Category 5 cable#Category 5e

Category 5 is currently defined in ISO/IEC 11801, IEC 61156 and EN 50173, though it was originally defined in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A (with clarification in TSB-95).{{cite web |url=http://www.ense.be/PDF/2100.pdf |title=Additional Transmission Performance Guidelines for 4-pair 100 v category 5 Cabling |access-date=2013-05-12 |archive-date=2013-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005004127/http://www.ense.be/PDF/2100.pdf |url-status=dead }} These documents specify performance characteristics and test requirements for frequencies up to 100 MHz.

The cable is available in both stranded and solid conductor forms. The stranded form is more flexible and withstands more bending without breaking. Patch cables are stranded. Permanent wiring used in structured cabling is solid. The category and type of cable can be identified by the printing on the jacket.{{cite web|url=http://donutey.com/ethernet.php |title=Ethernet Cable Identification and Use |publisher=Donutey |access-date=2011-04-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710144347/https://donutey.com/ethernet.php |archive-date=2011-07-10 }}

The Category 5 specification requires conductors to be pure copper. There has been a rise in counterfeit cables, especially of the copper-clad aluminum (CCA) variety.{{cite web|url=https://www.flukenetworks.com/content/application-note-copper-clad-aluminum-cables |title=APPLICATION NOTE Copper Clad Aluminum(CCA) Cables |date=26 December 2013 |publisher=Fluke Networks |access-date=2021-04-07}} This has exposed the manufacturers and installers of such fake cable to legal liabilities.{{cite web|url=https://cccassoc.org/2012/10/26/potential-legal-liabilities-for-manufacturers-and-installers-of-category-communications-cables-made-with-copper-clad-aluminum-conductors/ |title=Potential Legal Liabilities for Manufacturers and Installers of Category Communications Cables Made with Copper Clad Aluminum Conductors |publisher= Communications Cable and Connectivity Association, Inc. (CCCA) |access-date=2021-04-07}}

File:Cat 5e cable - 1.jpg

The Category 5e specification improves upon the Category 5 specification by further mitigating crosstalk.{{cite web |url=http://www.scatmag.com/technical/techarticle_dec02.pdf |title=Understanding Cat - 5 Cables |publisher=Satelliete & Cable TV |access-date=2013-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515094403/https://www.scatmag.com/technical/techarticle_dec02.pdf|archive-date=2013-05-15}} The bandwidth (100 MHz) and physical construction are the same between the two,{{Cite web |url=http://www.tecdatawire.com/catspec.html |title=Cat5 Spec, cat6 specs, cat7 spec - Definitions, Comparison, Specifications |publisher=TEC Datawire |access-date=2013-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719071249/http://www.tecdatawire.com/catspec.html |archive-date=2013-07-19 |url-status=dead }} and most Cat 5 cables actually happen to meet Cat 5e specifications even though they are not certified as such.{{Cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200213071507/http://discountcablesusa.com/ethernet-cables100.html|url=http://discountcablesusa.com/ethernet-cables100.html|title=Comparison between CAT 5, CAT 5e, CAT 6, CAT 7 Cables |archive-date=2020-02-13|url-status=dead}} Category 5 was deprecated in 2001 and superseded by the Category 5e specification.{{cite web |url=http://www.axisnetworkcabling.com/voice-data-cabling-installers-company.html |title=Voice and Data Cabling & Wiring Installations |access-date=2013-05-12}}

The Category 6 specification improves upon the Category 5e specification by extending frequency response and further reducing crosstalk. The improved performance of Cat 6 provides 250 MHz bandwidth. Category 6A cable provides 500 MHz bandwidth. Both variants are backward compatible with Category 5 and 5e cables.

Cable types, connector types and cabling topologies are defined by ANSI/TIA-568. Category 5 cable is nearly always terminated with 8P8C modular connectors (often referred to incorrectly as RJ45 connectors{{Sfn | Trulove | 2005 | pp = 23, 132 | ps =: ‘Designing LAN Wiring Systems: The 8-pin modular jack is sometimes referred to as an "RJ-45", because the connector/jack components are the same. However, RJ-45 actually applies to a special purpose jack configuration that is not used in LAN or standard telephone wiring. […] Work Area Outlets: Modular jacks are often referred to as "RJ-45" jacks. This is not really the correct moniker, although it is in very common use.’}}{{cite book | last1 = Oliviero | first1 = Andrew | last2 = Woodward | first2 = Bill | title = Cabling: The Complete Guide to Copper and Fiber-Optic Networking | edition = 4th | date = July 20, 2009 | publisher = Sybex | isbn = 978-0-470-47707-6 | page = 294 | chapter = Connectors | quote = The RJ (registered jack) prefix is one of the most widely (and incorrectly) used prefixes in the computer industry; nearly everyone, including people working for cabling companies, is guilty of referring to an eight-position modular jack (sometimes called an 8P8C) as an RJ-45.}}{{cite book | last1 = Semenov | first1 = Andrey B. | last2 = Strizhakov | first2 = Stanislav K. | last3 = Suncheley | first3 = Igor R. | title = Structured cable systems | date = October 3, 2002 | publisher = Springer | isbn = 3-540-43000-8 | page = 129 | chapter = Electrical Cable Connectors | quote = The traditional 8-contact connector, which is called Western Plug, 8PMJ (8-position modular jack), 8P8C (8 position 8 conductor), or somewhat incorrectly RJ-45, is used widely in SCS practice.}}). The cable is terminated in either the T568A scheme or the T568B scheme. The two schemes work equally well and may be mixed in an installation so long as the same scheme is used on both ends of each cable.

