Ethernet cabling comes in a few different types, the most common being twisted pair and coaxial.
Twisted pair is the type of cable you’ll find in most homes and offices, and it consists of two insulated wires that are twisted around each other. Coaxial cable is thicker and has a single wire surrounded by an insulating material. It’s often used in cable TV installations.
There are also two different types of twisted pair cables:
- shielded
- unshielded
Shielded twisted pair (STP) has an extra layer of metal shielding around the wires, which helps to protect against electromagnetic interference (EMI). Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) doesn’t have this shielding and is, therefore, less expensive. However, it’s also more susceptible to EMI.
When it comes to Ethernet cables, there are also two different categories:
- category 5 (Cat5)
- category 6 (Cat6).
Cat5 cable is the most common type of twisted pair cable and can support data speeds up to 100 Mbps. Cat6 cable is the newer standard and can support data speeds up to 10 Gbps.
Which is the Best?
When choosing an Ethernet cable, you’ll need to decide which type of cable is best for your needs. If you’re just connecting a few devices in your home or office, then a twisted pair of cables should be fine.
However, if you’re connecting a large number of devices or need to transfer data at high speeds, then you’ll need to use a coaxial or shielded twisted pair cable. Cat6 cable is the best choice for high-speed data transfer, but it’s also more expensive than the Cat5 cable.
Uses of Ethernet Cable
Ethernet cable is most commonly used to connect computers to the internet, either directly or through a router.
It can also be used to connect other devices such as printers and scanners. Ethernet cables come in different lengths, so you’ll need to choose the right length for your needs. The longer the cable, the slower the data transfer speed will be.
If you’re connecting multiple computers to the internet, or need to transfer data at high speeds, you’ll need to use a router. A router is a device that connects two or more networks together.
Routers can be used to connect a home or office network to the internet, or they can be used to connect two or more networks together. When choosing a router, you’ll need to consider the number of devices that will be connected, the speed of the internet connection, and the security features that you need.
Ethernet cable is also used to connect devices such as printers and scanners to a computer. Most printers and scanners have a USB port, which can be used to connect them to a computer.
However, some devices only have an Ethernet port. If your printer or scanner doesn’t have a USB port, you’ll need to buy an Ethernet cable to connect it to your computer.