Discover everything you need to know about Category 5 copper cabling or 'Cat 5' from a brief history, to its technical specifications and compatibility.
Inventor, scientist and engineer, Alexander Graham Bell said “before anything else, preparation is the key to success." and the same can be applied to structured cabling. Because a business with foundations built upon a solid and future proofed infrastructure is prepared and ready for success.
It should come as no surprise then, that the invention of twisted wire pairs, which are found in copper wiring and more specifically Category 5 cables today, was that very same inventor; Alexander Graham Bell. More famously known for the invention and patenting of the first ever telephone, Bell invented twisted pairs as early as 1881 for the telegraph market.
Twisted pairs were initially introduced to eliminate obstacles in cable performance such as crosstalk however copper has continued to dominate the structured cabling industry ever since. This can be attributed mainly due to its conductivity, ranking only second to silver and offers great heat and corrosion resistance also.
Here's a quick disclaimer before we get stuck into all things Cat 5. In our wonderful world of cabling and infrastructure Category 5 is becoming increasingly outdated and can often be seen as obsolete with most buildings now favouring the use of Category 6 and newer generations of copper cabling and fibre optic.
In this blog post we're delving deep into the curious and conductive world of copper Category 5 cabling, its brief history, how it performs and what type of infrastructure it's best suited for.
Here's what we'll cover:
Category 5 cabling started life as the successor to Category 3 for structured cabling, and was introduced as early as 1995. This was the first cable to be dual rated at 10/100 Mbps with a bandwidth of 100 MHz and was able to distribute video and telephone signals at distances of 100 meters.
In the present-day Cat 5 cabling can occasionally still be a viable, if dated, option and is used by some businesses for crossover cabling, computer networks and telephone wiring as an affordable infrastructure solution.
For the engineers out there, in terms of technical specifications for Cat 5, it offers a higher bandwidth and capabilities than any of the previous (now essentially defunct) generations; Cat 3 and 4. Category 5 cabling also utilises unshielded twisted pairing like its predecessors.
Cat 5 is capable of 100 MHz over a distance of 100 metres and works for high-speed Ethernet and gigabit Ethernet. These types of twisted paired Ethernet cables can be used on 10/100Base-T networks which is an enhanced Ethernet also known as Fast Ethernet and uses an 8P8C RJ45 connector. To go into further detail the 8P8C describes a type of plastic connector with 8 possible connections and the RJ45 describes a wiring standard that uses an 8P8C.
Category 5 copper wiring has a signal attenuation of 22 dB (decibels). Attenuation is the loss of signal strength, this is most often caused by noise interference on the network as well as increased distance. The lower the value presented, the better the signal, typically anywhere between 5 dB and 50 dB would be seen as suitable; meaning Cat 5 performs adequately here.
It's important to note here that despite Cat 5 hanging on as a viable option, the successive generations of copper wiring boast much better technical specifications. This means they generally prove to be a more cost effective solution for businesses these days, with Cat 5 being relatively outdated in the current market.
One fantastic plus point of Cat 5 cable is its working relationship with both Cat 5e (Enhanced Category 5) and Cat 6 cables. This is because the newer generation of Cat 5e is completely backwards compatible, meaning any application that would typically use Cat 5 cable can also support Cat 5e.
This means if you're working to a tight budget and have to opt for the older generation of cabling (Cat 5) for your business you'll still have the flexibility to easily upgrade in the future when finances allow. By simply replacing the category of the copper cabling rather than having the hassle and expense of changing the entire network the process becomes far smoother and more cost effective.
Cat 5 and Cat 6 maintain their compatibility in the use of the same end piece connector known as RJ45 as previously mentioned in the technical specifications section. This allows Category 6 cables to work on already existing Cat 5 networks which again is an important feature for your business when purchasing Cat 5 with the potential to upgrade in the future.
It's important to note that Cat 5 isn't compatible with either Cat 5e or Cat6 networks because of its weaker power capabilities and maximum bandwidth.
You will most likely find Category 5 cabling used in crossover cabling, computer networks and telephone wiring. Crossover cabling is when a network cable is used to connect two Ethernet devices directly without the use of a switch or router in between.
A powerful and efficient computer network is fundamental for any business and office space, it allows important data to be stored in a centralised location, allows other computers to access the data on the same network and enables employees to work more efficiently; resulting in an increase in work productivity.
Due to the technical capabilities of Cat 5 wiring, it's most often used to power small office spaces and homes. If you're a small business in need of structured cabling in a similar environment then Cat5 may be the short-term cost effective solution for you. Long term and for better performance however, Cat6 or even more advanced infrastructure solutions (Cat6a, Cat7 or fibre) may be the best option.
Alongside Cat 5 cabling, there's a range of different generations and categories of copper wiring, which all satisfy different requirements depending on the needs of your business such as the scale of your working environment and your technological demands.
If your business is looking to install new or refurbish existing copper cabling and like what you've read, then there's more information on all things infrastructure, structured cabling and fibre optics to explore on our blog, alternatively click here to speak to us.
Comlek are fast becoming one of the nation's leading contractors for complete cabling solutions, working to create, construct and connect for businesses nationwide. With first class service, provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Comlek are determined to work to your business' needs and keep your copper connected.
Explore everything you need to know about copper wiring in structured cabling, how each category works and what infrastructure each is best suited...
In this post we explore all things fibre optics from what fibre optic cables are and their history through to the different types of fibres and...