What are Ethernet Cables and What do they do?

What are Ethernet Cables and What do they do?

All of us have seen the gray (mostly) cables connected to the CPU in school computer labs, in the office you work, or at your home. These are called Ethernet cables that provide an internet connection to electronic devices.

But what is in it that makes us choose ethernet wires? What goes inside it?

How many types of ethernet cables are there?

All these questions will be answered below.

What is an Ethernet Cable?

Ethernet wires are network wires used to connect computers and electronic devices with internet connection. It is also known as the Local Area Network (LAN). In 1982, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standardized the format of cords and ports so that the same port is available on all the devices that require an internet connection like computers, routers, TVs, computers, etc.

https://www.sfcable.com/

There are certain benefits that a wired internet connection has over a non-wired internet connection like undisturbed network disturbance, more security, faster speed, etc.

Appearance of the Ethernet Cables Ethernet cables resemble phone cables. But the inside of the cable is different as ethernet cables have eight wires. Also the size of the connector is slightly bigger than that of the phone cable.

Mostly the connector is a Registered Jack 45 (RJ45) connector. It has a small lever on top of it to help secure and unclip the cable. Sometimes, there is an LED light in the port so that when the connector is secured, it will light up showing a successful connection.

The length of the cable is generally kept under 30 meters. It is also possible to cut the cable according to the requirement. You can also use colored wire to color coordinate so that it is easier to refer later to maintain the network infrastructure.

https://www.sfcable.com/

Types of Ethernet Cables Here are different types of ethernet cables based on the structure.

Straight-through or Patch Cables: Straight-through or patch cables are useful to connect different types of devices. For instance, a computer to a router.

Cross Over Cables: These are used to connect two devices of the same type. For example, connecting two computers.

Solid Cables: Solid cables are used for business networks. They have a single wire running inside. They are cheaper to produce and so comes under the affordable category.

Stranded Cables: These wires are robust in terms of breakage as they have small wires that work together.

Shielded Cables: These are more suitable to run where there is high interference like outdoors or inside the walls.

Unshielded Cables: These are useful for interior domestic use.

https://www.sfcable.com/

Categories of Ethernet Cables The cables are divided into categories based on their speed and bandwidth. Let us see them one by one.

Category 3 (Cat 3): The maximum speed is 10 Mbps of Cat 3 power lines with bandwidth of 16 MHz. Category 5 (Cat 5): The maximum speed of these cords is upto 100 Mbps with bandwidth of 100 MHz. Category 5e (Cat 5e): It is an updated version of Cat 5 and allows speed upto 1000 Mbps with a bandwidth of 100 MHz. Category 6 (Cat 6): These wires enable speeds up to 10 gigabits with a bandwidth 250 MHZ depending on the length of the cable. These cords are stiffer than Cat 5 cables, thus making it harder to run around corners.

The inside wires are thinner meaning a reduction in noise ratio.

Category 6a (Cat 6a): These power lines are an improved version of Cat 6 cables. It offers a speed up to 10 gigabits with double bandwidth of 500 MHz. These cords are often shielded in order to reduce noise and electromagnetic radiation from affecting signals. https://www.sfcable.com/

Category 7 (Cat 7): These cables offer 10 gigabits of speed upto 15 meters with bandwidth of 600 MHz. The cables are twisted and fully shielded eliminating crosstalk and improving noise resistance. Thus, making cat 7 shielded cables is the best choice if you need to deal with devices that require high speed and bandwidth.

Category 8 (Cat 8): Cat 8 cable offers speeds up to 40 Gbps with 2000 MHz of bandwidth. These cords are mostly used by data centers and enterprise networks and are the most expensive compared to all the above power lines.

Drawbacks Ethernet cables can only be used for a limited distance, otherwise, signal loss can occur. This happens because the electrical resistance of long wires affects their performance. This safe distance between the devices is known as network diameter. Hence, ensuring the network diameter is important so that the signals are sent and received without any interruption.

https://www.sfcable.com/

Conclusion Ethernet cables are vital if you want a secured, disturbance-free, and fast internet connection. These power lines help you transfer data from one computer to another, thus building a smart home or office. If you need an ethernet wire for your office, you can invest in cat 6e, cat 7 shielded cables, and cat 8 cables. These cables have maximum speed and higher bandwidth, ensuring you would not have to change the wires for a long time in the future as well.

Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/wha t-ethernet-cables-what-do-they-do-1831513.html

https://www.sfcable.com/