Question : What is difference between Cat5 and Cat5e cable. Will they both work on the same 10/100 network?

What is the difference between Cat5 and Cat5e patch cables? Will they both work on the same 10/100 network ? Both work thru the same 10/100 hub?










 

Answer : What is difference between Cat5 and Cat5e cable. Will they both work on the same 10/100 network?

Cat5e (e=Enhanced) is "enhanced" by virtue of the "off pairs" (the ones not usually used for 10/100 ethernet - 4&5, 7&8) are also qualified to the same spec as the usual Ethernet pairs (1&2, 3&6).

Gigabit Ethernet uses all four pairs, transmitting in both directions (on all four pair) at the same time.

Check out the Tech Library at www.anixter.com - it has some good papers on the differences. Some studies say that 5e may be worse than regular Cat5 for 10/100 because it does such a good job at returning the signal back towards the transmitter. On regular Cat 5, that signal would be more attenuated and of no consequence; with 5e, that signal is propagated more efficiently and can cause more interference.

For a hime network, it's just not worth worrying about. Chances are you can get Cat5e for the same or better price, it'll work fine. If you're doing you own cables, make sure you also get Cat5 / 5e certified ends and terminate it properly, according to the EIA/TIA spec.

If you don't use the collrect pair-order (color sequence), then you'll be able to run at 10Mbps fine, but 100Mbps will be slow (usually a split pair on 3&6).

Good Luck

Scott