A History of Ethernet Cables

Cables.com carries Category 5e, Category 6, Category 6A, Category 7, and Category 8 ethernet cables. This wide variety of cables is sure to meet your ethernet needs. 

As communication and business needs have evolved over the years, technology has evolved along with them. Devices that were once clunky and consumed lots of space can now fit in your pocket. They aren't just smaller, either - they're faster and more reliable than ever, too. While there will always be a place for analog solutions - consider the resurgence of vinyl's popularity, for example - there's an overall expectation that technology should develop in expectation of meeting our fast-paced lifestyle. Despite this, though fiber optic and wireless connections are generally the go-to, there are plenty of environments where a wired ethernet connection is still ideal. Let's consider how ethernet technology has developed over the years, and take a look at what Cables.com has to offer. 

The Early Days of Ethernet

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) released its first official Ethernet standard in 1983. The standard specified the speed of the single band and the maximum length the cable could carry the signal. Not long after, IBM introduced a cable called the “Token Ring” in 1984, which could carry  4 Mbps over a LAN using a two-pair, shielded cable. Like many early computing devices it was never widely adopted, as it was too costly and too big.

Ethernet cables advanced rapidly in speed and bandwidth through Cat 1, an unshielded twisted-pair cable introduced in 1985 with a data rate of 1 Mbps. Cat 2 followed quickly with a speed of 4 Mbps. Cat 3 used four twisted pairs and was able to carry 10 Mbps with a 16 MHz bandwidth. Starting with Cat 3, Ethernet cables were able to carry voice, data, and video signals over a single cable. Cat 4 cables were used primarily in “Token Ring” setups and carried a once-unimaginable 16Mbps.

Twisted-pair copper cables were already in use by 1987. In 1991, the Telecommunications Industries Association (TIA) and the Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA) released their first joint telecommunications cabling standard, EIA/TIA 568, enabling the creation of structured cabling systems.

When Cat 5 was introduced in 1995, innovation accelerated. Cat 5 was dual rated at 10/100 Mbps with 100 MHz bandwidth and the ability to send video, phone, and data signals up to 100 meters (328 feet) without amplification. Enhanced Cat 5, or Cat 5e, was a leap forward in speed with a rate of one Gbps and 100 MHz bandwidth but a shorter length (55 meters) for full signal.

Beginning with Cat 6, cables continued advancing in bandwidth. Shielded versions reduced interference and attenuation. Speed and bandwidth for the latest versions in the history of Ethernet cables are:

• Cat 6a: Speeds up to 10 Gbps with a bandwidth of 500MHz, introduced in 2008; available in shielded versions only.
• Cat 7: Came out in 2010, increasing bandwidth to 600 MHz using more shielding.
• Cat 7a: Another leap in bandwidth to 1.2 GHz.
• Cat 8: Used primarily in data centers, Cat 8 takes speeds up to 40 Gbps and bandwidth to two GHz over a reduced length of 30 meters.

Ethernet Cables at Cables.com

Today, the most commonly used cables include Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A. Newer versions of Ethernet cables may be shielded, heavier, stiffer, and more expensive, but our cables are always competitively priced. 

You can find our Category 5e ethernet cables featuring snagless boots, ensuring a snug, secure fit, or bootless. Either way, they'll feature 24awg copper wire and 50 micron gold plated connectors.

Our Category 6 and 6A cables are our most popular ethernet cables. You can purchase your Cat6 ethernet cable with a slim 28awg jacket, which occupies only half the space of a traditional network patch cable at a diameter of just .149 inches in diameter. 

Our Category 6A ethernet cables are designed to perform at speeds much faster than current Category 6 cables, allowing you to achieve 10GB performance over copper up to 100 meters without the use of any media converters. Depending on the nature of your installation, you might consider purchasing your Cat6A cables for direct burial outdoors. These outdoor cables are waterproof and UV-resistant, and they're backed by a lifetime guarantee - run them, and forget about them!

Questions?

If you have any questions for us regarding our cables, feel free to Contact Us or email us at sales@cables.com!

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