[Q] Will CAT 6 replace CAT 5e?
[A] This depends on who you ask. Many analysts state that a large
percentage of new installations are being constructed with CAT
6. What they don't tell you is that the majority of networks
are obviously already in place, and most of these are operating
on CAT 5 or CAT 5e. Feedback from customers has indicated
that replacement cables for these networks are being ordered
as CAT 5e. The reason given by the customers varied greatly.
The
cost of CAT 6 was the most popular reason given for staying
with CAT 5e. Price samples taken from different material suppliers
indicated and average price increase of 94% of CAT 5e. It was
further stated that for their applications, they had absolutely
no reason to upgrade, given the fact that most or all of their
networking equipment was not rated for Gigabit.
Networks
are bound by certain rules when it comes to performance. One
of these rules details the fact that your network will operate
at the speed of the slowest device. So if you randomly upgraded
your network with various CAT 6 (Gigabit) networking components,
your performance will still be determined by the slower CAT
5e devices.
Obviously, CAT 6 Cable is going to replace CAT 5e Cable at
some point in the future. There is not enough information available
at this time for any organization to responsibly make a prediction
of when that will happen. What the "experts" fail
to mention is the fact that most (quality) CAT 5e Cable produced
in the United States will operate at or near CAT 6 (Gigabit)
speeds. They use the fact that you cannot certify CAT 5e for
Gigabit as a reason for not using it.
Use
your own judgment. Shop around, compare performance specifications.
Get as much information as possible about your application and
pick the Cable that is right for you.
CAT
5 Cable Company provides CAT 5 and CAT 5e patch and crossover cables for all networking applications in
9 colors, and any custom length. Hand assembled and 100% tested
to ensure the finest quality.
RELATED
FAQ QUESTION: What is the difference
between CAT 5 and CAT 5e cable?
Keywords: CAT 5e, CAT 6, CAT 5, Gigabit, CAT 6 Cable, CAT 5e Cable,
CAT 5, CAT 5e Patch, crossover cables
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