A thorough comparison of LAN cable standards: from categories and types to the differences with coaxial cables 

The communication speed of LAN cables connecting computers and routers varies greatly depending on the "standard (category)." There are also many different types, with or without "shielding" to prevent the effects of noise, and differences in "shapes" for easier wiring.

Furthermore, it is also different from the "coaxial cable" used for TV antennas. In this article, we will explain the standards and types of LAN cables, as well as the differences between them and coaxial cables in an easy-to-understand manner. Choose the best cable and create a comfortable network environment.

LAN cable standards

LAN cable standards include important criteria for stable data transfer, such as communication speed and frequency band. There are many different types, each with different maximum speeds and recommended usage environments.

First, let's explain the LAN cable standards.

What are LAN cable standards?

LAN cable standards are determined by multiple factors such as communication speed, supported frequencies, and internal structure.

Specifically, the maximum communication speed and upper limit of the frequency band are clearly defined for each category, such as Cat5 and Cat5e.

For example, Cat5e is 1Gbps, while Cat6 is 1Gbps to 10Gbps (depending on the environment), so the approximate transfer speed varies depending on the type. These standards are established and managed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrical and Electronics Industry Standards (IEC), and are used as internationally unified standards.

Therefore, cables with the same category label have the same basic performance anywhere in the world.

We have summarized the major LAN cable standards. Please use this as a guide for comparison.

Standard name	Maximum communication speed	frequency band	Maximum Transmission Distance (Recommended)	Features
Cat5	100Mbps	100MHz	About 100m	Old generation, currently deprecated
Cat5e	1Gbps	100MHz	About 100m	An improvement over Cat5. The most popular.
Cat6	1Gbps	250MHz	About 100m	High noise resistance
Cat6A	10Gbps	500MHz	About 100m	Higher than Cat6. Supports high-speed communication.
Cat7	10Gbps	600MHz or higher	About 100m	Shield structure is standard equipment
Cat7A	10Gbps or higher	About 1000MHz	About 100m	Supports higher frequencies than Cat7
Cat8	25-40Gbps	About 2000MHz	About 30m	Highest standard. For data centers.

Relationship between standards and protocols

The performance of the communication protocol used by LAN cables is a major factor that determines the actual communication speed. A protocol is an agreement that determines the procedure and format of data transmission, and a typical example is Ethernet.

Even within this Ethernet standard, the maximum transmission speed varies depending on the type, such as 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-T, so in some cases the upper limit of communication is determined not only by the physical performance of the cable but also by the protocol chosen.

On the other hand, using high-speed protocols requires a high-category cable to support them. In other words, by combining a high-standard cable with a high-performance communication protocol, you can maximize the theoretical speed.

LAN cable types (shielded)

There are LAN cables that are shielded to protect against external electromagnetic waves and those that are not.

This article explains unshielded UTP cables and shielded STP cables.

UTP Cable

STP cable is an abbreviation for "Shielded Twisted Pair." It has an additional shielding layer that covers the twisted wires with metal foil, which is expected to reduce the effects of external noise.

Therefore, it is suitable for use in factories and server rooms where there are a lot of electromagnetic waves. However, it tends to be a little more expensive than general UTP cables, and the cable itself is also a little stiffer, which can make wiring work more difficult.

Furthermore, the full effect will not be obtained unless the shields are securely connected to earth. Depending on the site, grounding work or a dedicated connector may be required, so careful selection is required based on the environment and cost when introducing it.

LAN cable types (shapes)

LAN cables come in different shapes and thicknesses, and you need to choose the one that best suits your installation location and wiring route.

Here we will introduce the features of each of the most common LAN cable shapes.

• Standard Cable
• Slim Cable
• Flat Cable

Standard Cable

A standard cable is a LAN cable of standard thickness and is the most widely used.

It contains twisted pair wires inside and is used in a wide range of environments, from homes to offices.

Thicker cables are physically stronger and less likely to break even when frequently plugged in and unplugged, or if the cable gets caught on someone's foot.

On the other hand, it is somewhat bulky when bundled, so care must be taken when passing it through narrow spaces or gaps in walls. However, if the cable length is short, it is not a big burden to store, so it is an ideal basic wiring method.

Slim Cable

Flat cables have a flat cross section and are thin and wide. They have the advantage of being unnoticeable when passing through gaps in doors and windows and taking up little space. They are also attractive because they do not create unevenness when laid on floors or walls, and they do not spoil the interior design.

However, bending the cable too much can easily break the conductor, so it is best to avoid sharp bends in the middle of wiring. Also, some products have weaker noise countermeasures due to their flat structure, so you need to be careful about where you use them and how you handle them to maintain stable high-speed communication.

If you can take these factors into consideration, this shape is extremely useful in situations where you don't want the cable to be noticeable.

Differences between LAN cable and coaxial cable standards

LAN cables, which are commonly used in computer networks, and coaxial cables, which are used to connect television antennas, may look similar, but their structure and uses are very different.

Each of these cables is designed for a different purpose and has different electrical characteristics and signal transmission methods.

Here we will explain the differences in standards and characteristics between LAN cables and coaxial cables.

• Differences in cable structure
• Differences in standards and signal transmission methods
• Differences in performance and uses

Differences in cable structure

A LAN cable is made up of twisted pairs of wires inside, while a coaxial cable has a central conductor and an outer conductor (braided shield or metal foil) arranged coaxially.

LAN cables use a twisted pair structure to make them resistant to external noise, and further measures may be taken depending on whether or not they are shielded, such as with UTP and STP. Coaxial cables transmit high-frequency signals efficiently by placing an insulator between the central conductor and the outer conductor.

In addition, coaxial cables are physically stiff and often weak when bent, so LAN cables are often easier to handle when doing wiring that requires flexibility.

Differences in standards and signal transmission methods

LAN cables are primarily optimized for digital communication protocols such as Ethernet, while coaxial cables are used for both analog and digital signal transmission in a wide range of fields, including television broadcasting, wireless communication, and video transmission.

Furthermore, coaxial cables have standard impedances such as 50Ω and 75Ω, and are selected according to the application. For LAN cables, each category (Cat5e, Cat6, etc.) indicates the standard for supporting the communication speed and frequency band of the Ethernet standard.

A notable feature of coaxial cable standards is that their characteristics change depending on factors such as the thickness of the central conductor, the material of the insulator, and the structure of the outer conductor.

Differences in performance and uses

While LAN cables have continued to increase in maximum communication speed to 1Gbps or 10Gbps, coaxial cables have strengths in areas such as video transmission and high-frequency communications.

For example, coaxial cables, which have little attenuation even over long distances and can transmit video with stable quality, are still the mainstream for television broadcasting and cable television wiring. On the other hand, LAN cables are widely used in situations where high-speed and flexible digital communication is required, from home networks to large-scale data centers.

These differences in use are based on the frequency bands, signal formats, and structural characteristics of each cable. It is important to choose the optimal cable while taking into account the operating environment and required bandwidth.

Summary

In this article, we have explained the basics about LAN cable standards, which are essential for a comfortable Internet environment.

It is important to select a cable that takes into consideration the usage environment, budget, noise, etc., as well as performance, ease of handling, and ease of wiring. This will result in improved network speed and stability.

Based on this information, choose the cable that best suits your environment and purpose, and achieve more stable, high-speed communication.