In the world of structured cabling, we regularly work with clients who ask us, “So, is Cat6A cable better than Cat6?” and “Which choice of cabling is right for my business?”
Ultimately, there is a simple answer here—if we are worried about performance alone with all else being equal—and that answer happens to be, “Yes, Cat6A is the preferred choice.” However, that doesn’t mean that Cat6A is heads and tails better than Cat6 as there are many factors that can be present when understanding the difference between the two.
In this blog, the cabling experts at Connectivity will outline the main differences between Cat6 and Cat6A cabling. Of course, with additional questions about what would be best for your cabling infrastructure, reach out to us directly.
A Technical Comparison Between Cat6 and Cat6A
The main differences between Cat6 and Cat6A are related to equipment requirements, the cost and ease of installation, and considerations related to future upgrades.
Some similarities between the two include:
Both support 10/100/1000 Mbp/s (megabits per second) speed to 328 feet (about 100 meters)
They are both constructed with eight copper conductors twisted into four pairs
They are terminated to TIA 568A or B color code specifications
Both have jackets made for different installation needs
They have internal cross skeletons called a spline—which is made of plastic to keep the pairs separated
Both can be shielded or unshielded
Now, conversely, here is how they are different:
Cat6A is made and terminated to tighter tolerances than Cat6, which means their copper conductors are more tightly twisted. In turn, higher specification patch panels, wall jacks, and RJ45 connectors are needed.
The speed for Cat6A is at least 500MHz, which allows 10 Gbp/s (Gigabits per second) up to 328 feet or 100 meters. On the flip side, Cat6 has a max speed of 250MHz and the length it supports is shorter. This can be less than ideal in heavy cross talk environments.
Copper conductors and jackets are usually thicker for Cat6A cable. This makes installation trickier and could drive up the price.
Other Considerations
Additionally, here are some other key considerations to be aware of when determining if Cat6A or Cat6 cable is right for you:
Equipment Requirements: Ensure you take stock of your existing equipment and check to see if your equipment requires or supports 10 Gbp/s (10,000 Mbp/s). Additionally, do you have plans to upgrade equipment in an effort to support higher speeds? If you answer yes, then Cat6A cabling is a good choice. If the answer is no, then the only thing that Cat6A provides is a higher cost and will not benefit you at all.
Cost & Ease of Installation: Installation processes for Cat6A cable are very different from that of Cat6 and is usually more expensive. Cat6A requires higher performance switches and additional networking hardware. Ultimately, Cat6A will require you to upgrade your entire network infrastructure and will be more labor intensive.
Future Upgrade Consideration: There are two situations where Cat6A cable is a good choice over Cat6. The first instance is that you plan to make a move to 10 Gbp/s speed and require long runs. The second is when you are installing cable where it would be economically unfeasible to re-run higher spec cable in the future.
Consult with Connectivity on Cat6 vs. Cat6A Cable
In closing, our team would welcome the opportunity to discuss the differences between Cat6 and Cat6A cable with you and learn about your individualized needs and goals. We would love to consult with you to ensure costs are controlled and network bottlenecks are eliminated.