8 Things to Consider When Buying Ethernet Cables

  • Last modified: December 28, 2023

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8 Things to Consider When Buying Ethernet Cables

For some people, it is not easy to pick the right Ethernet cable for themselves because it is an intricate task. You cannot pick the best quality cable until and unless you do not know what major requirements need to be followed upon. As you will search around, you will find that the category of Ethernet cables is available in great diversity out of which picking the excellent one becomes a tough task.

Choosing the right type of Ethernet hence ensures that the best performance has been achieved at a reasonable cost. Right through this guide, we will be explaining a few of the important factors which you need to consider when buying high-quality Ethernet cables bulk

1. Performance

Ethernet cables are available in diverse types in which we have Cat 6, Cat 5, Cat 7 as the few common ones. But the Cat 5 is known to be the oldest standard one whereas CAT 7 is the last networking cable available in the market with great performance. Each one of the cables is having different levels and if they differ in levels then it is obvious that their performance range will be different as well.  Look for the one which matches all your basic requirements. 

2. Compatibility

The next most important point is about compatibility! The best thing about these Ethernet cables is that you will find them interchangeable and even compatible. But as you will choose the older cable type, you will find that it won’t support the fastest speed in transfer. 

You can plug the Cat 5 Cable into the router which is having a speed of 10G Ethernet interface. The just issue which comes up is in view that the data transfer speed of the cable will be slow. Therefore, it is always a better option to look for the cable which has been high n flexibility. 

3. Shielded or Non-Shielded

Now the main question which is important to discuss is that why the cable should have the proper shielding! Well, there is a high need of shielding the cable when the data is at high risk of magnetic energy interference and noise. Therefore, to set your Ethernet connection on a high interference environment, you should look for a shielded cable such as Cat6a.

4. Stranded or Solid

Solid and high-quality Ethernet cable makes the use of just one piece of the solid copper for the conductor, while the stranded combines different intertwisted wires. Thus, solid cables have to be used in such places where there has been a lesser or no such movement to avoid breakage. 

Contrary, the standard cables are known to be flexible ad they are capable enough to move around easily. Solid is best to be used for the permanent runs in which we have patch panels to whereas the strand can be utilized for the patch cables to easily bridge some permanent links.

5. Cable length

The next aspect which you need to be careful about is the length of the cable! An Ethernet cable is available in a diversity of lengths about which you should be careful. Some of the people even choose to construct their cables with the help of pre-made cables.

Ethernet cables bulk lengths are available as in the lengths of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 5, 10, 20 meters which are all quite common to achieve. Longer cables are also available in the length of 75 meters which is easy to look for. We recommend you choose longer cables because they are easy to work with. Extra or longer lengths of cable can easily be looped together and hence you can secure them in the cable tie. 

6. Cable Color

Besides, we come up with the feature of cable color which is not so important but still a major factor to consider when it comes to buying Ethernet Cables. As the cables are available in diverse lengths and types, in the same way it is available in diversity of color options too. With the help of a cable, you will be able to connect the cable in the right direction with the larger or smaller router.

7. Suppliers

You can buy Ethernet Cables from different suppliers! Some of them are specialists and some of them are available through the Amazon platform. You have to look for the brand which is delivering you with the cables which are not just reliable and flexible in quality but are affordable too. 

8. Budget 

For buying a high-quality Ethernet cable, you should keep in mind the budget for sure. Finding something superior in quality and best in cost should be your main consideration. This is how you can find the one which is excellent and works best according to your cable requirements. Keep this in mind! 

Specification Cat5e Cat6 Cat6a
Cable Jacket Plenum, Riser & PVC Plenum, Riser & PVC Plenum & Riser
Wire Gauge 24-AWG 23-AWG 23-AWG Highly Twisted
Frequencies 350 MHZ 550 MHZ 750 MHZ
Installation Temp 0°C to 60°C 0°C to 60°C 0°C to 60°C
Pairs 4 Twisted Pairs 4 Twisted Pairs 4 Twisted Pairs
Package Easy Pull Box Easy Pull Box Wood Spool
Colors Black, Blue, White, Red, Green, Yellow Black, Blue, White, Red, Green, Yellow Black, Blue, White, Red, Green, Yellow
Standard Compliance ETL, FCC, CE, CSA, ISO/IES, RoHS FCC, CE, CSA, ISO/IES, RoHS ETL, FCC, CE, CSA, ISO/IES, RoHS
Isabella Anthony

Isabella Nightingale, our Ethernet cables maven, blends style with functionality in networking. Follow her blogs for the latest trends, ensuring your setup is both chic and efficient.


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