Category 5 Cable

What is Category 5 cable? There are several items that are included in Category 5 cable. These are Category 5 cable (UTP), Category 5E cable, Category 5 cable (SCTP), Category 5E RJ45 Jack, Category 5E Patch Panel, and Category 5E Patch Cable.

First let's discuss Category 5 cable (UTP). The UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pairs. This cable is a multipair cable, made up of twisted pair conductors, usually with four pairs or eight conductors. This is a high performance cable that is usually only used for data transmission. By twisting the pairs, the cable has a certain immunity to most unwanted interference infiltration. Category 5 UTP cable is probably the most common cable in the United States. It is typically used in the Ethernet networks. The Specified Frequency Range specification for this cable is 1MHz minimum to 100 MHz maximum. Attenuation specification for this category of cable is 24 dB. The NEXT specification for Category 5 UTP cable is 27.1 dB. Power-sum NEXT is not applicable and does not have a specification in Category 5 cable (UTP). 3.1 dB is the specification for ACR on this cable. Power-sum ACR also does not have a specification in Category 5 cable (UTP). The new specification requirement for ELFEXT is 17 dB in this category of cable. Power-sum ELFEXT has a new requirement for this specification that is 14.4 dB. The Return Loss for Category 5 cable (UTP) is 8 dB. This type of cable has a Propagation delay of 548 nsec and a Delay skew of 50 nsec.

The second type of Category 5 cable is Category 5E cable. This cable is an enhanced Category 5 cable (UTP). It is also made out of Unshielded Twisted Pairs of conductors, however this cable is made to more stringent standards than Category 5 cable (UTP). This cable was designed for transmission speeds of 1 gigabit per second maximum. The specified frequency range specification for Category 5E cable is 1MHz to 100 MHz. Attenuation specification for this cable category is 24 dB. The NEXT specification for Category 5E cable is 30.1 dB. The specifications for Power-sum Next and ACR for this type of cable are 27.1 dB and 6.1 dB, respectively. Power-sum ACR specification requirement is 3.1 dB. ELFEXT specification for Category 5E cable is 17.4 dB. Power-sum ELFEXT is 14.4 dB and Return Loss is 10 dB in specifications for this cable. The Propagation delay specification is 548 nsec and the Delay skew is 50 nsec.

Category 5 cable (SCTP) is another type of Category 5 cable. SCTP stands for Screened Twisted Pairs. This cable is almost the same as Category 5E cable, except it has a shield that gives extra protection to the twisted pairs of conductors from unwanted interference. There are different opinions on whether UTP or SCTP cable is the better option. With Category 5 cable SCTP the shield must be maintained by all components at all times. This cable is used almost completely by European countries. It is not really used in the United States at all. The specifications for Category 5 cable (SCTP) are the same as the specifications for Category 5E cable.

The next item to discuss is the Category 5E RJ45 jack. This item is a work area outlet . This jack has been engineered specifically to maintain the Category 5E cabling performance. It is a female jack that is modular and compact, has 8 conductors, and is typically used to end the Category 5E cabling at the location of the user or another location.

Now let's examine the Category 5E Patch Panel. This panel is just a single panel onto which has been condensed a series of many Category 5E jacks. Some usual configurations of these panels may consist of 12 ports, 24 ports, 48 ports, and 96 ports. These panels are usually employed where all of the horizontal sections of cable meet. Patch panels are generally used to connect the cable segments to the network hub.

The Category 5E Patch Cable is another aspect of Category 5 cable. This patch cable is made up of a length of Category 5E cable that has had a male RJ45 connector crimped onto either end of the cable. This patch cable is intended to give connectivity between two Category 5E female jacks (outlets). One of the most common areas for this Category 5E patch cable is to connect from hub to patch panel. Another common use for the Category 5E patch cable is to connect the computer to the jack (work area outlet).