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Category 5 or 6 Cabling, often referred to as Cat 5 / C5 or Cat 6 / C6 respectively, is a widely used cabling standard, comprising high quality cabling equipment installed in a controlled manner.
Category 5 / 6 cabling is most often used for connecting computer networks, although its use can vary into media and mainframe environments.
Category 5 or 6 cable is usually formed of high quality solid copper wires, twisted into 4 pairs, within an outer cover.
The design of the cable provides isolation against interference, and allows for good signal transmission for distances up to a recommended 100m. Each cabling run is separate and is essentially laid out in a star topology, where the cables usually converge at a patch panel.
Category 5 or 6 standards require that the associated connectivity equipment (patch panels, sockets and fly-leads) all meet the specification to provide a true Category 5 or 6 link. The standards also provide a large amount of instruction upon the installation of the cabling, which is often significant to the overall rating of the cabling system - each link is tested for certification to the standard via a calibrated cable scanner.
It is a common misconception that simply putting together a cabling system with the right components will provide a Category 5 or 6 cabling system. There are many examples of cabling that has been installed incorrectly, poorly, or without any regard for compliance to the standard.
It is usually these cables that show up as bad when network problems arise, often after a lot of time and money has been spent on troubleshooting the IT equipment that runs over it. Put simply, a properly installed Category 5 or 6 network may cost more but will be a wise investment in the long term.
Contact us for more information on installing Cat 5 & 6 cabling.
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