Category 5 cable is used in structured cabling for computer networks such as Ethernet over twisted pair. The cable standard prescribes performance parameters for frequencies up to {{nowrap|100 MHz}} and is suitable for {{nowrap|10BASE-T}}, {{nowrap|100BASE-TX}} (Fast Ethernet), {{nowrap|1000BASE-T}} (Gigabit Ethernet), and {{nowrap|2.5GBASE-T}}. {{nowrap|10BASE-T}} and {{nowrap|100BASE-TX}} Ethernet connections require two wire pairs. 1000BASE-T and faster Ethernet connections require four wire pairs. Through the use of power over Ethernet (PoE), power can be carried over the cable in addition to Ethernet data.

Cat 5 is also used to carry other signals such as telephony and video.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1272242 |title=Transmitting video over CAT 5 cable |magazine=EE Times |date=2005-06-08 |access-date=2013-12-07 }} {{anchor|Shared cable}}In some cases, multiple signals can be carried on a single cable; Cat 5 can carry two conventional telephone lines as well as 100BASE-TX in a single cable.{{cite web |url=http://www.instructables.com/id/Hack-your-House-Run-both-ethernet-and-phone-over-/ |title=Hack your House: Run Both Ethernet and Phone Over Existing Cat 5 Cable |access-date=2016-08-15}}{{cite web |date=October 21, 2015 |publisher=zytrax |url=http://www.zytrax.com/tech/layer_1/cables/mixed.html|title=LAN and Telephones|quote=Since 10base-T or 100base-TX wiring uses 2 pairs (4 wires) and each analog phone connection uses a single pair (2 wires) you can, subject to limitations, run 2 telephone connections and LAN traffic on category 5(e) wiring.}}{{cite web|publisher=Siemon |url=http://www.siemon.com/uk/white_papers/06-05-12-cable-sharing.asp|title=Cable Sharing in Commercial Building Environments: Reducing Cost, Simplifying Cable Management, and Converging Applications onto Twisted-Pair Media|access-date=2014-04-28}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dual-comm.com/RJ45_RJ11_Cable_Share.htm|title=RJ45/RJ11 Network Cable Splitters for Ethernet and Phone Line Sharing|quote=carry one old fashioned analog telephone signal and one 10/100 Mbps Ethernet signal by the same single network cable.}}{{cite web |url=http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Reviews/Network/ats/index.html |title=ATS 10/100 Base T Splitter Adapters |publisher=Duxcw.com |access-date=2014-08-17 |archive-date=2015-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107194447/http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Reviews/Network/ats/index.html |url-status=dead }} The USOC/RJ-61 wiring standard may be used in multi-line telephone connections. Various schemes exist for transporting both analog and digital video over the cable. HDBaseT {{nowrap|(10.2 Gbit/s)}} is one such scheme.{{Cite news |title=HDBaseT Alliance Shows the Future of Connected Home Entertainment at CES 2013 |date=January 9, 2013 |author=HDBaseT Alliance |author-link=HDBaseT Alliance |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130109005445/en/HDBaseT-Alliance-Shows-Future-Connected-Home-Entertainment |access-date=2017-10-31 }}

The use of balanced lines helps preserve a high signal-to-noise ratio despite interference from both external sources and crosstalk from other pairs.

