Cat5 and Cat6 Ethernet cables

Cat6 ethernet cable — the standard for the home

A Cat6 cable supports 1 Gbps internet and local networking over up to 100 m, and higher speeds over shorter runs. It is a safe choice for your router, console, smart TV with streaming apps and gaming PC. Cat5e cables also carry 1 Gbps and are fine wherever your connection does not exceed a gigabit. Cat6A is an enhanced version that carries 10 Gbps over the full 100 m — a good choice for a NAS and a 10 Gbps switch. Ready-made patch cables have RJ45 plugs that fit routers, switches, network cards and wall sockets.

UTP or FTP, flat or round

• UTP — unshielded twisted pair. Light and flexible, and perfectly adequate in a flat or house.
• FTP — twisted pair with foil shielding. Copes better with interference when the cable runs next to power cables, extension leads with chargers or AV equipment.
• Flat cable — fits under doors, rugs and along skirting boards. Versions with metal plugs stand up better to frequent plugging and unplugging.
• Round cable — stiffer, and works well when routed through cable trays and behind furniture.

How to choose the right ethernet cable length

Measure the route the cable will take rather than the straight-line distance, and add about a metre to spare for connecting it. A 1–3 m cable is usually enough for a console or TV next to the router, 5–10 m for a computer on the other side of the room, and a 15 or 20 m ethernet cable for the next room. An ethernet extension cable with an RJ45 socket lengthens a cable that is already in place without running a new one. Cable on a reel, in turn, lets you wire your home and terminate the runs with RJ45 plugs or wall sockets matched to the cable's conductor type.

When the cable runs next to electrical wiring or you need full shielding, choose Cat7 ethernet cables. You will find plugs, couplers and sockets in the network plugs, couplers and accessories category, and a laptop without a LAN port can be connected with a USB ethernet adapter. The full range is in the Ethernet category.

Frequently asked questions

Which ethernet cable do I need for fibre broadband?

For fibre up to 1 Gbps, a Cat6 cable is enough — even Cat5e will do. For 2–5 Gbps packages Cat6 is still enough — 2.5 Gbps even runs over Cat5e — while for 10 Gbps choose Cat6A or Cat7. Also check that your router and network card have 2.5 Gbps or faster ports.

Does the ethernet cable make a difference?

Yes, when it is damaged or of too low a category — a working cable of the right category will not limit your speed. An old, crushed or damaged cable can cap the connection at 100 Mbps — the network card then shows 100 Mbps instead of 1 Gbps — and a loose plug causes dropouts. A working Cat6 cable will not slow down a 1 Gbps connection.