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Splicing CAT 6 and CAT 5E Cable

[Q] Can I splice CAT 6 Cable with CAT 5E Cable to make a single continuous run? [A] We have received this question many times in the past from customers and advised not to do it. Because of the growing popularity of the situation we will address it in detail: As many people are already aware, there are many distinct physical differences between CAT 6 Cable and CAT 5E Cable that are responsible for the improvements in signal carrying capacity and reliability over its predecessor. CAT 5E Cable has the same wire diameter for the individual carriers as CAT 5, which is 24 AWG. The main difference has to do with improved twist ratio along the wire which results in less cross-talk and improved signal stability. CAT 6 Cable is constructed of either 23 or 24 AWG wire depending on who is manufacturing the product, however it has an even greater improved twist ratio along its transmitted length. These difference will cause serious issues if spliced together in a single run due to the fact that when the wire changes from one type to the other there will be considerable attenuation at the bottleneck that will be formed. It makes no difference which order the cables are used in because the transmission is two-way. It is always best to use a single run of either CAT 6 Cable or CAT 5E Cable to provide a clean signal. CAT 5 Cable Company sells CAT 6, CAT 5E, and CAT 5 Patch and Crossover cables in 9 colors, custom fit to any length up to 328 feet. RELATED FAQ QUESTION: My CAT 5 Cable has 24 AWG written on the side of the jacket. What does this refer to? Keywords: CAT 6, CAT 5E Cable, cross talk