What are CAT6 Cables?
Category 6 cable (CAT6) is a data transmission cable for computer networks 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T/1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet). It has 8 wires, twisted together to form 4 pairs. The twist rate of the pairs are at different intervals across the paired colours throughout the cable to reduce cable noise known as crosstalk.
Category 6 (CAT6) cable adds more stringent specifications for crosstalk than CAT5e and is backwards compatible with CAT5/CAT5e systems.
The construction of CAT6 cables vary slightly according to use. The conductors can be made as one thick solid core of copper, as is commonly used for fixed installation of the cable, the main advantage to this being the price, there are less manufacturing processes required to produce this cable and is therefore available on the market cheaper than the other process, which is to used stranded conductors. Stranded conductor cable is recommended for making patch leads to connect your PC or games console to a switch or router, this type is commonly known as patch cable. Due to the nature of stranded conductors this cable is more flexible, and therefore more suitable for patching.
The maximum allowed length of a CAT6 cable is 100 metres when used for 10/100/1000baseT and 37 metres when used for 10GbaseT. This applies for UTP cables only. Shielded (FTP) CAT6 cables are capable of 10GbaseT up to 100m.
For installations requiring mechanical protection, Armoured CAT6 Cable (or CAT6 GSWB Cable) is recommended. This is usually available in an external sheath compound also making it suitable for burying into the ground.
CAT6 cables are so widely used, anything from networking, to entertainment systems they are widely available in a vast array of outer sheath colours and material types. Sheath colours are purely cosmetic, and do not affect the cable in any way. Having a wide variety of colours to choose from allows you to use colours to easily identify your cable according to use.
There are different sheath materials, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) which is the most common form of jacket material is only suitable for indoor use. LSOH, LS0H or LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) is a type of material that when burned, give off below 0.5% of HCI (Hydrogen Chloride). PE (Polyethylene) is suitable for external use. You may of also come across the term LSF. This means low smoke and fume, it is based on PVC but has a slightly modified compound which in return produces slightly less HCI than PVC. Be careful not to get the term "Low Smoke" confused with LSF. If you need a Low Smoke cable to comply with Fire and Safety regulations, LSF or Low Smoke and Fume will likely not suffice, you need to ensure you purchase Low Smoke Zero Halogen.