Cat 5 Cables: Their Definition, Types and Implications

Cat-5 cables also known as Ethernet cables are a type of Category 5 cables that are used

for computer networks. Computers that are connected to LAN are coupled using a Cat-5

cable; so the wire that runs out of your computer to connect you to LAN is a Cat 5 cable.

These wires are usually unshielded and contain a four pairs of twisted copper wires

terminated by RJ45 connectors. These wires are usually more expensive than the other

Category cables. This is because they have far less issues of hindrance with other

electronic devices as compared to the other Category wires.

The Cat 5 cables come in two main varieties, stranded and solid:

Stranded Cat 5 cables: A stranded Cat 5 cable is flexible and is appropriate for short

distance cabling. These wires are also used for movable cabling like on-the-fly patch

cabling.

Solid Cat 5 cables: Unlike stranded Cat 5 cables, solid Cat 5 cables are used for long

distance cabling. These cables are best suited for preset wire arrangements like in an

office building.

The existing set is an intervening one, which is called Cat 5a or Cat 5e. This type is an

improved edition of Cat 5 cables used for Gigabit (1000 Megabits per second) data

transmission. It has various enhanced features like superior shielding, made to better-

quality tolerances and has considerable lessening in cross talk and between-line

obstructions. If you have recently wired your net ability in the previous three to four

years, chances are that the wire is Cat 5a.

The outer covering of a Cat 5 cable can be of different colors, bright blue being the most

common type. The twisted copper wires also come in different colors which are usually

bright. Cat-5 cable is obtainable in all the places where cables or wires are sold like

electronics shops, home improvement centers, and computer outlets. Now-a-days it is

also commonly accessible in online stores.

Because a Cat 3 cable can only carry data at the speed of 10 megabits, now-a-days Cat 5

cables are mostly used instead of Cat 3 cables due to their feature of carrying data at

the speed of up to 100 mbps or more. Amongst all the Cat-5 cables, there are three

diverse configurations for pinouts, or cabling of the RJ-45 connectors. The three

different pinouts are referred to as straight through, crossover and roll-over. A variety of

network devices make use of one of these three types of pinouts.