An Ethernet cable allow data to travel from one device to another on a network. Even if your internet service provider offer a high speed of internet connection, the Ethernet cable can limit the speed of your network. You have to select the right category of Ethernet cable to ensure that the Ethernet cable can handle the speed of your network.
A LAN cable speed chart will show you the different categories of Ethernet cables and the speed at which each category can travel data. Using this chart, you can ensure that you are not spending money on an Ethernet cable that is more capable of providing more data speed than your network needs. Ethernet cables contains twisted-pair wires, which were originally used for telephone systems.
How to Choose the Right Ethernet Cable
Engineers used these twisted pair wires to create Ethernet cables because the twist in the wires reduce the amount of interference in the data signal. Data corruption that can occur due to interference can make it impossible for data to be correctly transmit along the Ethernet cable. Each category of Ethernet cable has a higher degree of twist in its wires than the previous category.
These cables also include additional shielding to reduce interference. The additional twist and shielding within the Ethernet cable allow it to carry more data at higher speeds. Using the older categories of Ethernet cables mean that the data will travel at an older cable speed and may not be able to handle high speeds for moddern internet connections.
The information contained within a LAN cable speed chart include the maximum speed and the maximum distance at which each category of Ethernet cable can travel data. Many people use the chart to determine the appropriate Ethernet cable for there specific distance requirements. Some Ethernet cables can travel at high speeds over long distances, while other Ethernet cables will lose speed if the cable is too long for the network.
Use a LAN cable speed chart to ensure that your Ethernet cable can handle your gigabit internet plan. Most homes and small offices requires an Ethernet cable that can travel gigabit speeds. The speed of your Ethernet cable is vital for transferring files between devices on your network.
The faster the Ethernet cable, the faster your file will be transfer from one device to another. A large file will take a long time to transfer over a slow Ethernet cable. However, a fast Ethernet cable will make the transfer possible in a quick period of time.
When calculating the speed of an Ethernet cable, you must account for protocol overhead. Protocol overhead take up 10% to 20% of the speed of the Ethernet cable. Because protocol overhead reduces the Ethernet cable’s speed, you should choose an Ethernet cable with a slightly higher speed than your minimum requirement.
This will ensure that your actual data transfer speed are high. You must also consider the network switch when you are setting up a network. A network switch can direct data traffic between devices on a network.
Using a low-quality network switch will limit the speed of the entire network. Ensure that the capability of your Ethernet cable and your network switch are the same. By doing so, the data will travel from one device to another on the network without being limited by the quality of the Ethernet cable.
Depending on the scenario for your network, you will need a different type of Ethernet cable. If you are creating a network for a home with a few computer, a standard Ethernet cable will suffice. Most internet connections in homes do not exceed speeds of 1 gigabit per second.
However, if you are creating a network that include media servers or surveillance systems, you will need an Ethernet cable of a higher category to avoid data stuttering. Furthermore, if you are creating a network in a professional environment with many electronic devices, highly resist Ethernet cables will reduce the impact of electromagnetic interference on your data. The requirements of your environment will dictate the type of Ethernet cable you must purchase.
Some devices use Power over Ethernet, or PoE for short. PoE deliver electricity to a device through an Ethernet cable. Devices like security cameras and wireless access points use PoE to receive power through their Ethernet cables.
For these devices, you will need to purchase a high-quality Ethernet cable. Low-quality Ethernet cables can result in a voltage drop over long distances that can make PoE devices lose power. Finally, you can purchase an Ethernet cable based off your budget and goals for your network.
Value-oriented Ethernet cables can perform all of your daily task. However, if you are into computer and online gaming, you may want to purchase a specialized Ethernet cable that will allow your games to have lower latency. Furthermore, if you want to ensure that your network can handle future technologies, purchase an Ethernet cable that can carry data at higher speeds over longer distance.
By matching your Ethernet cable to your hardware specifications, you can create a reliable network.