[lug] comparing cat 5e and cat 6 cables

[Lee Woodworth]

Nate Duehr wrote:
> On Tuesday 27 December 2005 05:18 pm, Lee Woodworth wrote:
> 
> 
>>Has this changed? Netgear says 'UTP Category 5 or better cables'
>>required for the GS108, a full duplex 1000BT switch.
>>
>>The wall jacks are a bigger concern for signal degradation than
>>CAT5 cable, even for 100BT. So is Cat5E/6 just marketing hype?
> 
> 
> The reality is "all of the above", to some extent.  Cat 5e is rated to 
> carry Gig Ethernet signals for a shorter distance than Cat 6, etc.  
> 
> Because it's all about power levels in individual wires, cross-talk, and 
> impulse noise between wires/pairs.  
> 
.....

Bummer. My 6-year old installation of plain Cat5 (not 5E) in the walls of
our house may not perform well at GigE speeds. There are 120ft runs from
the basement to the 2nd story attic and down into the room jacks. And the
cables are bundled for a large part of the run.