Outer insulation is typically polyvinyl chloride (PVC){{cite web

|url=https://www.cablewholesale.com/pdf/uspec_ethernet_technical-article_cablewholesale.pdf

|title=Specialized Ethernet Cable

|date=August 2016

|publisher=CableWholesale

}} or low smoke zero halogen (LS0H).{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Most Category 5 cables can be bent at any radius exceeding approximately four times the outside diameter of the cable.{{cite web |title=Selecting coax and twisted-pair cable |publisher=Electronic Products |url=http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Selecting_coax_and_twisted-pair_cable-article-belden-nov2005-html.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201021105/http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Selecting_coax_and_twisted-pair_cable-article-belden-nov2005-html.aspx |archive-date=2009-02-01 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.squidwire.com/cabling/category-5/ |title=Category 5 |access-date=2013-05-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601105100/http://www.squidwire.com/cabling/category-5/ |archive-date=2013-06-01 }}

The maximum length for a cable segment is {{convert|100|m|ft|sp=us}} per TIA/EIA 568-5-A.{{cite web|title=The Evolution of Copper Cabling Systems from Cat 5 to Cat 5e to Cat 6 |url=http://www.gocsc.com/UserFiles/File/Panduit/Panduit098765.pdf |access-date=2013-05-12 |date=2004-02-27 |publisher=Panduit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314150935/https://www.gocsc.com/UserFiles/File/Panduit/Panduit098765.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-14 }} If longer runs are required, the use of active hardware such as a repeater or switch is necessary.{{cite web |title=UTP technology |access-date=2013-05-12 |date=2001 |publisher=Extron Electronics |url=http://www.extron.com/download/files/whitepaper/cat5-white.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511012602/http://www.extron.com/download/files/whitepaper/cat5-white.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-11 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=CAT 5e Cable Wiring Schemes |publisher=B&B Electronics |url=http://bb-elec.com/tech_articles/NTRON_cat5e_cable_wiring_schemes.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005021505/http://www.bb-elec.com/tech_articles/NTRON_cat5e_cable_wiring_schemes.asp |archive-date=2012-10-05}} The specifications for 10BASE-T networking specify a 100-meter length between active devices.{{Cite document |title=IEEE Std 802.3-2008|publisher=Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers|year=2008|at=Table 13-1 }} This allows for 90 meters of solid-core permanent wiring, two connectors and two stranded patch cables of 5 meters, one at each end.{{cite web |url=http://www.thenetworkencyclopedia.com/d2.asp?ref=883 |publisher=The Network Encyclopedia |title=Horizontal Cabling |access-date=2013-05-12}}

Since 1995, solid-conductor unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables for backbone cabling is required to be no thicker than 22 American Wire Gauge (AWG) and no thinner than 24 AWG, or 26 AWG for shorter-distance cabling. This standard has been retained with the 2009 revision of ANSI TIA/EIA 568.{{cite web |url=http://www.csd.uoc.gr/~hy435/material/TIA-EIA-568-B.2.pdf |title=ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-2001, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard |page=6 ¶4.3.2}}

Although cable assemblies containing four pairs are common, Category 5 is not limited to four pairs. Backbone applications involve using up to {{nowrap|100 pairs}}.As noted in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B-2 standard for backbone applications

The distance per twist is commonly referred to as pitch. Each of the four pairs in a Cat 5 cable has a differing pitch to minimize crosstalk between the pairs. The pitch of the twisted pairs is not specified in the standard.

{{split|Twisted pair|date=June 2023|section=section|reason=Applies not only Cat 5, but to all communication cabling}}

Some cables are UV-rated or UV-stable meaning they can be exposed to outdoor UV radiation without significant degradation.{{Cite web |last=CIBSE |date=2000 |title=Understanding Building Integrated Photovoltaics - CIBSE TM25 - 5.8 Legislation. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). |url=https://app.knovel.com/hotlink/pdf/id:kt00U1HQK1/understanding-building/detailed-t-legislation |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=app.knovel.com}}

Plenum-rated cables are slower to burn and produce less smoke than cables using a mantle of materials like PVC. Plenum-rated cables may be installed in plenum spaces where PVC is not allowed.{{cite web|title=What are the differences between PVC, riser and plenum-rated cables? |url=http://sawaal.ibibo.com/computers-and-technology/oldest-answers/what-are-the-differences-between-pvc-riser-and-plenum-rated-cables-154825.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713001358/http://sawaal.ibibo.com/computers-and-technology/oldest-answers/what-are-the-differences-between-pvc-riser-and-plenum-rated-cables-154825.html |archive-date=2011-07-13 |url-status=dead}}{{self-published source|date=April 2018}}{{self-published inline|date=April 2018}}

Shielded cables (FTP or STP) are useful for environments where proximity to RF equipment may introduce electromagnetic interference, and can also be used where eavesdropping likelihood should be minimized.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation | last = Trulove | first = James | date = December 19, 2005 | title = LAN wiring | edition = 3rd | publisher = McGraw-Hill Professional | isbn = 0-07-145975-8}}

{{UTP Cable Standards}}

{{Telecommunications}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Category 5 Cable}}

Category:Ethernet cables

Category:Transmission lines