cat6 keystone jackets work with cat5 cable?

[thrasher_565]

cat6 keystone jackets work with cat5 cable?

[Kid.Lazer]

Yes. All Cat-x connectors are compatible with each other. The different specifications only change the actual wire strand configuration.

[thrasher_565]

4 minutes ago, Kid.Lazer said:

Yes. All Cat-x connectors are compatible with each other. The different specifications only change the actual wire strand configuration.

ok thx i found a cheap 24 peace cat6 keystone on amazon and i have 5x cat5 keystone and probably cat 5 cable.

[Lurick]

42 minutes ago, Kid.Lazer said:

Yes. All Cat-x connectors are compatible with each other. The different specifications only change the actual wire strand configuration.

Not exactly. Cat5e jacks with Cat6 cable for example can cause problems due to the different wire gauge leading to wires too large to fit into the slots or vice versa, too small and the metal doesn't bite far enough to make a secure/solid connection all the way through. Specs determine wire gauge, strand configuration is not determined by category of cable.

[Kid.Lazer]

Yeah, Cat5/6 marketing on keystones and cable ends is pure marketing nonsense. They're all functionally the same.

[Kid.Lazer]

1 minute ago, Lurick said:

Not exactly. Cat5e jacks with Cat6 cable for example can cause problems due to the different wire gauge leading to wires too large to fit into the slots or vice versa, too small and the metal doesn't bite far enough to make a secure/solid connection all the way through. Specs determine wire gauge, strand configuration is not determined by category of cable.

As far as I'm aware, the specifications don't include different gauges, only different shielding technologies and tighter stranding to prevent crosstalk. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Lurick]

10 minutes ago, Kid.Lazer said:

As far as I'm aware, the specifications don't include different gauges, only different shielding technologies and tighter stranding to prevent crosstalk. Correct me if I'm wrong.

That is incorrect, the TIA/EIA specification does actually call for specific gauge wire. Usually it's a range, Cat6 for example is 22-24AWG but Cat5e is 24-26AWG so there is generally some overlap but you still run the risk of things not lining up completely correctly or fitting it tolerances are too tight assuming you get 22AWG Cat6 for example.

https://www.csd.uoc.gr/~hy435/material/Cabling Standard - ANSI-TIA-EIA 568 B - Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard.pdf

Page 6 is the first mention of AWG wire size.

 

Edit:

See below

[Lurick]

Just did a little more reading after posting (how it usually works, lol) and it seems I was somewhat incorrect. 22AWG through 26AWG depending on distance has been the standard for longer going back a long while BUT Cat6 seems to have narrowed that down perhaps? so I wasn't exactly correct up above

[Kid.Lazer]

2 minutes ago, Lurick said:

Just did a little more reading after posting (how it usually works, lol) and it seems I was somewhat incorrect. 22AWG through 26AWG depending on distance has been the standard for longer going back a long while BUT Cat6 seems to have narrowed that down perhaps? so I wasn't exactly correct up above

Indeed; that's how it always works.

 

While I worded it in a way that would suggest otherwise, what I meant by "the specifications don't include different gauges" was that the gauges between the different specs are largely unchanged, other than the slight variation that you found. What I said could have come across as "they don't spec the wire at all," which is certainly not true.

 

I found this which, while not official, has been accurate based on my experience.

 

[thrasher_565]

as far as i no my dad was saying that the cat 5 is all flat and the cat 6 is staged. i guess space saving but i dont see how that will make it faster? but it could be just bs marketing for cat 6

 

Edited July 14, 2021 by thrasher_565

[Kid.Lazer]

CAT5 can be flat, but that is only suitable for a space-saving patch cable. It is almost always in twisted pairs in a round sheath for typical cabling.

CAT6 on the other hand is spec'd to have both a tighter twist, and a plastic spine to further aid in crosstalk reduction.

[thrasher_565]

2 minutes ago, Kid.Lazer said:

CAT5 can be flat, but that is only suitable for a space-saving patch cable. It is almost always in twisted pairs in a round sheath for typical cabling.

CAT6 on the other hand is spec'd to have both a tighter twist, and a plastic spine to further aid in crosstalk reduction.

ya i get it now looks like the staged allows for bigger gag wire in the same size connector.

[Alex Atkin UK]

21 minutes ago, Kid.Lazer said:

CAT5 can be flat, but that is only suitable for a space-saving patch cable. It is almost always in twisted pairs in a round sheath for typical cabling.

CAT6 on the other hand is spec'd to have both a tighter twist, and a plastic spine to further aid in crosstalk reduction.

Just to clarify, flat cables are still twisted pair its just manufactured differently and tends to use the smallest gauge they can get away with.

 

I have a solid 10Gbit link over a 7m flat cable that I was sure couldn't possibly handle it as it seems so thin.  So I bought a normal cable claiming to be CAT7, which refuses to run faster than 5Gbit.

[Kid.Lazer]

14 hours ago, thrasher_565 said:

ya i get it now looks like the staged allows for bigger gag wire in the same size connector.

For what it's worth, the staggered pin design of the CAT6 end picture you posted isn't exclusive to itself. I've terminated tons of CAT5e and the ends have been both flat and staggered. Just depends on what brand you buy on a given day.

[Kid.Lazer]

16 hours ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

Just to clarify, flat cables are still twisted pair its just manufactured differently and tends to use the smallest gauge they can get away with.

 

I have a solid 10Gbit link over a 7m flat cable that I was sure couldn't possibly handle it as it seems so thin.  So I bought a normal cable claiming to be CAT7, which refuses to run faster than 5Gbit.

That's interesting to know, as I've never come across that personally. I've only ever seen very short flat cables, and they were truly flat with no twist whatsoever.

After researching, I see flat cables can come in both configurations, so that's wonderful...

[Alex Atkin UK]

4 hours ago, Kid.Lazer said:

That's interesting to know, as I've never come across that personally. I've only ever seen very short flat cables, and they were truly flat with no twist whatsoever.

After researching, I see flat cables can come in both configurations, so that's wonderful...

If its claiming to be an ethernet cable it should always be twisted.  But yeah I only confirmed it for sure because the retention lug broke off one of mine so I cut it off to see if there was any chance of replacing the connector.  The strands were so thin there was no chance but I could see the twists.