To be able to surf the Internet, it is possible to do it both through Wi-Fi networks and also by cable. In the latter case, the type of cable is essential, since that will make the connection go faster, with more stability and even be able to go further without problems appearing. In this article we are going to talk about what are the numbers that appear on ethernet cables and why it is important to observe them.
Different Categories of Internet Cable
If you look at the Ethernet cables you have at home, for example to connect a computer to the router, it is very likely that you will see letters and numbers appear. You can see something like CAT5 or CAT6. This is very important, since not all cables are created equal. You can also see that it reports on the pairs of cables it has.
What does that mean CAT 5 or CAT 6? Basically it’s the Ethernet cable category. The higher the category, the better. It is essential to have a good cable to achieve good Internet speed and also avoid problems such as cuts or failures when browsing the network. If you use an old cable, you could not take advantage of the fiber optic rate you have contracted.
For example, if your cable is CAT 5 or lower (CAT 4, for example) you will be limited to maximum 100Mbps. This is known as FAST Ethernet and it means that your connection will not work beyond that speed. If, for example, you have contracted a fiber optic rate of 500 Mbps, if you connect by cable you will not have more than those 100 Mbps.
Instead, an Ethernet cable that is CAT 5e or higher (for example CAT 6) will allow you to connect to a speed up to 1Gbps. This will make it possible to make the most of the fiber optic rate that we have contracted. If you have up to 1 Gbps contracted, you will not have problems as long as it is a compatible cable. Even the latest ones support up to 10 Gbps.
ADSL cables, a problem today
An important problem is when we need an Ethernet cable to connect a computer, a television or any compatible device and we opt for an old one that we have at home from a ADSL-router. We think that we will be able to connect in the same way and the truth is that we will have Internet, but it will be more limited.
Normally, if we use an Ethernet cable from a old ADSL connection It does not allow us to connect at the speed required by current fiber optics. We will not be able to exceed those 100 Mbps and we will be limited. We will have problems downloading files at high speed, for example, or even if you connect a device very far from the router you could have problems.
Therefore, it is convenient that you always observe the category of the Ethernet cable. You can see the numbers that appear there, although they will not always be present. Choosing the right type of Ethernet cable will make your Internet connection work better, with fewer problems. The objective is to ensure that a computer, television or any device receives the best possible signal through the network cable.
