Important Things to Consider When Buying Ethernet Cables

Selecting the ethernet cable for your connectivity is not an easy task. And if you are a novice and don’t have any prior knowledge about the ethernet cables bulk, then it comes of utmost importance that you learn all about them. In this article, we are going to discuss some important points that you should take into consideration when purchasing ethernet network cables. So, stay with us as it will help you in making an informed decision.

Place/Space of Installation

The first and the most important thing to take into consideration is figuring out the place of installation. Ethernet cables come in different generations like Cat5e ethernet cable, Cat6 ethernet cable, and Cat6a ethernet cable. Each of them further has three variants: plenum, riser, and PVC.

These variants are specifically designed by keeping in mind the places of installation. For plenum or horizontal spaces, you will always use a CMP-rated plenum cable as its jacket has fire retardant properties and they halt fire progression. Also, when exposed to fire, these plenum-rated cables emit no or very little smoke and hazardous elements. You can also use these cables in riser and outdoor spaces.

For riser spaces, you will use a CMR-rated riser cable. These cables are specifically designed for installation in the riser/vertical spaces of the buildings. These cables also have fire retardant properties and you can use this cable for outdoor spaces, too.

PVC cables are designed for outdoor installations. You cannot use these cables for indoor spaces.

Data Transfer Speed & Bandwidth Requirements

Another factor that you should take into consideration is your data transfer rates and bandwidth requirements. If you are a gamer or you want Ethernet Cables Bulk for commercial purposes, then we recommend installing Cat6 or Cat6a ethernet cable. Cat6 supports data transfer rates of 10 Gbps over a distance of 50 meters whereas Cat6a supports the same over a distance of 100 meters; the former has a bandwidth capacity of 550 MHz and the latter has 750 MHz. It means both these cables can signal quality intact over longer distances.

However, if you need cable for simple residential purposes, then Cat5e will be sufficient to meet your needs

Shielded vs Unshielded

The third important factor that you should keep into consideration is the shielded and unshielded variants.

The signal quality of the Ethernet cables is impacted by the crosstalk and electromagnetic interference. These two things mess with your signals and hence whole connectivity is disrupted. To prevent this phenomenon, cables come in shielded and unshielded variants.

If you are going to install ethernet cables in harsh environments (places where crosstalk is high), then you should go with the shielded version. If you are going to install ethernet cables in normal environments (places where crosstalk is low or non-existent), then you should go with the unshielded version of Ethernet Network Cables.

Bare Copper vs CCA

The most important component of an ethernet cable is its conductors. The inner structure of the ethernet cable comprises 8 conductors. These conductors are made up of either pure copper or copper-clad aluminum.

Though prices of the pure copper cables are relatively higher than the CCA cables, the former surpasses every performance metric when compared with the latter.

These are all the key things that you should know when purchasing an ethernet cable. If you want to buy the best ethernet cables, always reach out to Smartech Cables. You will get the best value for your money as all of our ethernet cables not only meet but also exceed all industry standards.