cat6a both have UTP or shielded variants
Which Cable Is Best For Your Server?
For ethernet cables, there is no winner and loser but users buy it for their personal experience to see whether Gigabit or higher speed ratings Future Ethernet (10GBASE-T). So there are some factors that you should consider while buying the Network cable for your home, office, or other setups.
- What is the server’s maximum data speed?
- Network distance
- Environmental factors
- Length of the cable needed
- Category Cable (Cat6 vs Cat6a)
- Shielded or Unshielded
Final Thought
Future-proofing is always a preference for network users. The futureproofing gives an edge to expand the network or add high-technology gadgets that support high data transfer rates.
Similarly, the nature of the Cat6 riser cable and Cat6 riser cable both have similarities but different aspects due to their advanced mode. You only need to buy the right cable. Both cables Cat6 vs Cat6a are for longer distances and support the higher speed.