Category 6 Cable And Cabling System FAQ

Note: The following FAQs were developed by the Category 6 Consortium. The Category 6 Consortium is an emerging working group whose mission is to create market and industry awareness - as well as demand - for cabling systems and components based on TIA's new category 6 cable standard, TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1. To learn more about the Category 6 Consortium and to participate, please contact Andy Dryden at (703) 907-7702 or email adryden@tiaonline.org

Q1:Why do I need all the bandwidth of category 6 cable? As far as I know, there is no application today that requires 200 MHz of bandwidth.
Q2:What is the general difference between category 5e and category 6?
Q3:Will category 6 cable supersede category 5e cable?
Q4:What does category 6 do for my current network vs. category 5e?
Q5:When should I recommend or install category 6 vs. category 5e?
Q6:What is the shortest link that the standard will allow?
Q7:What is a "tuned" system between cable and hardware? Is this really needed if product meets the standard?
Q8:What is impedance matching between cable and hardware? Is this really needed if product meets the standard?
Q9:Is there a use for category 6 cable in the residential market?
Q10:Why wouldn't I skip category 6 and go straight to optical fiber?
Q11:What is meant by the term "Electrically Balanced"?
Q12:What is the difference between enhanced category 5e cable rated for 400 MHz and category 6 cable rated for 250 MHz?
Q13:Why did all category 6 cable used to have a spline, and now is offered without one?
Q14:Is there a limitation on the size of bundles one can have with category 6? Can you have 200-300 and still pass category 6?
Q15:Will contractors be able to make their own patch cords?
Q16:Do you have to use the manufacturer's patch cords to get category 6 performance?
Q17:Why do field tester manufacturers offer many different link adapters if everyone meets the standard?
Q18:Would you get passing test results if you used a link adapter not recommended by a manufacturer?
Q19:Is there any product categorization for Category 5e cabling and Category 6 cabling? Are the connectors for Category 5e cable and Category 6 cable different? Why are they more expensive?
Q20:What will happen if I mix and match different manufacturers' hardware together?

Cabling System Manufacturer and a Cabling Solution Provider