Among different ethernet cables Cat5e (100 Mbps), Cat6 (1000 Mbps), and Cat6a (10 Gbps) the war between Cat6 vs Cat6a will always be at the top. You know that LAN cables are frequently used for transferring bulk information in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, the Cat6 vs Cat6a network cable is more stable and good for the industrial cabling option.
Both cables Cat6a vs Cat6 are commonly used for commercial and industrial applications to support bulk server speeds here the bulk speed refers to the Gigabit or above. You need to know some techniques to install Cat6 plenum cable or Bulk Cat6a Plenum for industrial networking wiring. So, let’s start the debate by pointing out some of the major hidden secrets about the Cat6 Vs Cat6a Ethernet Cables.
What is an Industrial Ethernet Cable?
The term industrial ethernet cable refers to the high-quality cables that are designed to be installed in tough industrial environments. The more accepted LAN cables for networking are the cat6 ethernet cable and the Cat6a Plenum Cable. The industrial LAN cables have the same functionality but are manufactured to withstand:
- Extreme Temperatures — Hot or cold storage facilities
- Moisture and Dust — can handle wet or dusty conditions without losing signal integrity
- Chemicals and Oils — Resist damage from chemicals and oils used in factories
- Vibration and Flexing — bear vibrations and movements without breaking signals
| Traits | Standard Ethernet Cable | Industrial Ethernet Cable |
| Material | Polyvinyl Chloride | FEP or Tinned copper for fire safety and optimum performance |
| Shielding | Less Shielded | More Shielded to avoid EMI or RFI |
| Environment | Less EMI/EFI environments | Harsh Industrial Applications |
| Key Considerations | Speed and Cost | Durability and Performance |
| Durability | Less Durable | Highly Durable |
What is the Industrial Protocol For Ethernet?
The reality check about the Ethernet Industrial Protocol is not real. Instead, an Ethernet Cable is a protocol that is used for transmitting electrical signals (Data Packets). The protocols for industrial ethernet are Safety, High Data Transmission Rates, Durability, Longevity, and Performance. One thing remains constant, if you adopt the right cable jacket and the right conductor type (Solid Copper) you are on the right track.
However, according to Cat6 vs Cat6a, several protocols are maintained to maximize the use of Cat6 Plenum 1000ft or Cat6a Plenum Cable to create a better communication network. Here is a breakdown of the industrial ethernet cables.
- Industrial Ethernet — This uses standard but durable design ethernet cables like Cat 6a plenum cable or the cost-effective Cat6 plenum 1000ft bulk cables. The only demand is high data transmission and the proper signal coverage.
- Industrial Protocols — this defines some set of rules to define how devices interact and communicate with one another.
To understand the Standard Ethernet and Industrial Ethernet Cables read the following information in the below table and a glance at the difference between the two specific cable standards.
| Attributes | Standard Ethernet Cables | Industrial Ethernet Cables |
| Purpose | UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) general-purpose LAN cables for office or house needs. Cat6 Plenum Ethernet cable is a good example | Shielded twisted pair cables (F/UTP, F/FTP) to stabilize the signal and data transfer ratesCat 6a Plenum is a fine example |
| Durability | Depending on the installation needs they are particularly durable. | Demands a highly durable cabling solution designed to withstand high-temperature ratings, moisture, and dust along with chemicals |
| Material | According to the choice PVC or FEP if needs fire safety regulations | FEP cables (Plenum) to avoid fire and protect the internal structure of the cable |
| Shielding | Not suitable for standard ethernet cabling. The price is the main issue. | Highly active EMI and RFI environments only demand shielded Cat6 Plenum Shielded cables to ignore interference |
| Environment | Office, Home, and SMEs that are not vulnerable to the interference | Commercial and industrial needs. Education sectors, hospitals, and other data centers that only need speed and performance |
| Key Considerations | Undisturbed speed and cost are the primary factors | Reliability, Durability, and Performance are the key considered and prioritized |
| Data Transfer Rates | Often needs less than 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps speed | Supports 10 Gbps speed depending on the cable category |
| Applications | This needs connecting computers, printers, switches, and modems to work seamlessly | Factory Automation, Individual control systems, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, and Process Control |
| Standards | ANSI, TIA/EIA-568.2 are more favorable standards accepted | UL-910 for fire safety and ETL are the most favorable choices that meet the fire safety and performance standards |
| Cost | Less expensive | Most expensive cables to buy as there is no need for the low-graded ethernet cables |
| Examples | Cat6 Plenum Cable, Bulk Cat6a Plenum cables are the most common examples | UL-listed and ETL-listed Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a cables are highly in demand for Industrial cabling. |
Which One is Better (Cat6 Vs Cat6a)?
Bulk Cat6 Plenum cable and Cat 6a Plenum cable have similarities but some differences when you compare them in depth. You better need to understand the similarities of Cat6a Plenum 1000ft with its previous bulk Cat6 plenum cable.
Similarities between Cat6 Vs Cat6a will eventually describe the need and potential usage with your networking server.
- Both have twisted pair designs (Tight Twisting)
- RJ45 connectors for termination process
- Support T568A and T568B wiring standards
- Both have spline twisted pair separator
- Excellent performance over longer runs
- Industry compliance ANSI/TIA-568.2
- 23 AWG conductor size
Ideally, the cat6 plenum ethernet cable and Cat6a plenum both can be used for gigabit networking but there is a slight difference in the speed between the Cat6 plenum and Cat 6a plenum cable.
The cat6 plenum cable supports 1 Gbps speed over longer distances (100 meters) and 10 Gbps over 164ft respectively. The bandwidth of Cat6 cable is 550 MHz and for Cat6a plenum is 750 MHz and for longer and shorter distances cat6a plenum cable can support 10 Gbps speed.
Final Thought
Cat6 vs Cat6a are two favorite LAN cables for gigabit speed. There is no need to use both these modern ethernet cables with older network equipment as you won’t get the right speed you want for your networking needs or send bulk files.
Besides, you should check what are the ideal speed ratings that your ISP has provided you, and according to that if there is a need to upgrade the speed you can make possible changes to the networking server speed.
