Cat6 Cables (Patched)

It can be difficult to keep up with advances in Ethernet technology when you’ve got your attention focused on everyday business operations. Paying attention to Ethernet developments is important, though, if you want the maximum efficiency from your network. With much higher data transmission speeds now possible (and often required by today’s dependence on multimedia displays and big data transfer), older network cabling simply isn’t up to the task any longer.

Cat6 Cables

The standard used in the final years of the 20th century, Category 5 (or Cat5), could handle "fast Internet" speeds as high as 100 Mbps, but it was superseded in the early 21st century by Category 5e (or Cat5e) cables. The "e" stands for "enhanced," because the new standard was able to work with the Gigabit Ethernet speeds which had became prevalent – and in many cases, necessary.

A short time later, Category 6 (Cat6) standards were introduced, still designed for Gigabit Ethernets, but with greatly increased bandwidth (250 Mhz vs. 100 Mhz) as well as better protection against crosstalk, electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. The better performance was made possible by the construction of Cat6 cables; they use thinner wires and have better insulation, notably small separators between each of the twisted pairs of conductors which carry data.

The bottom line: both types of cable are capable of the same high speeds on your Ethernet installation, and Cat5e cables are still perfectly functional and widely used. But Cat6 cables deliver vastly improved performance. Cmple has an enormous selection of both types available, but we’d recommend Cat6 cables. Not only will they perform better, but they will have a longer "useful" lifespan before even newer Ethernet technology comes along.

Cat6 Patch Cables

Most Ethernet connections are made over short distances, hooking up two network devices to each other or making easily-switchable connections in what’s known as a patch panel. These types of cables, understandably, are known as patch cables. They are sometimes distinguished from the standard, long Ethernet cables used to wire a full computer network by the designation "Cat5e cables (patched)" or "Cat6 cables (patched)."

In reality, the major difference between standard and patch cables is simply their length, and the major reason to use patch cables is for convenience. You can certainly take a long run of Ethernet cable and cut it into smaller patch cables, but then you’d also have to hook up connectors on each end of the patches – not the easiest thing in the world to do, and definitely time consuming. It’s much easier just to purchase Cat6 patch cables in the exact length you need for each application.

There are two other differences you’ll find between patch cables and standard Ethernet cabling. The first is that you’ll often experience faster-than-normal data transfer with Cat6 patch cables, because their short length makes higher bandwidth possible. For example, Cat6 Ethernet cable nominally provides 250 Mhz of bandwidth over its length but a short patch cable may provide as much as 500 Mhz, since the run is so short and the cable is designed to be efficient.

You’ll also find that Ethernet patch cables are usually more flexible than standard cabling, making them easier to bend in small spaces without breaking the conductors inside. This is done by using stranded instead of solid wires inside the cable. It’s not necessary to use this type of flexible cable in order to connect two network devices or to work with a patch panel, but it’s a nice feature and makes Cat6 cables (patched) less expensive than they would be if made from standard Cat6 Ethernet cable.

In summary, if you need short Ethernet cables, patch cables are definitely the way to go. And Cmple’s huge variety of Cat6 patch cables makes it easy to find exactly what you need.

Cmple’s Cat6 Cables (Patched)

At Cmple, we believe in providing the highest-quality products at the lowest price point possible. You’ll find that our Cat6 patch cables are much less expensive than the ones you’d pick up at a big box or electronics store, yet they’re just as good.

Our Cmple patch cables meet or exceed all Category 6 specifications – which guarantees that their performance will equal that of the obscenely high-priced brand-name cables like Monster. Cmple cables are carefully designed for optimal performance and data transfer integrity, even at the highest speeds.

The stranded conductors are made from high-quality copper-clad aluminum (CCA), with the necessary separators and insulation required for complete protection against interference and crosstalk. They’re wrapped in a sturdy polyvinyl chloride (PVC) jacket which can stand up against the pushing and pulling often associated with work in tight spaces, as well as the stress of everyday use. And the connectors are attached to the cable with a molded strain relief feature, so you won’t have to deal with broken wires once your patch cables are in place.

Most stores that carry Cat6 patch cables have a very small selection of lengths and colors available; after all, they only have a small amount of shelf space available, so they only offer a limited variety of each cable they stock. Cmple doesn’t have that problem, since we have plenty of these Cat6 cables (patched and standard) in our inventory.

We let you choose from short patch cable lengths of 1.5, 3, 5 and 7 feet, intermediate-length Cat6 patch cables that are 10, 15 and 25 feet, and even long runs of 50, 75 and 100 feet. Many people opt to create their own patch cables from standard Ethernet cable if they have to accommodate those long runs, but it’s definitely simpler to pick up a pre-manufactured patch cable with connectors already installed on each end.

Cmple also gives you the biggest choice of patch cable colors you’ll find anywhere. Our cables come in black, pink, white, blue, gray, purple, yellow and red, so whether you want to quickly identify a connection by color, match an existing décor, or make a "fashion statement" with funky-looking cables, we have you covered.

Any modern Ethernet installation needs Cat6 patch cables, and even people with a desktop computer and a few peripherals know that these cables can really come in handy. At prices that will only run you a buck or two per cable (or even less for the shortest patches), it makes sense to stock up and have them available whenever you need to grab one.