6a Cabling, Progressive Office Cabling

Upgrade to Cat6a to Future Proof Your Business – Part 1

22 Dec 2020
Selecting the proper Ethernet cable will ensure your network will be capable of providing high-speed Internet, which is essential for every modern business. Your company may need to upgrade its network infrastructure by installing Category 6a (Cat6a) cabling. These high-tech cables are capable of performance superior to previous categories.
For example, we are now in the era of PoE (Power over Ethernet), and Cat6a cables are better suited for delivering electricity to devices than older cables.
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network cabling,Cat6a Cabling in Atlanta

Basics of Low Voltage Wiring for Businesses – Part 2

14 Jul 2020
As discussed in Part 1, commercial buildings and facilities typically have audio, computer networking, HD video, network data, telephone, and Wi-Fi systems. Each can be individually supported by its own low voltage wiring network, which can be integrated, monitored, and controlled with the others under a single system. Part 2 will discuss Security and Workplace Communication Systems.
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Cat6/6a Cabling, Progressive Office Cabling

An Overview of Cat6a for Your Next Cable Installation

5 Feb 2020
Introduced in 2009, Category 6a cable (Augmented Category 6) can support data transfer rates ranging up to 10Gbps at a bandwidth of 500MHz. Superior to the preceding cable categories, the increased performance of Cat6a can be attributed to the tighter and additional twists of its wires and thicker insulation for the significant reduction of crosstalk.
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Network Cabling ,Data Cabling,CAT2 6A UTP

Issues to Avoid with Cat6a Cables

22 Dec 2014
Network Cabling ,Data Cabling,CAT2 6A UTPA newly popularized cable is Cat6a. It is the new “cable on the block” which has prolonged the life of copper cabling. Cat6a has the shielded twisted and untwisted pairs with different advantages and features. It supports Gigabit Ethernet up to a hundred meters. However, you need to understand and cope with several issues.

Contentions


The size of Cat6a cable is larger than Cat5e. Copper is inherently unreliable due to Bit Error Rates or BER. This is why manufacturers have designed Cat6a cables with a smaller cross-section. It takes up less space in the tray. Yet, this space is needed to minimize crosstalk between cabling pairs. The protective shield in Cat6a cable adds to the expense.

Electricity and Mechanical Facets


Aside from the electrical issues, Cat6a Untwisted Pair (UTP) is fabricated with bigger conductors. It has more rigid twists compared to Cat5e and Cat6 and these heavier conductors plus large and stiffer jacket combines to make for more difficult cable installation. Besides, the external diameter of the UTP means that the Cat6a cable takes up more room in the trays and conduits.

Electrical and mechanical issues should not be overlooked since this can affect performance. The physical stability of Cat6a is essential to its transmission performance. Cat6a can be more sensitive to degradation of signal compared to Cat5.

These may be produced by the following:



  • Cable twisting generates signal reflection.

  • Excess insertion pressure on cables can cause poor connector performance.

  • Weakness of RJ45 (communications) connectors.


For example, if the cable is wedged in a door or compressed or squeezed by a heavy object, can result in sporadic network problems which may not be easy to detect. Nevertheless, Cat6a functions at enhanced specifications compared to Cat6 UTP. Considering all of these issues it may seem that fiber cable will become the ultimate future for 10 Gigabit Ethernet. It is up to users and the market forces to make the choice.
network cabling,cat6 cable

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Cat6 cabling?

7 Nov 2014

network cabling,cat6 cableAs the price of Cat6 cable has come down, the answer is yes. You get 500% more speed for about a 25% higher price. Unless you really just don't need more speed, go with Cat6.


Category6 or Cat6 cables have established standards for the Gigabit Ethernet. This variety is backward compatible with Category 5 and 5e as well as Category 3 cable. Cat6 facilitates computer networks by providing high-speed data transfer rates. Performance can be described as optimal if other components within the network are also running at gigabit speeds.



What are the upsides?


Cat6 is fast. It has the capability to handle maximum speed performance of 250 MHZ. The network includes Gigabit Ethernet along with 10-Gigabit Ethernet. With complementary routers, interface cards, switches, and patch panels a complete gigabit network is possible. Information Technology professionals are aware that Cat6 cable provides exceptionally fast network performance and gigabit speeds.


The composition is similar to Cat5 Cable. There are eight wires which are coiled together forming four pairs. With Cat6, each pair of wires is designed to be insulated from the others so it can produce twice the communications capacity of Cat5 and Cat5e. Cat6 cables plugs and ports are compatible to Cat5 and Cat5e. It may not have the same maximum speed of the computer cable but it will still function.


You can upgrade to Cat6 cable if your current network is not performing at a productive speed in retrieving and saving your data files. Even small enterprises are now thinking of installing this model because it is fast emerging as the industry standard.


However,  Cat6 cable is  more expensive. It will surely be a waste of resources in cases where greater data speeds are not needed. That is why some users opt for Cat5e which is less expensive while still providing splendid performance.


At the same time, you are not guaranteed 100 percent full speed. Sometimes, there is a misconception that purchasing a Cat6 cable will offer users the whole gigabit bandwidth on your network. The truth is Cat6 cable will only generate full speeds if all of the components in the network can function at gigabit speed. In case a single part (network card, patch panel, switch or connector) is not gigabit rated, the network may work at the slowest speed of the slowest component device.


You might be persuaded to buy Cat6 without really understanding if it will really produce the desired impact on the network. This is why it is essential to learn everything about the product before you make a decision.


Call us at 202-462-4290 before you decide so that you can get a free on-site analysis that will pinpoint your network cabling needs.