Our most exciting featured article yet! What are the best CAT6 cables?
joel loynds
Last updated on February 10, 2023
We review the best CAT6 and CAT6A Ethernet cables. network wire. Nothing in the world smells like them.
I love the smell of CAT6 cables in the morning. You know, we once had a 10Gbps connection that was stuck for 12 hours. When the delivery arrived, everything was gone. We had no more problems. No smelly network issues. The smell, do you know the smell of new cables? The whole network. It smelled like...victory. One day it will be global.
Product description
CAT6-Flachkabel
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funny right? Look, ethernet is not the best.excitingsubject of the world, but sometimes we have to find thatbetterCAT6 cable. While CAT5e was more than adequate for most homes in…say 2021, CAT6 and its higher capacity version, CAT6A, can provide faster or more consistent connections over longer distances.
What is the difference?
Both CAT6 and CAT6A can carry a 10GB signal, but the way they run internally means CAT6 is limited to 55m between ends for a stable connection. That's why this recommendation includes both, as some homes or offices simply don't need CAT6A and can get by with regular 6.
I need to see more about the differences betweenCAT5and CAT6?we got you covered.
our recommendation
The best CAT6 and CAT6A Ethernet cables in 2023
1
ADVANTAGES
- lots of wires
- It can be changed
- run it anywhere
- Perfect for 1 Gbps
OPPOSITE
- it will literally happen
- Who really needs 300 feet of cable?
- 1Gbps limit
It's ugly, it's literally a bunch of wires, and it's here to do a job. While there's nothing special to write about this cable, a 300-foot (91-meter) cable length is absolutely more than enough for any full home connection.
In theory, you could run it around the house through carefully placed holes, or run it along the baseboards and hook the wire. This is pretty much the ideal length for large networks for a 1 Gbps connection, since that's a lot of cable for a stable 10 Gb connection.
2
ADVANTAGES
- Flat, perfect for hiding
- It comes with clips to attach anywhere.
- Perfect for everyday use.
OPPOSITE
- Only in 25 or 50 feet
- Probably cheaper to save on thinness
This cable is available in 25 or 50 feet, which is a 50 foot maximum. While it's not the world's longest, it's ideal for placement in the home, where you may want to hide it by propping it up against a media center or under a desk. If you buy several of these and connect them via powerline adapters or switches, you can get much longer distance than originally anticipated, but you still need to consider their placement in the house.
This is also just a regular CAT6 cable, but it's relatively cheap to buy in multiple pieces and would probably fit into a really fancy looking network. It also comes with cable clips that you can use to hold the cable and also offers 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps.
Our pick of the best CAT6 and CAT6A Ethernet cables when flatness matters.
3
ADVANTAGES
- Ideal for starting or stopping a network
- Great for any home
- 10Gbps support
OPPOSITE
- short length
Quality cables abound if you look closely, but getting an Amazon listing with details like the InstallerParts cable is very rare.
This is as easy as CAT6A and perfect for taking your connection out of the modem orrouteron a switch or on a larger network than expected. The 50ft length isn't long enough for something too long, but the 15m length makes for a great end point or starting point as the short length and 6A rating mean you'll have a solid Get connection from 10 Gbps if available.
4
ADVANTAGES
- Perfect for outdoors.
- Impermeable
- Hard work
- 1 Gbps compatible
OPPOSITE
- 1Gbps limit
- It's useless if it's not outside
- Wild animals are a thing and they like to nibble
Again, that'sA package.It's wired only. The difference between this and the others in a large number of the line is that it is designed for outdoor use. Not everyone has a remote office or converted shed, so there are specific reasons for this.
The plastic on the outside is waterproof so it can be placed on the ground out of the way without worrying about it suddenly breaking or burning. Mainly used for security cameras, it is pretty much the ideal cable for outdoor use.
However, if you have a garden office of any kind, your WiFi or WiFi extenders may not reach or provide an adequate connection, limiting your outdoor options. That's where this cable comes in. Because the office may be on a separate circuit, some Power Link connections will not work properly and will not be able to see each other. So running a decent length of wire through the garden might end up being a better option.
