Why Cat 6 Is a Game Changer

Are you looking to enhance your business internet? Then it’s time to upgrade to Cat 6 cabling. Category 6 cable is a type of twisted-pair cable standard used specifically in gigabit Ethernet-based computer networks. It was jointly defined and specified in 2002 by the Electronics Industries Association and Telecommunication Industries Association (EIA/TIA). Keep reading to learn more about why Cat 6 cabling is a game-changer.

How Cat 6 Cable Works

Category 6 cables support gigabit ethernet data rates of 1 gigabit per second. With cat 6 cables, your business can accommodate 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections over a certain distance – typically around 180 feet for a single cable. Cat 6 cables produce an optimal performance because of their use of four pairs of copper wires. This type of cabling can be identified by its printed “Cat 6” text along the insulating sheath.

Cat 6 vs. Cat 6a

While Cat 6 cables are great for your business, Cat 6a cabling is even better. Cat 6a, or Category 6 Augmented cable standard, was created to further improve the performance of Cat 6 Ethernet cables. Cat 6a cables enable 10 Gigabit Ethernet data rates over a single cable run of 328 feet. On the other hand, Cat 6 supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet but only up to 164 feet of cable length. The best type of cable for your business will depend on your business needs and goals.

Cat 6 vs. Cat 5e

Another type of cabling you may have heard of is Cat 5e. This type of cabling also has four wire-pairs but only uses two of the pairs. Cat 5e was standardized earlier than Cat 6 cables and lacks some of the technical improvements that went into Cat 6. However, Cat 5e cables still support Gigabit Ethernet installations at a lower cost. Cat 5e cabling became a popular choice for businesses because it’s less expensive than Cat 6 cabling and offers acceptable performance for Gigabit Ethernet.

Limitations for Cat 6 Cables

Nothing is perfect, and that same principle applies to Cat 6 cables. As with all other types of twisted pair EIA/TIA cabling, individual Cat 6 cable runs are limited to a maximum recommended length of 328 feet for optimal connection speeds. Cat 6 cabling supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections but not throughout its entire distance.

Learn More About Cat 6 Cabling

Want to learn more about Cat 6 cables and why they’re a game-changer? Blue Star Technologies is here to help. Our Maryland cabling experts will answer any questions you may have, set up your network, and ensure that it’s running smoothly. Contact us now to learn more.

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When our system went down Bluestar Technologies was there to quickly get our organization up and running again.

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Bluestar Technologies handled all of the cabling for our new office. The job was done professionally and on time. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a quality networking company.

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Allegany County

Cumberland, Cumberland, Cumberland, Cumberland, Cumberland, Barton, Corriganville, Eckhart Mines, Ellerslie, Flintstone, Frostburg, Lonaconing, Luke, Midland, Midlothian, Mount Savage, Oldtown, Pinto, Rawlings, Spring Gap, Westernport, Little Orleans

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Anne Arundel County

Lothian, Laurel, Churchton, Deale, Fort George G Meade, Friendship, Shady Side, Galesville, Harwood, West River, Tracys Landing, Arnold, Crownsville, Davidsonville, Edgewater, Gambrills, Gibson Island, Glen Burnie, Glen Burnie, Glen Burnie, Hanover, Harmans, Linthicum Heights, Mayo, Millersville, Odenton, Crofton, Pasadena, Pasadena, Riva, Severn, Severna Park, Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Annapolis, Annapolis, Annapolis, Annapolis, Annapolis, Annapolis, Annapolis, Annapolis

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Baltimore County

Baldwin, Boring, Brooklandville, Butler, Chase, Cockeysville, Hunt Valley, Fork, Fort Howard, Freeland, Glen Arm, Hunt Valley, Glyndon, Hydes, Kingsville, Long Green, Lutherville Timonium, Lutherville Timonium, Maryland Line, Monkton, Owings Mills, Parkton, Perry Hall, Phoenix, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Riderwood, Sparks Glencoe, Stevenson, Upperco, Upper Falls, White Marsh, Towson, Gwynn Oak, Pikesville, Sparrows Point, Middle River, Essex, Dundalk, Halethorpe, Catonsville, Parkville, Nottingham, Rosedale, Windsor Mill, Baltimore, Towson, Pikesville, Towson, Towson, Towson

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Baltimore City

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Calvert County

Barstow, Broomes Island, Dowell, Huntingtown, Lusby, Port Republic, Prince Frederick, Saint Leonard, Solomons, Sunderland, North Beach, Chesapeake Beach, Owings, Dunkirk

