802.3/Ethernet Standards

UTP

• Twisted pair WITHOUT shielding

• pros: more flexible/lightweight/easier to install/cheaper

• cons: less protected from interference and noise

STP

• Twisted pair WITH shielding

• pros: protected against EMI, used in environments with lots of interference

• cons: more expensive, harder to install

100Mbps

CAT5 max speed

100 meters

CAT5 max distance

100 MHz

CAT5 max frequency

100 BASE-T or Fast Ethernet

CAT5 is also called

100 meters

CAT5e max distance

100 MHz

CAT5e max frequency

1 Gbps

CAT5e max speed

1000 BASE-T or Gigabit Ethernet

CAT5e is also called

10 Gbps

CAT6 max speed with 55 meters or less

1 Gbps/1000 Mbps

CAT6 max speed with 100 meters or less (but more than 55)

250 MHz

CAT6 max frequency

1000 BASE-T, or Gigabit Ethernet

CAT6 is also called

10 Gbps

CAT6a max speed

100 meters

CAT6a max distance

500 MHz

CAT6a max frequency

10G BASE-T or ‘10-Gigabit Ethernet’

CAT6a is also called

600 MHz

CAT7 and CAT6a are exactly the same, except CAT7 has a max frequency of ____

40 Gbps

CAT8 max speed

30 meters

CAT8 max distance

2000 MHz/2 GHz

CAT8 max frequency