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• Article Continues: Do's and Don'ts of Network Cable Installation
USB User Guide
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If you follow these general ground rules, chances are your network upgrade will be seamless process:
DO: Limit the length of your cable runs to 300 feet or less to avoid problems
DO NOT: Mix Category 5 and Category 6 cables on the same network
DO: Bend the cable gradually when needed and never exceed a 1” bend radius
DO NOT: Untwist more than ½” of each wire pair when building your own cables
DO: Keep your cables away from any potential sources of EMI/RFI
DO NOT: Use heavy pressure when using zip ties for cable management
DO: Always use Category 6 rated jacks with Category 6 cabling
DO NOT: Ever under any circumstance splice or bridge a Cat5e or Cat6 cable
DO: Always accommodate at least 5 feet of slack in each cable whenever possible
DO NOT: Use standard stapes to secure Cat5 or Cat6 cabling as damage can result
DO: If you build your own cables, always verify them with a tester
DO NOT: Ever tug or pull excessively on a networking cable
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Do’s and Don’ts Explained
The length limit on Cat5 and Cat6 cables is technically 100 meters (330 feet). 100 meters is the total length limit of all patch cables installed in-line with one another. Remember, patch bays can add to this overall length. It is generally safe to limit your cable lengths to no more than 300 feet as a best practice.
You must never mix Cat5 and Cat6 cables on the same network. The network speed will be limited by the lowest grade of cable installed within it. Therefore, if you outfit your network using Category 6 cabling, make sure you’re using exclusively Cat6 and nothing else.
The bending of cables, especially Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), can create serious problems internally. Avoid sharp bends at all costs. When building your own cables, never untwist more than a half inch of each wire pair when terminating to a connector. Untwisting will affect the impedance of the cable.
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One should always avoid positioning cables near heavy sources of electromagnetic or RF interference such as microwave ovens, power supplies, transformers, refrigerators, fluorescent lighting, dimmer switches, transmitters, and antennas.
Although the RJ-45 connectors look identical on both Cat5 and Cat6 cabling, they are not. The same applies to the jacks these cables plug into. If you are using Category 6 cabling, all cable patch bays must include Category 6 rated connectors in order to maintain Gigabit data rates. You must never splice or split a Category 5 or 6 cable, never. Hubs, switches, and routers are built to perform this task electronically. You must also only use an insulated staple gun when securing the cable to the wall or ceiling. |
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Always handle your networking
cables with care! |
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The Future of Twisted Pair Cabling: |
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So what does the future have in store for twisted pair cabling? With a century long track record, we don’t expect this type of cable to go away anytime soon. Category 6a is being developed much in the same way that Cat5e was in its time. Category 7 cable is already in the process of being developed. Cat7 is a version of Cat6 with even tighter manufacturing tolerances. Cat7 adds a foil shield around the entire cable as well as individual shields around each pair. These cables will be optimized for 10 Gigabit network traffic.
Regardless of which direction the technology migrates towards, Amphenol Cables on Demand will be sure to bring this technology to you. This guide will be updated regularly to reflect the latest technology trends. We will also be releasing the results of our comprehensive Cat5 and Cat6 cable compliance tests in the near future. Best of luck with your planned network upgrades!
To link directly to our selection of Cat5 and Cat6 networking cables, please anywhere on the image below:
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