Cat 5 Cable

High signal integrity, which is imperative when connecting two or more computers together or connecting one computer to the internet, is best achieved by using category 5 cable, often shortened to cat 5 cable.

Cat 5 cable consists of four pairs of cable where each pair is twisted together three times for each inch of cable. Each cable is made of 24-gauge copper wire and all eight cables (four pairs) are bundled together within one sheath.

This twisting process allows for a balance which preserves a high signal-to-noise ratio that is emitted by external sources and from other pairs of cable. The interference generated by other cable is called crosstalk.

Most commonly used for networks operating at speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps), cat 5 cable performance and specifications are defined in ANSI / TIA / EIA-568-A, which requires testing of frequencies as high as 100 megahertz (MHz).

Cat 5 cable is used to link one computer to another by way of Ethernet technology but it has other applications as well. Many signals, such as basic voice services, asynchronous transfer mode, and token ring signals require use of cat 5 cable.

Some cat 5 cable is shielded but this isn't always the case. Shielding limits the flow of electromagnetic fields between two locations. In home use, cat 5 cable is used from the computer to a wall electrical socket. Shielding minimizes interference from sources outside the home.

As a rule, cat 5 cable length should never exceed 328 feet. Communications between longer distances are best achieved when shorter cat 5 cables are linked together at regular intervals.

An enhanced version of cat 5 cable technology is referred to as cat 5e. This enhanced version was officially defined in 1973 in the ANSI / TIA / EIA-568-B standards. Length of cable, even in the enhanced cables, is still an issue and distances covered did not change with the enhancements.