My recommendation would be to leave it running and once inside, to a switch that you can distribute around the office.
5
ADVANTAGES
- up to 100 feet
- 10 Gbps compatibles
- different colors
OPPOSITE
- Reaches 100 feet
That's more CAT6A cables! It's the same verse as the first one, but this time it's 30 meters long and has multiple colors to choose from. This Monoprice variant even offers a choice of colors to spice up your life.
There's little difference between this and the smaller version mentioned above, but it's certainly a quality cable.
CAT6A was designed to reject 'foreign' traffic so you don't get any interference, hence the 550 MHz signal advertised on this cable.
our judgment
Of course, the best value for money is a 300ft bulk cable, they are literally 300ft cables and therefore top our list of the best CAT6 and CAT6A Ethernet cables.
If you can and do follow a few tutorials, you may find that splitting the cable is more beneficial, allowing you to do more. This is a cheap and inexpensive way to get more than what you spent.
However, if you only need one end for the end point, the flat end cable works well as well. It is neat and completely out of the way when placed vertically.
- Read more aboutCAT6-Cabel.
FAQs
Which is better Cat6 or CAT6A? ›
Cat6a(Category 6 Augmented) is another version of Cat6 standard; it is an improved and more advanced version of Cat6 and it offers better performance. it is backward compatible with Cat5e and Cat6. Cat6a has more insulation and tighter twists to reduce crosstalk.
Is it worth upgrading from Cat6 to CAT6A? ›CAT6A Benefits
One key benefit of CAT6A over CAT6 is speed. A CAT6 cable can run 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet at speeds up to 1000 Mbps and a maximum length of 100 meters. The same is also true for 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T running at 2.5 and 5 Gbps, respectively.
Cat6A speed is at least 500 MHz. This allows 10 Gbp/s (Gigabits per second) up to 328 feet (100 meters). Cat6 max speed is 250 MHz. Therefore, it only supports 10 Gbp/s to 165 feet (55 meters) under ideal conditions—less in heavy cross talk environments.
Is Cat 6A good enough? ›CAT6A is also backwards compatible with CAT6 and CAT5E due to the continued use of the RJ45 connector. CAT6A is proving to be a cost-effective solution for current and emerging applications as it supports higher bandwidths and 10Gbps network speeds up to 100 metres.
Should I buy Cat6a? ›Cat6a (Category 6 Augmented) is an improved and more advanced version of Cat6 and it offers better performance. We recommend Cat6a ethernet cable for gaming as it offers fast data transfer rates and comes with a more than impressive bandwidth capacity of 750MHz.
What is the best Ethernet cable to purchase? ›- Best overall. DbillionDa CAT 8. $6.38–$58.39. Gold-plated connectors. Quadruple shielding. ...
- Best braided Ethernet cable. DanYee CAT 7. $6.99–$39.99. Braided, flat design. Gold-plated connectors. ...
- Best value Ethernet cable. Amazon Basics CAT 7. $4.19–$15.11. Gold-plated connectors. Durable PVC jacket.
- Editors Choice. AmazonBasics RJ45 CAT-6 Ethernet Cable. Shop on Amazon. Check Price
- Editor's Choice. JADAOL CAT 7 ETHERNET CABLE. Shop on Amazon. Check Price
- Best Pick. ULTRA CLARITY CABLES CAT6 ETHERNET. Shop on Amazon. Check Price
- CableGeeker Cat 6 Ethernet Cable. Shop on Amazon. Check Price
- Amazon Basics RJ45 Cat-6 Ethernet Cable. ...
- CableGeeker Cat 6 Ethernet Patch Cable. ...
- Jadaol Ethernet Cable. ...
- Cable Matters Long Cat 6 Ethernet Cable. ...
- Ultra Clarity Cables Cat6 Ethernet Cable. ...
- Amazon Basics Gigabit Ethernet Patch Internet Cable. ...
- Ercielook Cat 6 Ethernet Cable.
