Meta Description: Cat6a cable’s performance is directly affected by the length at which the cable is run. At the standard run length of 100 meters, the cable can perform at up to 10 GBit/s.
The Cat6 ethernet cable has a lightning-fast 10 GBit/s data transfer speed with a 750 MHz bandwidth capacity. This speed and bandwidth capacity makes this cable ideal for high-speed applications in both residential and commercial networks. However, certain factors affect the performance of the cable. Among them are shielding, jacket, conductor type, and last but not the least, the length of the cable. These factors, including the length of the Cat6a Cable, affect its performance.
In this blog, we will be looking at how the Cat6a cable performance is affected by its length. Before we begin, note a few things: length of the cable refers to the length at which the cable is run. By discussing the performance of the cable, about its run length, we will be discussing its speed, bandwidth, reliability, safety, and other factors as well.
So, without further ado, let’s begin understanding what the 1000ft Cat6a Cable and its plenum and riser variants are.
What is Cat6a cable?
If you do not know enough about the Cat6a cable, you cannot possibly understand the impact of length on its performance. So, let’s begin by understanding the Bulk Cat6a cable and its performance.
This cable is the 6th augmented category of ethernet cables. It was rolled out in the recent past as an improved and augmented version of category 6 of ethernet cables. Category 6 ethernet cables, like other categories of ethernet cables, feature 23 AWG twisted pair wires that are8 in total. And are produced in three different types of jackets. But this cable is produced in only two types of jackets and one type of conductor.
Limitations on its specifications are placed to keep its quality at a maximum.
Cat6a Conductor and Performance
The cat6a ethernet cable comes only with a bare copper or pure copper conductor. This conductor is the most efficient element for data transfer. Because bare copper is a ductile and corrosion-resistant material, it lasts longer and performs better.
Cat6a conductor comes in two different types. Solid and stranded. The solid bare copper conductors are made from a single piece of metal. This single piece of metal is an excellent choice for outdoor and long-distance use. Because outdoors, it can be installed easily and it keeps the signal integrity at a maximum. Moreover, solid bare copper is also more resilient to EMI and crosstalk.
The stranded cable is made from multiple strands of bare copper. This type of copper conductor is better used indoors. Because they are flexible, they can be easily installed in indoor tricky runs. However, because of the much larger surface area around these conductors, they tend to entertain more EMI and crosstalk than their solid counterparts. But their performance despite that remains unaffected overall.
Cat6a jackets vs performance
Bulk Cat6a cable comes in two jackets. Unlike Cat6 and Cat5e cables which come in three different jackets. Plenum and riser are the only jackets these cables come with.
Although both jackets have very little to affect cable performance, they are worth discussing. Take, for example, the Cat6a plenum jacket. It is made from the most premium quality materials that are resistant to heat, flame, humidity, etc. Due to these features, it is installed indoors in plenum spaces and that is why it is called a plenum jacket. Moreover, the CMP jacket also does not emit any toxic smoke in case of a fire event. And therefore, it is safe for installations in indoor open spaces.
Similarly, the Cat6a riser cable is also resistant to heat, humidity, flame, etc. It is also coated with a flame retardant material that makes it safe and ideal for use in indoor vertical runs. The Riser Cat6a cable is also used outdoors due to its more affordable price.
Overall, the cable jacket has very little to no effect on the performance of the Cat6a cable. However, the cable’s lifespan is directly related to its jacket. A plenum jacket, for example, lasts longer than the riser, and therefore, the plenum cable will also last longer.
Note: The effect of the cable jackets on the lifespan of the cable is more or less avoidable by using the cables in their respective places.
Cat6a run length vs performance
The run length of the cable is perhaps the most important factor that affects the performance of the Cat6a cable 1000ft.
Let us briefly explain what a run length is. It is simply the length at which the cable is run. The standard run length for ethernet cables is 100 meters. Meaning that ethernet cables, including the Cat6, are designed to perform at their optimum over this length.
Now, the Cat6a cable’s performance is directly affected by the length at which the cable is run. At the standard run length of 100 meters, the cable can perform at up to 10 GBit/s. When you run the cable at lengths longer than 100 meters, its chances of reaching the 10-gigabit speeds decreases. And as you run the cable at lengths shorter than 100 meters, the cable will perform much better.
The signal integrity will be more reliable, the connection will not be interrupted, etc, etc.
