What is the difference between Ethernet CAT 5e, CAT 6/CAT 6A, CAT 7 & CAT 8 cables?

CAT 5/CAT 5e: The most common cable*

Category 5 is the most widely used standard for network cable, although it is increasingly being superseded by higher categories. Within this category there is CAT 5e, where the "e" stands for "enhanced". CAT 5e is a further development of the original CAT 5 standard and offers significantly better electrical performance compared to it. While CAT 5 only supports speeds of up to 100MBit per second, CAT 5e enables data transmission rates of up to 1GBit per second and has a frequency of 100MHz. This is why CAT 5e is used more frequently than the older CAT 5.

• CAT 5 and CAT 5e cables are generally used for the 1000BASE-T standard.
• Hardware such as the computer itself is often the bottleneck in the system.

Our chainflex portfolio includes CAT 5 and CAT 5e cable with PVC, PUR or TPE outer jacket. Depending on your requirements, you will also find cable for small and large bend radius, e.g. with a bend factor of 15 x d or 7.5 x d.

Typical industrial applications with CAT 5/CAT 5e cables in energy chains

• Machine tools: e.g. CNC machine with moving gantry

• Packaging systems: e.g. highly dynamic axes with continuous movement

• Robotics and automation

• Automated production lines

CAT 6 and CAT 6A: Ideally suited for companies

Cables in the CAT 6 category are further developments of the network standard that offer higher speeds and improved performance.

• CAT 6 cables can only reliably transmit 1Gbit per second up to a length of 50 metres and have a frequency of 250MHz. However, the range can be increased with intermediate switches.
• CAT 6A is a further development of CAT 6 and enables transmission speeds of up to 10Gbit per second at a range of up to 100 metres. With a maximum frequency of 500MHz and individually shielded core pairs, reliable data transmission is guaranteed even when the cable is in motion.

Typical industrial applications with CAT 6/CAT 6a cables in energy chains

• High-resolution camera systems: e.g. inline image processing in production plants

• Packaging machines with high cycle rates

• Highly dynamic handling systems: e.g. pick & place

• Logistics systems with high data requirements: e.g. storage and retrieval units with IP cameras, control system and IO communication

CAT 7: For the most demanding applications

CAT 7 cables allow even higher transmission rates and are even better shielded compared to the previous categories. It enables transmission rates of up to 10Gbit per second and has a frequency of 600MHz. CAT 7 cables offer excellent electromagnetic compatibility protection and are used when a very high bandwidth is required. The special feature of CAT 7 cable is the separate shielding of each individual core pair.

• All category 7 cables have four separately shielded core pairs, which in turn are additionally shielded by an overall shield. This means they are optimally protected against external interference.
• There are two standardised connector types for CAT 7 network cables.
• They are recommended for the future security of the infrastructure in new buildings.

Typical industrial applications with CAT 7 cables in energy chains

• EMC-critical applications: e.g. frequency converters, welding technology

• Railway technology: e.g. door systems, movable monitoring devices in trains

• Robotics and automation

• Assembly/pick & place systems

CAT 8: Extreme speed for data centres

Category 8 network cables have been specially designed for use in data centres, where cabling between routers and servers is usually limited to short distances. These cables are characterised by their ability to enable extremely fast data transmission without relying on fibre optic technology. With operating frequencies of up to 2000MHz and transmission rates of up to 40Gbit per second, Category 8 offers the highest standard in terms of speed and performance.

The cables are excellently shielded, making them extremely resistant to interference signals.

Category 8 is also available in two variants:

• 8.1 uses commercially available RJ45 connectors, which are compatible with most existing network infrastructures.
• 8.2, which uses special connectors, is currently still under development and offers an alternative solution for applications with the highest performance requirements.

This makes Category 8 ideal for high-performance and interference-free network connections over short distances. At igus, we do not have any Category 8 network cables in our portfolio. Our focus is on cables that are optimised for industrial applications and moving applications, such as those required in energy supply systems or dynamic environments.

Conclusion

Our chainflex CAT 5e and CAT 6A cables are the perfect choice for most applications. When it comes to transmitting very large amounts of data, our CAT 7 cable are ideal as they not only offer a very high level of protection against interference signals, but are also becoming increasingly cost-efficient. Regardless of whether you need CAT 5, CAT 6 or CAT 7, we have the right solution for every data rate and every application requirement. Choose from various jacket materials: from inexpensive PVC and oil-resistant PUR to highly abrasion-resistant TPE for demanding applications. All chainflex cable are extremely reliable and come with a guarantee of up to four years as standard. Whether sold by the metre or ready for connection with connector: with our cable, we offer you the perfect Ethernet solution for every movement and every area of application.

Few people realise that the term "cable" isn't entirely correct here. Contrary to common belief, experts distinguish between wires and cables. Here we explain the difference between flexible wires and cables.