Buying an ethernet cable is easier said than done. Most people tend to assume that cable buying does not require any attention. However the wide variety of cables to choose from and your specific cabling needs make a whole lot of difference. For starters, there are different types of ethernet cables available from manufacturers and suppliers. These types include; cat5 cables, cat5e cables, cat6 cables as well as cat6 ethernet cables. Apart from just ethernet cables, you also need to factor in other cables that support internet connectivity, video and audio content such as hdmi to dvi cables, displayport cables and fiber optic cables. Having all these different types of cables culminate to one thing-choosing the right network ethernet cable. It is important that you choose the right network ethernet cable. Over specifying your cabling needs tends to increase the cost of buying network ethernet cable. On the other hand, under-specifying your needs in terms of the cable type has an overall effect on the performance and quality of the product. The challenge is therefore to understand what network ethernet cable is the right fit for your needs. To ensure that this happens, you need to have just a little understanding or at least some basic cabling knowledge. Some of the key aspects you should give priority to are the price, performance, quality and the availability of network ethernet cable.
What are the Ethernet Cable Requirements?
Local area networks have become very common nowadays. Most homes now have routers that offer a variety of options in terms of internet network connectivity. Not only can you access Wi-Fi but there is also an option for ethernet connectivity on some routers for small offices and local area networks. Small office routers often have a maximum of four ethernet ports. However, larger offices can have dedicated routers for an increased number of users. With the advances being made in terms of internet connectivity, so has ethernet and other related cables-each with unique pros and cons. Ideally, Wi-Fi access and connectivity depends on the location of the router-regardless of whether there are any obstacles between the access point and the router. Ethernet cables are therefore meant to offer reliable and instant connectivity. When trying to figure out what type of network ethernet cable to use, think about the number of connections you intend to have. This means that if you are looking for just average surfing needs, a typical Ethernet cable will suffice. The same cannot be said if you are transferring huge files between different computer devices or streaming video content with high bandwidth. This is where a good ethernet cable makes all the difference.
Ethernet Cable Performance and Connectivity
There are different types of cable categories that are widely available. The Cat 5 is the oldest standard of network ethernet cable while the Cat 7 is the most recent categorization. When choosing a network ethernet cable, the latest category always is the one with the highest speed and performance capabilities. Apart from the performance, compatibility is also an amazing feature about ethernet cables. This means that these cables are interchangeable and at time have backward compatibility. The only time issues arise is when an old network ethernet cable is in use. An old ethernet cable-such as Cat 5, cannot support high speed data transfers. You can plug a Cat 5 cable to the latest 10G ethernet interface. The only problem is that when you plug the Cat 5 cable to an advanced router connection, data transfer will be slowed. This might not be the only challenge you will encounter especially when you take into consideration the type of data you are transferring. Similarly, it is possible to plug the latest ethernet cable-Cat 7, to a router that does not support high speed connectivity. Under such circumstances, the network ethernet cable will work just fine. This tells you that there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to buying ethernet cables.
