These are copper cables which use AWG 22-26 gauge copper twisted to avoid Induction and encased in a common jacket.
These cables can only travel up to 100m.
Used in Telephone Cable and Ethernet Cable
CAT ratings
They are distinguished between categories(CAT). These CAT rating determine the voltage, bandwidth, data rate(speed) and distance. https://tripplite.eaton.com/products/ethernet-cable-types
| Category | Max. Data Rate | Bandwidth | Max. Distance | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 1 | 1 Mbps | 0.4 MHz | Telephone and modem lines | |
| CAT 2 | 4 Mbps | 4 MHz | LocalTalk & Telephone | |
| CAT 3 | 10 Mbps | 16 MHz | 100 m (328 ft.) | 10BaseT Ethernet |
| CAT 4 | 16 Mbps | 20 MHz | 100 m (328 ft.) | Token Ring |
| CAT 5 | 100 Mbps | 100 MHz | 100 m (328 ft.) | 100BaseT Ethernet |
| CAT 5e | 1 Gbps | 100 MHz | 100 m (328 ft.) | 100BaseT Ethernet, residential homes |
| CAT 6 | 1 Gbps | 250 MHz | 100 m (328 ft.) 10Gb at 37 m (121 ft.) | Gigabit Ethernet, commercial buildings |
| CAT 6a | 10 Gbps | 500 MHz | 100 m (328 ft.) | Gigabit Ethernet in data centers and commercial buildings |
| CAT 7 | 10 Gbps | 600 MHz | 100 m (328 ft.) | 10 Gbps Core Infrastructure |
| CAT 7a | 10 Gbps | 1000 MHz | 100 m (328 ft.) 40Gb at 50 m (164 ft.) | 10 Gbps Core Infrastructure |
| CAT 8 | 25 Gbps (Cat8.1) 40 Gbps (Cat8.2) | 2000 MHz | 30 m (98 ft.) | 25 Gbps/40 Gbps Core Infrastructure |
CAT Incompatibility
Higher CAT rated devices will not work if inserted into lower CAT or higher CAT endpoints Ensure the ports and the cable have the same CAT rating
Core Types
Solid Core
The inside of the wire casing is a single wire
- Better conductor
- Stiff and breaks easy
Stranded Core
Inside of the wire casing is multiple wires
- Worse conductor
- More flexible