What Speeds Should You Expect From Your Ethernet Cable

 

Recently, We have noticed considerable confusion surrounding Ethernet cable ratings and their capacities. With the recent launch of our Wi-Fi 7 routers, we are also receiving numerous inquiries about the requirements to fully support 10Gbps connections for your internet.

In general, TP-Link strives to supply Ethernet cables capable of accommodating the full bandwidth of your network if possible. However, it is always necessary to verify the rating of the cable and check for any faults.

 

Maximum Bandwidths for Ethernet Cables

 Please keep in mind that depending on the available ethernet ports, you may not be able to achieve the maximum speed. Instead, you will use either a 1Gbps or 2.5Gbps connection when a 10G port is unavailable.

 

Ethernet Cable	Maximum Bandwidth	Frequency	Maximum Length
CAT 5	100 Mbps	100 MHz	100m
CAT 5e	1 Gbps	125 MHz	100m
CAT 6	1Gbps	250MHz	100m
CAT 6	10 Gbps	250 MHz	37-55m
CAT 6a	10 Gbps	500 MHz	100m
CAT 7	100 Gbps	600 MHz	100m
CAT 7a	100 Gbps	1,000 MHz	100m
CAT 8	400 Gbps	1,600 MHz	100m

 

 

For most users, we recommend using at least a CAT5E cable for your network due to its ability to handle gigabit connections at an affordable cost. You may consider using CAT5E cables throughout your home, and use a higher-rated cable for your WAN connection to your modem. It is worth mentioning that it is possible to achieve multi-gigabit speeds over a CAT5E connection, however these require a much shorter overall run length and may not be as resilient when compared to using more recent cables for multi-gig connections.

 

Most In Wall Cables will most likely be CAT5E cables due to their versatility and cost-effectiveness during construction. However, if your house is in an older development, you should always check the rating to make sure that the cable is CAT5E and not CAT5.

If you are looking to take advantage of multi-gig connections throughout your home, we recommend using at least a CAT6 cable to achieve the 1000Mbps speeds. CAT6A cables may also be recommended based on how far you are looking to send data. While CAT6 is able to achieve 10Gbps speeds, the higher frequency and additional shielding allow for these connections to travel a full 100m.

 

Checking the Rating of an Ethernet Cable

Each Ethernet cable should be labeled with text indicating its rating. Typically, you will find information such as the type of shielding, weatherproofing, and the cable's overall rating. If you are planning to use an Ethernet Cable outside, exposed to the elements or sun, please make sure that your cable is rated for this use, as additional layers of shielding will be added to protect the cable from UV light and Moisture. Failure to do this will severely shorten the lifespan of the cable and may lead to decreased performance once the shielding begins to crack and break away.

 

Example Ethernet Cable Stamps:

 

SSTP CAT.6A 26AWG*4P

DATA CABLE CAT.6 UTP 30AWG 4PAIRS AWM PVC 75°C EIA/TIA 568B

DATA CABLE CAT.5 UTP 26AWG PVC  75°C EIA/TIA 568B

CAT.6 FLAT CABLE RoHS

 

 

If you do not have access to your Ethernet cable, for example, if it is embedded in a wall, you will need to examine the connection using an alternative device, like a computer, to view the link rate transmitted through the cable. The Link Rate will show the maximum speed at which the devices may communicate, given the current environment and network structure.

 

How the Advantages of CAT7+ Can Actually Be a Disadvantage

Additional Shielding

As cable rating increases, so does the amount of shielding required to protect twisted pairs from interference. It is important to note that higher-rated cables are less flexible and should be handled with care. Overwinding or coiling such cables too tightly may cause damage to the internal wires or shielding. This shielding allows for greater bandwidth, but can come with unnecessary costs if it is not needed for your connection.

 

Connector Type

Starting with CAT7, alternative connectors like GG45 or TERA are available, albeit rarely used. Although not mandatory, these connectors help prevent interference and ensure more reliable connections. Regrettably, these connectors are not widely accessible at the consumer level, necessitating the use of an RJ45 connector for device connections. As more homes begin to receive multi-gigabit speeds, we may begin to see these connectors used on devices, while connectors can always be changed to accept either the RJ45 or TERA connection, it does show that using a CAT7+ Cable with a traditional RJ45 ethernet jack may not allow you to take full advantage of the benefits of the cable.

 

Cost

The cost of cabling tends to increase with the quality of the cable. It is not unusual for the latest cables to cost several hundred dollars for a 100-meter run. However, as production costs decrease over time, we recommend purchasing only the necessary cables for your devices and allowing room for future upgrades.

 

Unless you require speeds of 10Gbps or know that you will most likely benefit from the newest cables, we advise waiting to upgrade, as standards may evolve over time, and what you thought you might need may change in the future. For new construction, it is generally recommended to use CAT6 to accommodate future improvements and provide protection against interference due to the additional shielding.

 

Recommended Cables for Backhauls 

Needed Backhaul Speeds	Recommended Cable Type
1 Gbps or More	CAT6 or better
1 Gbps or Less	CAT5e

 

Remember that the speed of the backhaul is separate from the speeds you receive from your ISP. While the communication over the backhaul will be limited by your ISP speed when connecting to the internet, you should be able to take full advantage of your backhaul's available bandwidth when communicating with other devices on your network, such as file or media servers.