FAQs
Q: What are the main differences between Category 5e cable and Category 6?
A: Category 5e cable is 24AWG and Category 6 is typically 23AWG. Category 5e cable is tested to 100 MHz and Category 6 cable is tested to 250 MHz. Most Category 6 cables utilize a center filler to separate the pairs, while Category 5e does not. (However, some recent versions of Category 6 cable, including HCA's Category 6 ECO, do not.) Category 5e cable is designed to accommodate 10 and 100 megabit Ethernet. It can also handle 1000 megabit Ethernet. Category 6 cable was designed for 1000 megabit Ethernet as well as extended distance Power Over Ethernet.