What exactly is a network/internet cable? 

As you can see: the higher the category of the cable, the higher the speed of the cable. However, a higher category is not always better. This is because a network consists of multiple components and a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. For example, keep in mind that not all network equipment can process that much data. If the router can only process 100mbit/s and it is connected to a UTP Cat5e cable or higher, the maximum speed will still only be 100mbit/s.

​

UTP versus FTP versus STP​​

​UTP and FTP are common abbreviations that indicate how a network cable is constructed. Each letter of these abbreviations says something about the structure of the cable.
In addition to the standard UTP cable (Unshielded Twisted Pair), there is also the STP cable (Shielded Twisted Pair), the FTP cable (Foiled Twisted Pair) and the S-FTP cable (Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair). These last three cables are the shielded variants of the UTP cable and are mainly used in environments with many sources of interference. You will not need these cables at home very quickly.

• U/UTP = unshielded twisted pair cable

• FTP = twisted pair cable with foil around all pairs (only directly under the outer sheath)

• SFTP = twisted pair cable with foil around each individual pair and also around all pairs (under the outer sheath)

• SF/FTP = twisted pair cable with foil around each individual pair and also foil and a tinned copper knit around all pairs (under the outer sheath). This is also called PiMF cable (Pair in Metal Foil)

​

What is Copper Clad Aluminum?

​Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA) wire uses an aluminum conductor that is coated with a thin layer of copper. The cable made from it looks and feels the same as a fully 100% copper network cable. Therefore, it is very difficult to tell the difference from the outside.
Disadvantages of CCA network cables include:

• Long-term flexibility decreases

• Greater chance of breakage

• Attenuation is approximately 40% higher than when using copper

• Electrical resistance is approximately 40% higher than with copper

• The cable can withstand lower tensile strengths

• Does not meet the ANSI/TIA-568-B2-1 standard

The advantage of this conductor is that it is considerably cheaper than 100% copper network cables.

​

What is Copper Clad Steel?

Copper Clad Steel (CCS) wire uses a steel conductor coated with a thin layer of copper. The network cable made from it looks the same on the outside, but feels much stiffer.

​

The bandwidth of network cables

The bandwidth is expressed in the number of megahertz (MHz). The number of MHz indicates how much data the network cable can send or receive within a certain time. So the higher the number of MHz, the more data can be processed simultaneously.

To clarify, a practical example:
The bandwidth can be compared to a highway: if you have a highway with four lanes, twice as much traffic can drive on it in the same time as on a highway with two lanes.
In this example, the throughput speed (the bandwidth) of a highway with four lanes is therefore twice as high as a highway with two lanes. So twice as much information can be sent through the cable in the same time.

​

Maximum cable length

A network cable has a maximum usable cable length, usually 100 meters, without (too much) signal loss. A longer cable length is therefore not advisable, because then the signal becomes too weak and the signal can drop out and/or become too slow. If you do need a longer cable length, the signal can be repeated with, for example, a hub or a switch.

​​

​

Commonly used categories of network cables

 

Cat5e network cables​

The Cat5e variant is the fastest cable in the Cat5 category. If you want to be able to communicate with devices at speeds of 1 Gbit/s, then at least a Cat5e cable is required. The speed of 1 Gbit/s is often more than sufficient for most situations. Cat5e cables can be used in home situations or for networks in small offices. Although Cat6 is increasingly becoming the standard for this, a Cat5e cable may be sufficient in your situation. Do you want to make the right choice between a Cat5e or Cat6(a)? Then pay particular attention to the differences between Cat5 and Cat6 with regard to speed and bandwidth.​

​

Cat5e speed

Throughput: 1 Gbit/s
Bandwidth: 100 MHz

​

Cat6(a) network cables

The Cat6(a) network cables are very suitable for installing home networks and business networks. Due to a higher speed and bandwidth, many people can use the connection simultaneously without sacrificing quality. Is the Cat6 speed not enough? Then choose a Cat6a cable. The Cat6a variant has a higher throughput speed and twice as much bandwidth. Is the speed of Cat6a not enough? Then choose a Cat7 network cable.

