how to choose a good cat 6 cable ?

[SAVE-12-HK]

full copper wires?

flattened cable or not , does it matter?

max length?

[Dedayog]

Wiring doesn't matter.  Flattened or not, does not matter.

 

Length does, keep it under 100m.

 

Edit: I use this with my Gig Fibre internet, get full speeds.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WD017BG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

[Alex Atkin UK]

3 hours ago, SAVE-12-HK said:

full copper wires?

flattened cable or not , does it matter?

max length?

Its mostly down to luck as there are so many cables out there claiming to be CAT6 but do not appear to be when you try them.  However this is unlikely to be a problem with Gigabit, it only becomes a problem with 10Gbit.

[Donut417]

4 hours ago, SAVE-12-HK said:

full copper wires?

flattened cable or not , does it matter?

max length?

Full copper is recommended if you're going to run it thru walls. As CCA cabling can be iffy. But CCA cable should be fine for patch cables and shorter cable lengths. Dont think Flat vs not really mattes too much. Max length is 100m or 328 feet. Thats the max according to the standard. 

 

As @Alex Atkin UKpointed out, cables are going to be a mixed bag. I would say if you get cables from a reputable company you will be fine. Most cables should be able to do at least Gigabit. Technically speaking Cat6 can do 10 Gbps under shorter distances, I think I've seen it stated for 33m. But any cable should be able to do 1 Gbps. 

 

 

[Alex Atkin UK]

3 hours ago, Donut417 said:

I would say if you get cables from a reputable company you will be fine.

Problem is figuring out even what IS a reputable company these days.  I'll tend to use Amazon as their returns policy is good, but they WILL sell you any old crap.

 

The 7m CAT6A cable I bought that wouldn't do above 5Gbit for example.  Never had any problems doing Gigabit on any old cable I could find though, even CAT5.

[Lurick]

12 hours ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

Problem is figuring out even what IS a reputable company these days.  I'll tend to use Amazon as their returns policy is good, but they WILL sell you any old crap.

 

The 7m CAT6A cable I bought that wouldn't do above 5Gbit for example.  Never had any problems doing Gigabit on any old cable I could find though, even CAT5.

Yah, I tend to stick with Monoprice or Cable Matters for all my cables, never had an issue.

[Alex Atkin UK]

5 hours ago, Lurick said:

Yah, I tend to stick with Monoprice or Cable Matters for all my cables, never had an issue.

Duly noted.

[Jameszy]

you may have signal issues with the smaller gauge "wires" in some of the cheaper cables..  those micro cables from monoprice are awful for that ive been told.. I prefer lower gauge wires, solid core for my stuff..

[Dedayog]

11 hours ago, Jameszy said:

you may have signal issues with the smaller gauge "wires" in some of the cheaper cables..  those micro cables from monoprice are awful for that ive been told.. I prefer lower gauge wires, solid core for my stuff..

Who tells you this?

 

I ran 100ft of the cheapest thing I could find on Amazon, linked above. No issues whatsoever.  Where are you people finding those amazingly substandard cables?

 

Are they real issues or things you "feel" or "perceive"?

 

I understand that certain knockoffs (like Chinese lightning cables for example) can fail due to shitty construction of the complex lightning connection but Cat5/6/6e are just wires.  Low voltage as well.