CABLING


Data and voice communications can be carried by numerous types of cables. In order to make the choice of cabling easier, a number of cabling standards were established, known as "categories". Each category refers to the physical characteristics and performance characteristics of the cable. Probably the most widely used of these categories is Category 5, often shortened to Cat 5. Cat 5 can be used for applications such as 100baseT Ethernet, phone/voice, RS-232, RS-485.

Cables are often referred to as UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), or STP (Shielded Twisted Pair). Shielded (STP) cable should be used in "noisy" radio frequency environments, e.g. in an industrial environment, or in the vicinity of electric motors, fluorescent lights, power tools. Unshielded (UTP) cable is more generally used in office or home environments.

Category Frequency Cable Application
1 UTP Analogue Voice
2 UTP Digital Voice, 1 Mbps data
3 10 MHz UTP, STP 16 Mbps data
4 20 MHz UTP, STP 20 Mbps data
5 100 MHz UTP, STP 100 Mbps
5e 350 MHz UTP, STP 350 Mbps
6 Currently still at proposal stage
7 500 MHz Currently still at proposal stage


See also:


RJ-45, Cat 5 cabling, Ethernet, Network commands / troubleshooting,



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