Network cables are a type of cable used to transmit network signals, and according to different standards and performance, network cables can be divided into different categories, such as Category 5, Category 5e, Category 6, Category 6e, Category 7, etc.1. Different categories of network cables have different transmission frequencies, transmission rates, anti-interference, prices, etc., so not all network cables are the same.

Generally speaking, home or factory, units use twisted pair, usually we say network cable, which also mostly refers to twisted pair1. The twisted pair is composed of two copper wires with an insulation protection layer, which are twisted together at a certain density, effectively reducing the degree of signal interference2. The twisted pair is generally composed of two 22-26 gauge insulated copper wires twisted together, and the name of the twisted pair is derived from this1.

The category of twisted pair mainly depends on its transmission frequency and transmission rate, transmission frequency refers to the frequency bandwidth of the cable, representing the number of oscillations of the electrical signal in the line per unit of time; transmission rate refers to the number of bits (bits) transmitted per second, representing the amount of data transmitted per second2. Here are some common categories of twisted pair comparison:

Category 5 cable: The outer side of the cable has a CAT.5 mark, the highest transmission frequency is 100MHz, and the transmission rate is 100Mbps, suitable for below 100M network, but currently is no longer used2. Category 5e cable: The outer side of the cable has a CAT.5e mark, the transmission frequency is the same as Category 5, but the highest transmission rate is 1000Mbps, suitable for gigabit network2. Category 6 cable: The outer side of the cable has a CAT.6 mark, the transmission frequency is 250MHz, and the highest transmission rate is 1Gbps, suitable for gigabit network2. Category 6 cable will have a built-in "cross skeleton" in the line, separating the four pairs of twisted pairs, reducing the signal interference between each other, stronger anti-interference, and better transmission stability2. Category 6e cable: The outer side of the cable has a CAT.6e mark, the maximum transmission frequency is 500 MHz, and the transmission speed is 10Gbps, suitable for 10G network2. Category 7 cable: The latest type of shielded twisted pair, Category 7 core wire is about 0.57mm copper wire, is high purity oxygen-free copper, which can ensure ultra-low resistance and, thus can transmit farther, more stable. Performance-wise, Category 7's highest transmission frequency is 600Mhz, the transmission rate can reach 10Gbps2. In addition, there is another way to distinguish network cables based on whether there is a shielding layer, The shielding layer is a layer of metal shielding layer inside the insulation layer, which can further reduce the external electromagnetic interference, and improve the signal stability2. Shielded network cable price is more expensive than unshielded network cable and unshielded network cable transmission speed is faster2. Generally for home use, do not need to consider shielded network cable, unshielded is enough2.

In summary, all network cables are not the same, they have different categories and performance, suitable for different network environments and needs. When choosing network cables, you need to consider your actual situation, consider the length of network cables, transmission frequency, transmission rate, anti-interference, price, and other factors, and choose the appropriate network cable.