A: The difference between Cat5 and Cat6 is in the bandwidth ratings. Cat5e has a higher bandwidth than Cat5. Cat6 has a higher rating than Cat5e. Higher bandwidth means you can transfer greater amounts of data at higher rates. Cat6 achieves higher bandwidth by reducing cross talk between the twisted pairs with the aid of a plastic spleen running through the length of the cable. They all use RJ45 connectors and are usually interchangeable depending on the bandwidth requirements of your devices.

A: Yes, Cat6 and Cat6a can be used together in the same setup, but the bandwidth that cat6a can support can be bottlenecked by using a cable that supports lower bandwidth which will affect your speeds.

A: Crossover cables cross the TX (transmission) and RX (Receiving) line on the cables so that two devices can communicate directly with each other without a switch or router in between to make the connection. These cables are commonly used in direct point to point connections between two computers and between two compatible video game consoles

A: Crossover cables cross the TX (transmission) and RX (Receiving) line on the cables so that two devices can communicate directly with each other without a switch or router in between to make the connection. These cables are commonly used in direct point to point connections between two computers and between two compatible video game consoles.

A: Cat6 and Cat6a were designed for Gigabit Ethernet and other standard network protocols, so they can both handle 10BASET, 100BASETX, 1000BASETX, and 10GBASET. The differences don't become clear until you start looking at speed and distance. Cat6 cable is rated for 250 MHz, so it has a reduced maximum length (3755 meters) when used for 10GBASET applications. On the other hand, Cat6a doubles that capability by performing at up to 500 MHz, which allows 10GBASET to be run over longer distances of up to 100 meters. Both Cat6 and Cat6a are backward compatible with Cat3, Cat5, and Cat5e.

A: Category 8, or just Cat8, is the latest IEEE standard in copper Ethernet cable. It represents a significant leap in data transfer speed over the earlier Cat7 and Cat6a cables. It uses standard RJ45 connectors and is backward compatible with previous standards. One of the key differences in Cat 8 cable is its shielding. As part of the cable jacket, a shielded or shielded twisted pair (STP) cable employs a layer of conductive material to protect the internal conductors from electromagnetic interference (EMI), resulting in faster data transmission speeds and fewer errors. Cat8 cable goes one step further, wrapping each twisted pair in foil to virtually eliminate crosstalk and enable higher data transmission speeds. The result is a heavier gauge cable that is quite rigid and difficult to install in tight spaces.

A: Yes, and also no. While Ethernet can be split, it does require specific hardware to do it. A network switch is used to send a signal from one Ethernet source to multiple devices.

A: Power over Ethernet (PoE) is technology that passes electric power over twisted-pair Ethernet cable to powered devices (PD), such as wireless access points, IP cameras, and VoIP phones in addition to the data that cable usually carries. It enables one RJ45 cable to provide both data connection and electric power to PDs instead of having a separate cable for each.

A: UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair and FTP is Foil Twisted Pair. Therefore, FTP is similar to standard UTP cable with the addition of a foil shield surrounding the inner cores, providing additional protection from EMI and additional external electronic noise interference.

A:You certainly can use Cat8 for gaming but it's more designed for high-speed switch to switch communication in a data center. Also, the heavier gauge Cat8 cable is quite rigid, making it more difficult to install and terminate. A better, more cost-effective choice for a "future-proofed" home network, and the best Ethernet cable for gaming, would be Cat6 or Cat6a cable.

A: Yes, but for most home applications Cat6a is more than sufficient. Most home network equipment cannot operate at Cat8 speeds, so Cat8 cable is a bit overkill. Due to its speed, which is much faster than most people need, Cat8 cable is best suited for data center applications.