Copper Cabling

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         Category 6 Cable FAQ

       Category 6 Cable FAQ
The following FAQs were developed by the Category 6 Consortium. The Category 6 Consortium is an emerging working group whose mission is to create market and industry awareness - as well as demand - for cabling systems and components based on TIA's new category 6 cable standard, TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1. To learn more about the Category 6 Consortium and to participate, please contact Andy Dryden at (703) 907-7702 or email adryden@tiaonline.org


Q62:Why do I need all the bandwidth of category 6 cable? As far as I know, there is no application today that requires 200 MHz of bandwidth.

Q63:What is the general difference between category 5e and category 6?

Q64:Will category 6 supersede category 5e?

Q65:What does category 6 do for my current network vs. category 5e?

Q66:When should I recommend or install category 6 vs. category 5e?

Q67:What is the shortest link that the standard will allow?

Q68:What is a "tuned" system between cable and hardware? Is this really needed if product meets the standard?

Q69:What is impedance matching between cable and hardware? Is this really needed if product meets the standard?

Q70:Is there any application for CAT6 bulk cable in the residential market?

Q71:Why would not I skip category6 and go straight to optical fiber

Q72:What is meant by the term "Electrically Balanced"?

Q73:What is the difference between enhanced category 5e cable rated for 400 MHz and category 6 cable rated for 250 MHz?

Q74:Why did all CAT 6 cable used to have a spine, and now is offered without one?

Q75:Will contractors be able to make their own patch cords?

Q76:Do you have to use the manufacturer is patch cords to get category 6 performance?

Q77:Why do field tester manufacturers offer many different link adapters if everyone meets the standard?

Q78:Would you get passing test results if you used a link adapter not recommended by a manufacturer?

Q79:Is there any product categorization for Category 5e cabling and Category 6 cabling?

Q80:Are the connectors for Category 5e cable and Category 6 cable different? Why are they more expensive?

Q81:What will happen if I mix and match different manufacturers hardware together?
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