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Thread: STP vs UTP Cat6a

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    STP vs UTP Cat6a

    Hi All

    I'm looking at getting some network cables installed at home. My current dilemma is whether to go cat6 or cat6a. I've not got any equipment which can utilise 6a currently but the price difference between the cables is negligible, apart from the cat6 cable being shielded and the 6a is not so the logic here being I may as well get a higher spec cable to future proof the install.
    The cable is going out the corner of the house, up the wall, across the loft and into the office so there shouldn't be any interference but these days who knows!

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    Re: STP vs UTP Cat6a

    I got cat7 despite the spec not really being fixed yet, thicker copper, each pair shielded. You need to read up on the earthing side of things to make sure it is for you as shielded going into an unshielded unearthed jack can cause issues but I wanted to fit the best I could. End of the day it will be in for years!

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    jim
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    Re: STP vs UTP Cat6a

    Quote Originally Posted by marshalex View Post
    Hi All

    I'm looking at getting some network cables installed at home. My current dilemma is whether to go cat6 or cat6a. I've not got any equipment which can utilise 6a currently but the price difference between the cables is negligible, apart from the cat6 cable being shielded and the 6a is not so the logic here being I may as well get a higher spec cable to future proof the install.
    The cable is going out the corner of the house, up the wall, across the loft and into the office so there shouldn't be any interference but these days who knows!
    As I recall Cat6 is rated for 10Gb ethernet over 55m, and Cat6a over 100m. Given that hardly anyone is running 10Gb ethernet, you would already be futureproofing.

    So if you're running cable lengths over 55m then by the spec you would want 6a. Given that you're not expecting any sources of interference I'm not sure that STP would benefit you.

    I doubt it would make all that much difference in practice, but for me I would just want to get the most future-proof cable, do it once, and avoid wanting to do it again.

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    Re: STP vs UTP Cat6a

    Quote Originally Posted by jim View Post
    As I recall Cat6 is rated for 10Gb ethernet over 55m, and Cat6a over 100m. Given that hardly anyone is running 10Gb ethernet, you would already be futureproofing.

    So if you're running cable lengths over 55m then by the spec you would want 6a. Given that you're not expecting any sources of interference I'm not sure that STP would benefit you.

    I doubt it would make all that much difference in practice, but for me I would just want to get the most future-proof cable, do it once, and avoid wanting to do it again.
    As Jim says, it doesn't matter. Go with whichever is easiest to install and terminate. Cat6 is rated for 55M at 10 Gbit. If your home is large enough for a run of more than 55 meters then pay one of your servants to fit fibre!
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    Re: STP vs UTP Cat6a

    Thanks for the advice guys.

    Cat6 seems to be the easiest to install and terminate from the look of the cable reel instructions I'd seen (the cat6a cable I was looking at mentions "the bend radius should be at least four times the outer diameter of the cable", which might make a neat installation outside a bit trickier).

    Distance is going to be under 20 meters from some rough maths so that won't be a problem. Tempted to go for the 6a (future proofing) but the bend radius thing I'd spotted on the cable was planning on buying is putting me off.

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    Re: STP vs UTP Cat6a

    Quote Originally Posted by marshalex View Post
    Thanks for the advice guys.

    Cat6 seems to be the easiest to install and terminate from the look of the cable reel instructions I'd seen (the cat6a cable I was looking at mentions "the bend radius should be at least four times the outer diameter of the cable", which might make a neat installation outside a bit trickier).

    Distance is going to be under 20 meters from some rough maths so that won't be a problem. Tempted to go for the 6a (future proofing) but the bend radius thing I'd spotted on the cable was planning on buying is putting me off.
    Cat 6 has similar bend radius requirements.

    A lot of the cat 6a I have seen just looks like cat6 with foil around each twisted pair TBH so the bend radius requirements may be the same.

    The cat6 I have has a cross shaped plastic separator running the length of the wire and more twists per metre than cat5e.
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