Cat6a Plenum vs Cat6a Riser Cable: Which one is best for you?

Planning to buy Cat6a Ethernet Cable but don’t know whether to buy the plenum variant cable or the riser variant? If so, keep reading this blog. We will walk you through everything that you need to know about Cat6a riser vs plenum and which one to use?

The main difference between the Cat6a Riser and its plenum variant is between the jacket. The riser jacket and the plenum jacket are made from two different types of materials and are used in different applications. Below, we will enlist all of them. Read on to find out.

Also Read: Top Five Benefits of Using Cat6a Cable.

Cat6 Ethernet Cable – An Overview

Cat6 Ethernet Cable is basically a 6th generation ethernet cable. It supersedes 5th generation Cat5e cable and has basically two variants. The Cat6 is the base variant whereas the Cat6a is its augmented version.

The Cat6a cable is the better performing version of the Cat6 cable with its tightly twisted conductor pairs. Moreover, this version of the 6th category ethernet cables does not come with CCA conductors - which translates into even better performance.

Data Rates & Bandwidth

Cat6 cable has taken connectivity to a whole new level. It offers maximum data transfer rates of 10 up to a distance of 100 meters or 328 feet.

As far as bandwidth is concerned, the TIA/EIA standards for bandwidth capacity for 6th-generation ethernet cables stand at 550 MHz.

Here at Smartech Cables, our Cat6 ethernet cables — be it Cat6a Plenum Cable, Cat6a Riser Cable, or Cat PVC cable — offer a bandwidth capacity of 750 MHz which is almost 50% more than industry standards.

Thanks to this far higher bandwidth capacity, the signal quality remains intact and you enjoy optimum connectivity.

Conductors

The most important part of any ethernet cable is the conductor. Cat6 cable comes with as many as 8 conductors that are tightly bundled together in 4 twisted pairs. The conductors are classified into 2 types:

Pure Copper Conductors
Copper Clad Aluminum Conductors (CCA)

Pure copper conductors are far superior and exhibit much, much better performance than their CCA counterparts. Pure copper conductors offer as much as 55% less attenuation than CCA.

Attenuation is loss of signal strength and higher attenuation means poor connectivity. Furthermore, pure copper conductors provide excellent protection against crosstalk (both next-generation crosstalk and alien) and electromagnetic interference.

Another factor that makes bare copper conductors superior is that these conductors have less DC resistance. It means more energy is transmitted into signals and less is transmitted into heat.

Therefore, if there are no budget constraints, you should always opt for ethernet cables that have pure copper conductors.

Now comes the time of explaining the difference between the riser and plenum cables. So, let’s begin!

Cat6a Plenum Cable vs Cat6a Riser Cable

The only thing that distinguishes Cat6a Plenum Cable from Cat6a Riser Cable is the jacket material.

A plenum cable comes with a CMR-rated jacket. CMR means Communications Multipurpose Cable, Plenum and it is the highest rating when it comes to jacket materials. Cable with CMR-rated jackets has fire-retardant properties. It means they halt fire progression and emit no hazardous elements during the burning phase. These cables are also UV resistant.

A Cat6a Plenum Cable is specially designed for installation in the plenum or horizontal spaces of the buildings. Plenum spaces are horizontal spaces that are designed to facilitate air flows for air conditioning and heating.

Due to higher atmospheric pressure, you are only authorized to install a plenum-rated cable in these areas. It is pertinent here to mention that you can use plenum cable in riser and outdoor spaces, too. However, it can’t be reversed.

A riser cable comes up with a CMR-rated jacket. CMR stands for Communications Multipurpose Cable Riser and it is the 2nd highest jacket rating for ethernet cables. You will run a Cat6a Riser Cable in the riser or vertical spaces of the buildings. These spaces are also high-risk spaces.

CMR cables also have fire retardant properties and they are UV resistant, too. A CMR-rated cable halts fire progression and emits no hazardous elements. You can use this cable for outdoor spaces, too. However, it can’t be otherwise.

When to use Cat6a Plenum Cable?

You will need a Cat6a Plenum cable if you need to run it in the plenum or horizontal spaces of the buildings.

As mentioned in the above paras, you can also use this cable in riser and outdoor spaces (however, we recommend against doing it as this cable is much more expensive than the other two variants).

When to use Cat6a Riser Cable?

You will need a Cat6a Riser cable if you need to run an ethernet cable in the vertical or riser spaces of the buildings.

This is all you need to know about the Cat6a ethernet cables right now.

SmarTech Cables

If you need ethernet cables bulk for your business or office, reach out to SmarTech Cables now. All of our ethernet cables including the Cat6a ethernet cables exceed industry standards. Also, we offer free shipping on orders above $99 with highly competitive prices. Rest assured, when you shop from Smartech Cables, you get the best value for your money.