articles

Home / DeveloperSection / Articles / A Layman’s Guide to Ethernet Network Technology and Cables

A Layman’s Guide to Ethernet Network Technology and Cables

Jennifer Truong1117 05-Jun-2018

You might not have a great chemistry with electronics. But in your day to day lives, you are sure to have come across long wires that power local area networks. These are known as Ethernet Cables. When it comes to LAN technologies, Ethernet technology stands out to be the fastest and the most popular one. Through this blog, we will acquaint you with the ins and outs of Ethernet technology and how it came into being.

History and Evolution of Ethernet Technology

Over the years, Ethernet technology has evolved a lot. New versions of these Cables have come up. And customers have bought several off the shelf cables for different purposes. Now, let us peek into the history of this technology.

In the year 1972, two engineers, namely D.R. Boggs and Bob Metcalfe developed Ethernet. Based on their work, industry standards were set under the IEEE 802.3 set of specifications. The specifications provide manufacturers with technical details and low-level data transmission protocols. It enables them to build electronic products like cords and network cables.

Sneak Peek into the Working of Ethernet Technology

The traditional technology supported data transfers at 10MBPS/second. As this speed was not enough for the increasing performance needs, industry experts created specifications for fast Gigabit Ethernet. It surpasses the performance of traditional Ethernet up to 100 Mbps. And of Gigabit Ethernet up to 1000 Megabits per second.

You can also find network cables with 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10,000 Mbps). Several organizations and businesses use it for their networks.

Ethernet Cables, Their Types and Purpose

Ethernet cables are majorly available in two forms. One, solid and two, stranded. Let us understand both along with their purposes.

    Solid Ethernet cables: These cables provide users with enhanced performance and better protection against electrical interference. You can use them for wiring office walls, business networks and other fixed locations.

    Stranded Ethernet cables: These cables are perfect for home networking setups. They are resistant to breaks and physical cracks.

Now, let us understand about their types:

Category 5, 6 and 7 are the most popular ethernet cables. Out of these, CAT5E and CAT6 cables support Gigabit Ethernet. If you want to connect the ethernet cord to network devices, you can plug it into the ethernet port.

Another popular cable type is - crossover cable. And what makes them different than traditional cables? Well, the traditional cables connect one computer to a switch/router. A crossover cable, on the other hand, connects Whereas, the crossover cables connect two computers with each other.

Drawbacks of Ethernet Cables
    1)Maximum Distance Capacity
Just like electric power cords, these cables have a maximum distance capacity. This means, there is an upper limit to their endurance before there is a signal loss. Also, there is an impact on transmission if there is an interference around the cable.

    2)Attenuation limit
Before attenuation, CAT5 cable can go up to 324 feet. CAT6, on the other hand; can go up to 700 feet. Despite of being longer, these cables might have signal loss if other electrical appliances surround it.

    3)CAT6A – When Strength Becomes Weakness
CAT6a cables are robust and work great when it comes to limiting interference. But their robustness and size often become a limitation when it comes to moving around. They are more expensive as compared to CAT5 and its subtypes.

Conclusion
We hope that the above given knowledge about Ethernet Cables and its working will assist you with the further purchase. Make sure you make the right choice!

Author Bio

Jennifer Truong is the owner of SF Cable, a california based online retailer of all kind of cables, wires and cords,CAT 5E Cables, CAT 6A Cables . Jennifer has extensive experience in the cable industry and blogs about its various aspects.


Updated 05-Jun-2018
SF Cable provides a huge selection of the highest quality cables, components, and accessories at the lowest prices with fast shipping and lifetime technical support!

Leave Comment

Comments

Liked By