20610, 20615, 20629, 20639, 20657, 20676, 20678, 20685, 20688, 20689, 20714, 20732, 20736, 20754

Caroline County

Bethlehem, Denton, Federalsburg, Goldsboro, Greensboro, Henderson, Hillsboro, Marydel, Preston, Ridgely, Templeville

21609, 21629, 21632, 21636, 21639, 21640, 21641, 21649, 21655, 21660, 21670

Carroll County

Finksburg, Hampstead, Lineboro, Manchester, Marriottsville, Westminster, Westminster, Keymar, New Windsor, Sykesville, Taneytown, Union Bridge

21048, 21074, 21088, 21102, 21104, 21157, 21158, 21757, 21776, 21784, 21787, 21791

Cecil County

North East, Perry Point, Perryville, Port Deposit, Rising Sun, Warwick, Cecilton, Charlestown, Chesapeake City, Childs, Colora, Conowingo, Earleville, Elk Mills, Elkton, Elkton, Georgetown

21901, 21902, 21903, 21904, 21911, 21912, 21913, 21914, 21915, 21916, 21917, 21918, 21919, 21920, 21921, 21922, 21930

Charles County

Waldorf, Bel Alton, Benedict, Bryans Road, Bryantown, Charlotte Hall, Cobb Island, Faulkner, Hughesville, Indian Head, Ironsides, Issue, La Plata, Marbury, Mount Victoria, Nanjemoy, Newburg, Pomfret, Port Tobacco, Rock Point, Welcome, White Plains

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Dorchester County

Cambridge, Church Creek, Crapo, Crocheron, East New Market, Fishing Creek, Hurlock, Madison, Rhodesdale, Secretary, Taylors Island, Toddville, Wingate, Woolford, Linkwood, Vienna

21613, 21622, 21626, 21627, 21631, 21634, 21643, 21648, 21659, 21664, 21669, 21672, 21675, 21677, 21835, 21869

Frederick County

Frederick, Adamstown, Braddock Heights, Brunswick, Buckeystown, Burkittsville, Emmitsburg, Ijamsville, Jefferson, Knoxville, Ladiesburg, Libertytown, Middletown, Monrovia, Mount Airy, Myersville, New Market, New Midway, Point Of Rocks, Rocky Ridge, Sabillasville, Thurmont, Tuscarora, Unionville, Walkersville, Woodsboro

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Garrett County

Accident, Bittinger, Bloomington, Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, Mc Henry, Oakland, Swanton

21520, 21522, 21523, 21531, 21536, 21538, 21541, 21550, 21561

Harford County

Aberdeen, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Abingdon, Gunpowder, Bel Air, Bel Air, Belcamp, Benson, Churchville, Darlington, Edgewood, Fallston, Forest Hill, Havre De Grace, Jarrettsville, Joppa, Perryman, Pylesville, Street, Whiteford, White Hall, Dhs

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Howard County

Dhs, Annapolis Junction, Laurel, Fulton, Savage, Highland, Jessup, Clarksville, Dayton, Ellicott City, Ellicott City, Ellicott City, Columbia, Columbia, Columbia, Elkridge, Simpsonville, Woodstock, Cooksville, Glenelg, Glenwood, Lisbon, West Friendship, Woodbine

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Kent County

Betterton, Chestertown, Galena, Kennedyville, Massey, Millington, Rock Hall, Still Pond, Worton

21610, 21620, 21635, 21645, 21650, 21651, 21661, 21667, 21678

Montgomery County

Bethesda, Bethesda, Glen Echo, Bethesda, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Bethesda, Cabin John, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Olney, Olney, Brookeville, Poolesville, Barnesville, Beallsville, Boyds, Dickerson, Rockville, Rockville, Rockville, Rockville, Rockville, Rockville, Rockville, Potomac, Derwood, Rockville, Potomac, Sandy Spring, Ashton, Brinklow, Burtonsville, Spencerville, Clarksburg, Damascus, Germantown, Germantown, Germantown, Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Washington Grove, Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Montgomery Village, Bethesda, Kensington, Bethesda, Bethesda, Kensington, Garrett Park, Suburb Maryland Fac, Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring

