Innovative Business Solutions - 01284 729869
Cat5e Cabling Guide
Although the actual bandwidth – 100Mhz – is identical to Category 5 (Cat 5), there were a number of important new performance parameters contained within this specification. The new parameters in Cat 5e include Equal Level Far End Cross Talk (EL-FEXT) Return Loss and various Power Sum measurements.
Cat 5e has been widely adopted throughout the market and is backwards compatible with all previous classes of performance. This means the accidental use of a Cat 5 cable or the patch cord will not cause your network to crash and you’re guaranteed to maintain at least Category 5 performance.
Finally and perhaps most significantly there is a real, available application designed
for Cat 5e Gigabit Ethernet.
Cat 5e systems are available in both unshielded and shielded
versions. The unshielded system offers a choice of standard and high density patch
panels and Cat 5e cables. Both are available in either Black or Beige allowing clear
identification of voice and data services or departments within a building.
The unshielded patch panels and modules are also available in blue, green and red that can help network managers to easily identify between particular services or departments. Whether you’re installing a Category 5e or Category 6 system a clear easy to use labelling system is paramount to any installation, Excel patch panels can be labelled by using either a self adhesive system, or by use of the optional slide label carrier strip included with each panel.
In 2000 we saw the ratification and publication of a new standard Category 5e (Cat 5e) cable, the ‘e’ meaning 'enhanced'.
Category 5e is developed jointly by both the ISO and EIA/TIA. Cat 5e was designed specifically for protocols such as Gigabit Ethernet and other full duplex applications, which will inevitably appear in future years.