Introduction

The importance of the internet in our daily life is extremely high. Almost all people all over the world not only do their works but also recreate and socialize themselves using the internet. If we look at our homes to check the number of devices running with internet facility, we will see that there are many devices apart from our computers. So many electronic devices rely on the internet now. If we want to ensure a steady network in our daily life, there’s no alternative to using a high-quality cable.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable

Unshielded twisted pair cable is a special type of cable. In a UTP cable’s mantle, there are eight separate wires. These twisted wires are present in four pairs. The twisting of the wires in pairs is for preventing malfunctions. We can place a connector on the cables’ ends. These connectors are called RJ45 plugs. Signal transmission is the function of the wires.

Figure 1: UTP cable

Technically, UTP cables don’t have any wire protection. The U in the term UTP means Unshielded, after all. As “UTP cable” has a similar meaning to “networking cable,” these two are technically the same thing. For ensuring that there’s no unnecessary confusion, networking cables with protection or shields have dubbing with different abbreviations.

In a UTP cable, the internal cables’ thicknesses are expressed in AWG, which means American wire gauge. The AWG values in UTP cables are often 23 or 24 AWG. AWG’s rule is that if the number is lower, the cable will be thicker. It’s possible to explain due to the process of making the cable. It’s related to how quickly the cable gets pulled through a mold. If it happens more often, the cable will be thinner.

Category 5e Cable

There are various types of UTP cables. The differences between these cables are identifiable through a range of Categories. The categories start from CAT1 (Category 1), and CAT8 is also available at present. CAT5 is one of the categories, and CAT5e is an improved edition of CAT5. CAT5e cables have great crosstalk specifications, so they can support a maximum speed of 1 GBPS. At present, CAT5e is very popular for cabling specifications all over the world. Unlike other category cables, it’s very forgiving when guidelines for cable deployment and termination aren’t met.

The CAT5e specification is an improvement from the CAT5 specification by introducing and revising new specifications to mitigate the level of crosstalk. For both CAT5e and CAT5, the bandwidths are 100 MHz, and physical constructions are also the same. Most CAT5 cables meet the specifications of CAT5e cables, though these two cables’ certifications aren’t the same. However, CAT5e’s data rate is 1 GBPS, and CAT5’s data rate is 100 MBPS. In 2001, CAT5e became very popular to take the focus from CAT5.

Figure 2: Maximum data rate of UTP cables

The UTP CAT5e cable became extremely popular, and it replaced the traditional coaxial cable that couldn’t cope up with the continuously growing need for more reliable and faster networks. UTP5e cables have various types of applications, such as Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, FastEthernet, etc. Please learn another topic Which types of cable are better for Ethernet cabling?

Networks with UTP CAT5e Cables

• Due to the UTP CAT5e’s design, it’s very suitable for network cabling systems like office LANs. UTP CAT5e cables are thin, lightweight, and flexible. These cables are also inexpensive and versatile. As compared to shielded CAT5e cables, well-designed UTP CAT5e cables are simpler for both maintenance and installation. These features are extremely useful to networks.
• Devices (routers, switches, etc.) with the connection of CAT5e UTP cable should support the expected data speeds also. The cable technology has backward compatibility. The CAT5e cable has a 100 MHz bandwidth, but it’s available with a maximum of 350 MHz capability.
• While choosing a UTP CAT5e cable for a network, the user also has to consider color and length. CAT5e Ethernet cables have standard lengths like 1 to 10 meters. You can get cables with longer lengths also cables with customized lengths. The length of the cable mainly depends on the distance between the router or network switch and various network devices. CAT5e cables have all sorts of colors. Users can choose colors based on their tastes and preferences.
• Before using the UTP CAT5e cable, the final step is to test it with Specialized test equipment.Noyafa NF-8209 is such professional equipment, can be UTP CAT5e cable test results are displayed on the LCD screen.

Conclusion

The 100 MHz bandwidth of the CAT5e UTP cable is very impressive. Also, for more than 100 meters of cable, the speed can be up to 1 GBPS. The high bandwidth and speed are two special features of CAT5e UTP cables. CAT5e UTP crossover patch cables are good for connecting two similar types of devices. Also, during installation, a snag-less boot protects the cable from unwanted cable snags and ensures extra strain relief. If we consider all factors, CAT5e UTP cables are a great option for networks.