Cat 6a

[Luke S.]

can i use a cat6 inline connector with cat6a cable, will i see a difference, could it effect performance?

 

[neon]

Assuming you are running a Gigabit network then there will be zero performance degradation since all links in the chain support Gigabit.  So you will be fine.

[AMICLG]

Cat 6a is just so you don't have to eclectically test the wire to run 10 Gigabit connection across it like slandered Cat 6 so it works fine as it's the same plug.

[Luke S.]

another question, im finishing my basement and the only real hard wire connections will be down there, i was going to use cat 6a, to be future proof so i dont have to run new cables later. is this what you guys would use or would you use different

cable type?

[dalekphalm]

another question, im finishing my basement and the only real hard wire connections will be down there, i was going to use cat 6a, to be future proof so i dont have to run new cables later. is this what you guys would use or would you use different

cable type?

If you're going to to lay all new wiring, and can afford Cat6a, then you may as well. I have no idea what the cost difference between bulk cat6 and cat6a is right now.

[d33g33]

This will be controversial im sure but a lot of the ratings are what they are certified for, not what they can actually do.

 

Eg, I cabled my whole house with Cat5 and it's all gbit, which its not certified for but it will do just fine. Though 10gbe I do suggest Cat6A if you can... its all about the insulation of the cables to avoid any interference but the length of your runs also comes into it. If you only have short runs you may not need to use Cat6A.

 

Also the network will only run as fast as your slowest piece of the puzzle. 10gbe is mainly used for bridging switches and such, not so much having 10gbe devices/clients hanging off it, in a home environment anyways... So unless you have a 10GBE out of your server/NAS/SAN, 10gbe switch or using selected SFP's for onlya  few devices and 10gbe network on your Desktop you'll never really get 10gbe throughput.

 

if you had a 16port switch in 1 area of the house and then a 8 or 5 port in a office some way from the house and you were able to bridge the 2 with 10gbe that would be useful but rare the whole environment would be 10gbe.

 

(in saying this I want my next house to be entirely 10gbe)

[dalekphalm]

This will be controversial im sure but a lot of the ratings are what they are certified for, not what they can actually do.

 

Eg, I cabled my whole house with Cat5 and it's all gbit, which its not certified for but it will do just fine. Though 10gbe I do suggest Cat6A if you can... its all about the insulation of the cables to avoid any interference but the length of your runs also comes into it. If you only have short runs you may not need to use Cat6A.

That's not entirely correct. Although you basically answer it yourself in your second paragraph.

 

Cat5 can indeed run short runs of Gigabit, as can Cat5e (I believe Cat5e is rated to about 55m). Cat6 is rated Gigabit up to 100m, but is also rated for 10Gb for 55m, and even Cat5e can potentially do 10Gb in very short runs (Like in the range of 10m).

 

If you look up the specs on these different cable types, you can see that this information is already available for those who look for it.

 

With all of that in mind, while you do have a VERY valid point (eg: I'm running all Cat5e 1Gb instead of Cat6), if he's starting the cable running from scratch, why WOULDN'T he start with the best at cat6e if it's available to him?

 

The only reason to go with a lower spec cable is:

1. Cat6a is unavailable in his location or,

2. Cat6a is prohibitively expensive for him.

 

If neither of those apply, then there's no rational reason to not just run the higher spec cable now. I live in an apartment where I'm running short distances through a fairly large hole (about 3"), and even then, I hate re-running cable because it's a pain. In a house or somewhere where it's gonna be permanent, you want those cables to last you years. Why not? They're backwards compatible with all current ethernet specced devices from 10Mb to 10Gb.

 

Also,

 

 

Also the network will only run as fast as your slowest piece of the puzzle.

This is not entirely correct. UNLIKE WiFi, each device will negotiate speed independently of the rest.

 

As an example:

1. In Wifi, if a Wireless G client connects to a Wireless N network, then the entire wifi network will drop to Wireless G speeds (This can be solved with high end AP models with multiple radios built-in).

2. With Ethernet, each device negotiates it's speed on a per port basis. What that means is that if you have a 1Gb 8 port switch, with 7 1Gb clients and 1 10/100Mb client, the 1Gb clients will continue to run at full 1Gb speeds. The only exception to this is when a 1Gb client connects TO a 10/100Mb client. Obviously in this case, the two devices will run at the lowest speed. But even in that case, the 6 other 1Gb clients will all continue to have full 1Gb speeds.

[d33g33]

^ What he said.

 

When I mentioned that the network was only as fast as the slowest piece of the puzzle I didn't explain very well but I kinda meant if you have Cat6a everywhere but its going through a 100mbit or 1gbe it will obviously only run at that speed, that is the slowest speed in that chain. If that makes sense.

 

@dalekphalm is spot on though. If you can afford Cat6a do it, though I think it does come at quite a premium, I haven't handled it much but those cables are thick as! If you're not doing a lot though such as, just a basement it probably worth spending the bit extra as suggested.