RJ45 cables are really those that are used for telephone connections, however, by extension or by habit, now we also call internet connection cables the same way.
They are essential cables for huge networking on which we
depend in our daily lives, since it is a key element in the use of I nternet
and is present in almost everything we do, not only domestically in our own
home , but professionally in offices, shops or bank branches.
These are normally not very long cables, with lengths between 1 meter and 25 meters and with two identical heads on both sides of the 8P8C type that give name to the electronic circuit that compose it (8 Pins and 8 Connectors).
What types or categories of RJ45 cables are there?
The main use that is given to this type of cables in the domestic environment is usually for the connection of our router to the general internet network. However, they are also used to connect the router to our desktop computers or any electronic device with network access , as long as we do not want to use the famous Wi-Fi for our connection. For this, we will have to place special emphasis on what type of Ethernet cable we need to get the best possible use of our network speed.
Types of cables according to their speed and frequency
It is importants to take into account what category of cable
we use since the network speed we can access will depend on it. For example, if
we have contracted a 600 Mbps connection, but our cable is only capable of
moving 100 Mbps, we would not be taking all the possible performance out of our
connection and wasting a lot of network speed. To correctly choose our cable,
we leave you an identification table in which we can compare the types of RJ45
cables available:
As we can see, there are different categories according to their speed, frequency and download speed and there are times when the speed can be the same between one cable and another, but the frequency is usually the differential factor in these cases.
How to differentiate these types of cables
The most common thing is that the cables have in some part
of their length some numbers and letters that define with which cable we are
dealing. It is these data that we have to fix in order to identify them. The
color of the cable or even its length is not really important . Although we do
have to bear in mind that the longer the cable, the lower the speed peak it can
transmit. For this reason, at the same speed and frequency, the shorter the
cable, the faster it can work.
Types of cables according to their protection and shielding
• UTP
(Unshielded twisted pair): This is the most common for domestic use but at the
same time it is the least suitable for installations that require embedding them
through the wall since they lack much protection.
• FTP
(Twisted pair with global screen): This type does have some protection that
wraps the threads to avoid external interferences.
• STP
(Shielded Twisted Pair): Its protection is superior to the other two types of
cables since they are covered by a conductive mesh.
• SFTP
(Shielded and screened twisted pair): Combines both protections already
mentioned while covering them with another protective mesh. These are the best
cables and at the same time the most expensive.
What cable should I use?
Obviously the choice of cable will be determined by the use that you want to give it at the same time as the installation system you want to use. However, for normal home use we could say that Category 5E and 6 cables are sufficient. Since at the moment with these cables we can transmit the speeds that the lines of the current operators offer us.
Regarding their protection, categories 5E and 6 usually come
with a UTP shield, but they are more than enough to connect devices to the
router and leave the cable exposed. On the contrary, if what we need is to
install cables embedded in our walls or ceilings, it is always better to use a
braided cable with a screen, such as FTP or STP.
To be sure that this recessed installation does not suffer
any worrisome incidents, it is advisable to have a MAPFRE Home Insurance that
guarantees its correct operation and possible maintenance.