Some Drawbacks…
The size and the weight of CAT6A cable was its biggest drawback during the initial days in 2008. Thereafter, its size slimmed down and reduced by 20%. If you make use of cables that are bigger in size, they would need more space and would ask for large cable trays and conduits for fitting them.
Regardless of the standard, all Cat 6A cabling will provide 10 Gb/s data rates, operate at a maximum frequency of 500 MHz, and have a maximum distance of 100 meters.
Is Cat6a future proof? ›
Although Cat6A is more expensive than the Cat5e and Cat6 cables, it can be your future solution and will stay longer to fulfill future requirements. Before opting for other relatively cheap options, you should also consider the maintenance value, which might cost you a lot more than the actual Cat 6A cable price.
Is there something better than Cat6? ›CAT 8. Category 8 is the official successor to Cat6A cabling. It is officially recognized by the IEEE and EIA and parts and pieces are standardized across manufacturers. The primary benefit of Cat8 cabling is faster throughput over short distances: 40 Gbps up to 78' and 25 Gbps up to 100'.
Is CAT6A more expensive than Cat6? ›The cost differences between Cat6 and Cat6a cables are relatively small, around 20-35%. For example, a 25 ft unshielded Cat6 cable goes for $8 on Amazon, while a 25 ft shielded Cat6a goes for $11.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of CAT6A? ›CAT6A is backward compatible with CAT6 and 5E; and EA networks use some of its components. Although initially expensive, these cables are now the most cost-effective solution for cable systems. The only disadvantage of CAT6A cables is its size and weight.
What speed can Cat 6a handle? ›The Cat6a cable speeds will support up to 10 Gbps specifications, without the Cat6 run-length limitations. In contrast, Cat5e was developed to support 1000 Mbps (gigabit) speeds.
Is Cat 6a good for home network? ›Cat6a is very suitable for large networks that need large data, so it is more recommended for new buildings, office networks, and data centers for its higher network speed and 10Gbps up to 100 meters. Cat6a is also backwards compatible with Cat6, Cat5e, and Cat5, which is a good solution for future network upgrading.
Is Cat 7 faster than Cat 6a? ›CAT 7 Ethernet cables support higher bandwidths and much faster transmission speeds than Cat 6 cables.
What causes return loss on Cat6a? ›What Causes Return Loss? There are two major causes of RL in a network: discontinuities and impedance mismatches. Discontinuities occur at connections where cable is terminated to plugs or jacks and within the plug/jack connection itself.
Can you mix Cat6 and 6a? ›Can Cat6 and Cat6a cables be mixed used together? Yes, Cat6 and Cat6a can be used together in the same setup, but the bandwidth that cat6a can support can be bottlenecked by using a cable that supports lower bandwidth which will effect your speeds.
Do you need a special crimper for Cat6a? ›These Cat6A cables are designed to process data at high speeds and thus need to be resistant to RF. To do this the cables must be heavily shielded and large cable jackets must be used. Standard connectors will simply not fit these larger cables so specialty connectors and crimp tools must be used instead.
Is CAT6A good for home network? ›
Cat6a is very suitable for large networks that need large data, so it is more recommended for new buildings, office networks, and data centers for its higher network speed and 10Gbps up to 100 meters. Cat6a is also backwards compatible with Cat6, Cat5e, and Cat5, which is a good solution for future network upgrading.
Why do you prefer to use CAT6A as opposed to CAT6 cable? ›Why do you prefer to use CAT 6A as opposed to CAT6 cable? Because CAT 6 cable is not really meant to support POE cameras. Because the attenuation caused by the longer distance will cause signal loss not only for the camera video, but also for the DC power. You should not be using either.
Is Cat 7 faster than CAT6A? ›CAT 7 Ethernet cables support higher bandwidths and much faster transmission speeds than Cat 6 cables.
What is the distance limit for CAT6A? ›Regardless of the standard, all Cat 6A cabling will provide 10 Gb/s data rates, operate at a maximum frequency of 500 MHz, and have a maximum distance of 100 meters.