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Prince Georges County

Accokeek, Aquasco, Brandywine, Cheltenham, Southern Md Facility, Lanham, Beltsville, Beltsville, Lanham, Laurel, Laurel, Laurel, Bladensburg, Mount Rainier, Bowie, Bowie, Bowie, Bowie, Bowie, Bowie, Bowie, Brentwood, Laurel, Laurel, Capitol Heights, Clinton, Riverdale, Riverdale, College Park, College Park, College Park, Capitol Heights, Fort Washington, Oxon Hill, Suitland, District Heights, Temple Hills, Fort Washington, Oxon Hill, Suitland, District Heights, Temple Hills, Andrews Air Force Base, Greenbelt, Glenn Dale, Greenbelt, Greenbelt, Upper Marlboro, Upper Marlboro, Upper Marlboro, Upper Marlboro, Hyattsville, Hyattsville, Hyattsville, Hyattsville, Hyattsville, Hyattsville, Hyattsville, Capitol Heights, Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro, Southern Md Facility, Capitol Heights

20607, 20608, 20613, 20623, 20697, 20703, 20704, 20705, 20706, 20707, 20708, 20709, 20710, 20712, 20715, 20716, 20717, 20718, 20719, 20720, 20721, 20722, 20725, 20726, 20731, 20735, 20737, 20738, 20740, 20741, 20742, 20743, 20744, 20745, 20746, 20747, 20748, 20749, 20750, 20752, 20753, 20757, 20762, 20768, 20769, 20770, 20771, 20772, 20773, 20774, 20775, 20781, 20782, 20783, 20784, 20785, 20787, 20788, 20790, 20791, 20792, 20797, 20799

Queen Anne’s County

Barclay, Centreville, Chester, Church Hill, Crumpton, Grasonville, Ingleside, Price, Queen Anne, Queenstown, Stevensville, Sudlersville, Chestertown

21607, 21617, 21619, 21623, 21628, 21638, 21644, 21656, 21657, 21658, 21666, 21668, 21690

Saint Mary’s County

Abell, Avenue, Bushwood, California, Callaway, Chaptico, Clements, Coltons Point, Compton, Dameron, Drayden, Great Mills, Helen, Hollywood, Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Loveville, Mechanicsville, Morganza, Park Hall, Patuxent River, Piney Point, Ridge, Saint Inigoes, Saint Marys City, Scotland, Tall Timbers, Valley Lee

20606, 20609, 20618, 20619, 20620, 20621, 20624, 20626, 20627, 20628, 20630, 20634, 20635, 20636, 20650, 20653, 20656, 20659, 20660, 20667, 20670, 20674, 20680, 20684, 20686, 20687, 20690, 20692

Somerset County

Crisfield, Deal Island, Ewell, Manokin, Marion Station, Princess Anne, Rehobeth, Tylerton, Upper Fairmount, Westover, Westover

21817, 21821, 21824, 21836, 21838, 21853, 21857, 21866, 21867, 21871, 21890,

Talbot County

Easton, Bozman, Claiborne, Cordova, Mcdaniel, Neavitt, Newcomb, Oxford, Royal Oak, Saint Michaels, Sherwood, Tilghman, Trappe, Wittman, Wye Mills

21601, 21612, 21624, 21625, 21647, 21652, 21653, 21654, 21662, 21663, 21665, 21671, 21673, 21676, 21679

Washington County

Big Pool, Boonsboro, Brownsville, Cascade, Cavetown, Chewsville, Clear Spring, Fairplay, Funkstown, Hagerstown, Hagerstown, Hagerstown, Hagerstown, Hagerstown, Hagerstown, Hancock, Keedysville, Maugansville, Rohrersville, Saint James, Sharpsburg, Smithsburg, Williamsport

21711, 21713, 21715, 21719, 21720, 21721, 21722, 21733, 21734, 21740, 21741, 21742, 21746, 21747, 21749, 21750, 21756, 21767, 21779, 21781, 21782, 21783, 21795

Wicomico County

Salisbury, Salisbury, Salisbury, Salisbury, Allen, Bivalve, Fruitland, Hebron, Mardela Springs, Nanticoke, Parsonsburg, Pittsville, Powellville, Quantico, Sharptown, Tyaskin, Willards, Delmar

21801, 21802, 21803, 21804, 21810, 21814, 21826, 21830, 21837, 21840, 21849, 21850, 21852, 21856, 21861, 21865, 21874, 21875

Worchester County

Berlin, Bishopville, Eden, Girdletree, Newark, Ocean City, Ocean City, Pocomoke City, Showell, Snow Hill, Stockton, Whaleyville

21801, 21802, 21803, 21804, 21810, 21814, 21826, 21830, 21837, 21840, 21849, 21850, 21852, 21856, 21861, 21865, 21874, 21875, Worcester 21811, 21813, 21822, 21829, 21841, 21842, 21843, 21851, 21862, 21863, 21864, 21872