Due to the wide variety, one might be confused while selecting the right LAN cable. LAN cables may look the same but have major differences depending on the categories, cables types, and vendors. The appropriate LAN cables will help realize better connections. Aspects like network cable types, quality, performance, and cable price will impact the selection.
Before installing the LAN cable, you need to know the configuration of what the cable is intended for. The network cable categories are defined by the speed of the Internet you are using. It would be a waste of resources to spend on a 10Gbps CAT7 cable if you are not going to utilize the 10Gbps speed of the Internet to match it.
The table below shows us the performance of these different network cable categories
The quality of the copper conductor affects the performance of the cable. Copper-clad aluminum cables, standard copper cable, oxygen-free copper cable, and bare copper cables are available in the industry.
The purity of the copper determines the quality of the LAN cable. The purer the copper is, the less signal loss you will suffer. Oxygen-free copper cable is the best conductor with copper purity up to 99.95%.
A cable sheath is the outermost layer of a LAN cable whose major function is to protect the insulation and conductor from external physical forces and chemical deterioration. CM, CMR, and CMP are the most common LAN cable ratings as per the international standards.
PVC, LSOH, Polyethylene sheaths are commonly used in patch cabling environments.
PVC cable is widely used in indoor applications such as computers, communications, and low voltage cabling. LSZH cables are slightly higher in cost than PVC cables and its mainly used in confined spaces with large amounts of cables in close proximity to humans or sensitive electronic equipment.
UTP, FTP, FFTP, SFTP are the major construction types available in the industry. UTP cables are most suitable for LANs and similar network cabling systems. While offering less protection from interference, unshielded cables are popular because they are lightweight and inexpensive.
Shielding reduces the crosstalk of the cable. The more shielding layer a cable has, the less crosstalk it will suffer. FFTP, SFTP cables are specifically suitable for environments where there is a high chance of electronic interference.
The Fluke Test is considered as the most authoritative criteria for judging the quality of a LAN cable, which tests the quality according to different cable standards, such as ANSI/TIA, ISO/IEC 11801, etc.
And more on there as multiple compliances certifications are available based on industry standards and regional standards requirements like FORCE, RoHS, CE, UL, etc.
The final aspect that one must look into is the length of the cable. The below table will help you select the suitable cable length based on your requirement.
