Consideration Factors For UTP CAT6 Cable

After knowing how to choose from UTP CAT6 Cable vs F/UTP vs SFTP cables, some other parameters of Cat6a cables also affect the performance. Here are several key considerations to weigh when choosing the right Cat6a cable.

Cable Size and Weight

Cat6a cable operates at frequencies up to 500 MHz—twice that of Cat6. Controlling noise and crosstalk at higher frequencies, the Cat6a cable is up to 50% larger than its Cat6 predecessor. A larger size means fewer cables can fit into a cable tray or conduit, which is a big concern in retrofit installations. While many available Cat6a options remain significantly larger and heavier, some of the latest Cat6a cables are only about 15% larger than Cat6.

Bend Radius

Larger cable diameters of Cat6a cables mean a larger bend radius, which is important when routing cables in tight spaces such as inside wall cavities. The bend radius also affects the ability to route cables for maximum airflow within racks. The smaller the bend radius, the easier the cable is to route and install.

Installation

Most Cat6a Ethernet cables are larger because they have more and thicker materials. More twists in the copper pairs, larger splines separating the pairs, and thicker outer jackets. All of these lead to a longer time to prepare and terminate Cat6a cables. Normally, thinner cables take less time to install.

EMI Shielding

There is a perception that shielded cable provides better noise immunity, but the effectiveness of the shield depends on the quality and reliability of the shield termination, balance of the twisted pairs, and quality of the local and remote ground connection. The impedance of the ground connection can increase higher frequencies and differences in ground potential can couple noise into the conductors. Cable designs that effectively surround the conductors with a Faraday cage can provide an electromagnetic barrier without the potential drawbacks of grounding.

Network Infrastructure

When selecting the proper cable for your business, you also need to take the overall network infrastructure into consideration, like whether your business owns or rents the building. Things like the primary usage or your 10G network, the potential infrastructural changes, etc. are also should be taken into account.