[Q] Is Cat 5 Cable the same thing as Ethernet Cable?
[A] Many people ask us about Cat 5 Cable and Cat 5e Cable, and want to know if it is the same thing as Ethernet
Cable.
Quite
simply, the answer is yes. Invented by Engineer Robert Metcalfe,
Ethernet is a physical and data link layer technology for Local
Area Networks, or (LAN's). When first widely deployed in
the 1980s, Ethernet supported a maximum theoretical data rate
of 10 megabits per second (Mbps). Later, Fast Ethernet standards
increased this maximum data rate to 100 Mbps. Today, Gigabit Ethernet technology further extends peak performance up to 1000
Mbps.
Cat
5, Cat 5e, and Cat 6 are all just different
grades of copper conductor data transmission cable, that will
support an Ethernet network. Demands for greater performance
for increasingly complex networks have given way to improvements
in the transmission speed. This is the reason why Cat 5e, for
example, is pretty much the standard for most installations
taking place today. While still inexpensive compared to Cat
6, a quality Cat 5e cable will deliver a Gigabit signal
with the right equipment, without the additional cost associated
with Cat 6.
Cat
6 was designed specifically for use in Gigabit networks.
RELATED
FAQ QUESTION: What is the difference
between CAT 5 and CAT 5e cable?
Keywords: Cat 5 Cable, Ethernet Cable, Local Area Network, Cat 5e Cable
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