​

Cat6 speed:

Throughput: 1 Gbit/s
Bandwidth: 250 MHz

​

Cat6a speed:

Doorvoersnelheid: 10 Gbit/s
Bandbreedte: 500 MHz

​

Cat7(a) network cables

Cat7 network cables contain a metal foil and outer sheath shielding. This shielding ensures that the speed remains optimal. Due to this shielding, this type of cable is not available as a UTP but only as an FTP. In addition, the cables are braided inside the Cat7, which makes the cable extra strong. Cat7 cables are 10 times faster than Cat6 cables. The Cat7 cables offer enough speed and quality for the most demanding home and business networks.

​

Cat7 speed:

Throughput: 10 Gbit/s
Bandwidth: 600 MHz

​​

Cat7a speed:

Throughput: 10 Gbit/s
Bandwidth: 1000 MHz

​

​

Are there also outdoor network cables?

Yes, it is specially designed for outdoor use and in humid environments.
This type of cable is equipped with a UV-stable and tear-resistant PE sheath.

​

What is a patch cable?

A patch cable is slightly thinner and more flexible, because the core consists of very thin copper wires.
This type of cable is often used in server rooms to 'patch' various network equipment (patching is connecting connection sockets on a patch panel, using copper cables or nowadays using fiber optic cables) in a patch cabinet.

​

What is a flexible core network cable?

Network cables with a flexible core have, just like patch cables, a core consisting of thin copper wires. These cables are suitable for mounting normal RJ45 plugs.

​

What is a solid core network cable?

Network cables with a solid core are used in walls/pipes of homes and buildings.
This cable is normally somewhat thicker, less flexible and has a solid copper core. A network cable with a solid core should be terminated on LSA strips, patch panels and network wall sockets.

​

What is a Crossover Cable?

A 'crossover' cable is used when you want to connect two PCs or two switches that do not have an 'uplink' port. If the switches do have an uplink port, you can simply use a 'normal' cable to connect the two: One end in the uplink of switch 1, the other end in a normal port of switch 2. Nowadays, many switches and even laptops are also 'auto-MDI/MDI-X', which means that the devices themselves find out what kind of device (port) is present on the other side of the cable. If necessary, they then ensure that an 'uplink port' is made from the normal port. This is of course very convenient because then you do not have to purchase a special 'crossover' cable, which you may only use once.

​

What is the maximum cable length?

An Ethernet cable can only bridge a limited distance before the signal becomes too weak.
The symptoms of a cable that is too long are the same as those of a cable of too low a quality class: a connection that is lost, too slow or even no connection at all. The maximum distance of a good quality CAT5e Ethernet cable is 100 meters, this distance can be (much) less if a poor quality cable is used. Above this 100 meters, the signal must be 'repeated' by, for example, installing a hub or switch.
In a few cases, the problem of poor cabling can also be solved by setting the properties of the network card to 10 Mb instead of 100 Mb and to 'Half-Duplex' instead of 'Full-Duplex'. This places less high demands on the quality of the cable, but the maximum speed of the connection is of course also a lot lower.

​

Faulty network cables

It can happen that an Ethernet cable no longer functions or even becomes damaged because someone places an object on it that is much too heavy (such as a cupboard), the cable is forced into a bend that is too sharp/right angle or one of the plugs comes loose halfway or even completely. They are much more vulnerable than, for example, a mains voltage cord. Preferably lay Ethernet cables in places where no one can stand on them, where they do not have to make right angle bends and where there is no kink in the cable. In the latter case, if someone - for whatever reason - pulls on the cable, a break can easily occur in one or more of the small cores of the cable.

​​

Outdoor network cable

Outdoor network cables are especially suitable for laying directly in the ground or on the ground. The cables have a UV and weather-resistant sheath. It is therefore not necessary to apply a sheathing tube, although that is of course also possible. For example, use a network ground cable to create an internet connection in your garden house or canopy or connect your security cameras to your network with these special weather-resistant cables. These are available as ready-made network cables with an RJ-45 connector mounted on both ends, but also 'on a roll' as it is called, so that you can make your own weather-resistant network cables.

​​​​

Do you want to make an Ethernet cable yourself in the length you want?

Read this article to find out how to do this.

​