We live in a world where technology evolves continuously. Keeping with these trends has become essential. Ethernet network cabling has come a long way since its inception. There are many types of Ethernet cables. Getting the right cable for your network has become somewhat tough, to say the least. In addition to that, these cables are necessary for our internet supply and for other networking needs.
Cat6a is one of the most popular cables out there. You can use it for both domestic and commercial purposes. Just like any other object, this cat6 copper cable also has a long list of pros and cons. Furthermore, cat6a has become a scale to measure all other networking cables.
In this article, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of cat6a. We will also look at the various use cases of this cable in terms of networking.
A Brief Introduction
Before we talk about the pros and cons of this cable, let’s get to know this cable first. As its name indicates, this is a category six cable. The letter “a” in its name stands for augmented. This is a successor of the cat6 solid copper cable. Furthermore, you can use this cable in giant data centers where speed is a must.
Just like any other networking cable, cat6a has eight copper conductors. These wires are twisted together to create four pairs. Manufacturers twist these pairs tightly to fight off crosstalk. It is a phenomenon that occurs when signals from two passing cables interact with each other. In addition, you will get a 750 MHz data transfer rate with this cable. Also, this cable comes with three jacket variations; plenum, riser, and PVC. Lastly, both ends of this cable have RJ45 termination. You can use this cable with older categories because of its backward compatibility.
Advantages of Cat6a
Cat6a is packed with useful specifications. You can use this cable for its speed, data transfer rate, and stable connection. In addition to that, several other benefits come with this cable.
Speed – this is one of the biggest benefits that comes with cat6a. This cable is a major improvement over its predecessor, the cat6 plenum. You can use this cable for Ethernet, fast Ethernet, and gigabit Ethernet applications. Not only will you get 1000 Mbps speed, but also you can use it at 100 meters. Furthermore, if you use this cat6 cable for applications like 10GBASE-T, the max length would be 55 meters.
Power over Ethernet – this is an important factor when it comes to Ethernet network cabling. PoE has become extremely popular over the past few years. In addition, you can use one cable for all purposes, such as surveillance, lighting, and much more. Cat6a can offer you all these solutions. A single line of cat6a will cover your internet, security cameras, and more.
Compatibility – this is yet another major benefit that comes with this cable. The backward compatibility of this cable makes it extremely popular. You can use this cable with older categories such as cat6 plenum and cat6 solid copper. Furthermore, you should remember that it can affect the connection speed.
Commercial Uses – cat6a has a design that can support the industrial use of this cable. You can use this cable in a giant data center, supporting the speed without trouble. Since it is a thick and strong cable, you will not have to worry about tugs and pulls.
Cost-effective solution – cat6a Ethernet network cabling is a perfect cost-effective solution. The manufacturer has developed this Ethernet cable with forwarding thinking. In addition, this cable tends to support higher bandwidth and data transfer rates. You will be getting the specifications of cat7 with this cable but at a lower price.
Uses of Cat6a Ethernet Network Cabling
- Wi-Fi 6 is a rather new technology. You can use this cable for this kind of network. It can offer a 10Gbps data transfer rate. Cat6a will be a perfect choice for such kind of speed.
- Cat6a is a durable and tough cable. Furthermore, you can use this cable for more than five years without upgrading or replacing it. That is why you can use this cable in a building that has hard to demolish.
You can also use this cable for next-gen security cameras. These cameras usually stream 4k to 8k videos. In addition to that, they need 10Gbps data transfer rate. This cable will be a perfect choice for such cameras which you use inside your construction.
