Cat5 vs Cat6

[[GSV]Trig]

Were currently looking at the cabling for our new building and the 5v6 issues come up, I say we should go for 6 as we should get the best we can at the time, and its only about £1200 ontop of what were already spending for the 5 and its easier to have the 6 in there and keep it than a few years down the line decide we need something faster..
We'll be going VoIP on the new building and I've noticed on 5 as we are atm sometimes when the networks being hammered the phones are a bit crackly and we only have 4/5 IP phones at present...

[ikonia]

for £1200 in addition, do it, its well worth it, especially on services such as VOIP which will benifit from good transmition rates.

[DeludedGuy]

In theory, cat6 will minimise the NEXT and FEXT, giving you better call quality when using VOIP. Its virtually immune to external noise.

In a few years you will most likely have to change the cat5, costing you even more money, so go for cat6.

[[GSV]Trig]

Aye, pretty much what I was already thinking, the interiors guys were here earlier and I caught them as they were finishing with the projects manager, I asked how much, they told me so I said do it, the project manager had the normal "oi its my project and not your money" face on lol...

[Gr44]

Only thing to bar in mind if you intend to have patch racks - CAT6 is ALOT thicker. We've had problems in our IDC and have had to either get another rack or buy larger racks to fit the CAT6 in.

Of course, this depends on how many cables you're running... we had problems in 50u racks with 50 patch panels in (25 a side )

Would go CAT6 though, some CAT5 has also had problems catching fire, go a google and quote that to the project managers and see them sign the money off with ease!! : )

[Zak33]

Would go CAT6 though, some CAT5 has also had problems catching fire, go a google and quote that to the project managers and see them sign the money off with ease!! : )

nice spin...like ya style

[[GSV]Trig]

Were currently on 50 machines but the reason were moving to a new building is because of the rate of expansion so there needs to be covered...

[atrull]

take a look at what patchc offers - it may not apply to pre-wiring a building but patchc stuff certainly rocks in racks!

[TiG]

Trig - you got QoS on the switches for the IP phones?, i mean if you are getting crakling with 4/5 you could be a world of hurt if you've not got the switch configured to support QoS.

Cat 6 isn't going to help if the switch isn't setup to support Voip. What telephony switch you using?.

TiG

[[GSV]Trig]

No idea chap, the phones arent my job lol..
Well, there not at the mo, no doubt they will be after my chat with the boss where he gives me more money and doubles my work load....

[adam1701]

what sorta bw does voip use?

doesnt skype only use like 5kb/s??

[TiG]

Its not the bandwidth mate, its the quality of service, ensuring packets arrive in order so the speech isn't screwed up.

A lot more complicated than you'd imagine.

TiG