CAT 5 Patch Cable :: CAT 5 Crossover Cable :: Cat 5e Patch Cable :: CAT 5e Crossover Cable
CAT 6 Patch Cable :: CAT 6 Crossover Cable :: Shipping :: About Us :: Contact Us :: Help :: Home

FAQ Section

Cat 5 Cable VS. Ethernet Cable

[Q] Is Cat 5 Cable the same thing as Ethernet Cable? [A] Many people ask us about Cat 5 Cable and Cat 5e Cable, and want to know if it is the same thing as Ethernet Cable. Quite simply, the answer is yes. Invented by Engineer Robert Metcalfe, Ethernet is a physical and data link layer technology for Local Area Networks, or (LAN's). When first widely deployed in the 1980s, Ethernet supported a maximum theoretical data rate of 10 megabits per second (Mbps). Later, Fast Ethernet standards increased this maximum data rate to 100 Mbps. Today, Gigabit Ethernet technology further extends peak performance up to 1000 Mbps. Cat 5, Cat 5e, and Cat 6 are all just different grades of copper conductor data transmission cable, that will support an Ethernet network. Demands for greater performance for increasingly complex networks have given way to improvements in the transmission speed. This is the reason why Cat 5e, for example, is pretty much the standard for most installations taking place today. While still inexpensive compared to Cat 6, a quality Cat 5e cable will deliver a Gigabit signal with the right equipment, without the additional cost associated with Cat 6. Cat 6 was designed specifically for use in Gigabit networks. RELATED FAQ QUESTION: What is the difference between CAT 5 and CAT 5e cable? Keywords: Cat 5 Cable, Ethernet Cable, Local Area Network, Cat 5e Cable