Can I fit a CAT6 cable into CAT5e sized holes?
- Thread starter Givemema
- Start date
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greens
Splendid
- Jan 27, 2012
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Cat 6 is ever so slightly thicker because of the number of twists inside the cable.
It is functionally the same thickness though, its really tough to say, i'm almost certain you'd be able to get CAT6 in a CAT5e hole.
But why bother? CAT6 isn't any faster than CAT5e in the vast majority of situations.
drtweak
Illustrious
- Sep 17, 2012
- 6,343
- 75
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Depends. the CAT6 i get is actually quite a bit thicker thanks to the plastic insert in the middle to keep the 4 pairs apart. If the hole was EXCACTLY the size of a CAT5e then probably not. If it i was a little bigger then it should fit.
If you are replacing cat5 with cat6 why bother? Unless it is close to the 100M max length or unless you plan on running 10G connection there is no real world benifit to cat6
If you are replacing cat5 with cat6 why bother? Unless it is close to the 100M max length or unless you plan on running 10G connection there is no real world benifit to cat6
I'm trying to make sure I dont get any interference as I suspect that I do get some with my current CAT5e.
That's why I decided to change to a CAT6.
Also, my CAT5e has been placed about 6 years ago, so it's time to change as I'm pretty sure it's damaged - it has a part exposed to sun.
That's why I decided to change to a CAT6.
Also, my CAT5e has been placed about 6 years ago, so it's time to change as I'm pretty sure it's damaged - it has a part exposed to sun.
- May 18, 2007
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How do you know you are "getting interference" on your cat5? What is it used for?
Some LAN chipsets have diagnostic utilities that let you read the TX and RX error count. If you transfer a few GBs over the LAN and see a low error count, then you have no noise or interference issue to speak of.
Some LAN chipsets have diagnostic utilities that let you read the TX and RX error count. If you transfer a few GBs over the LAN and see a low error count, then you have no noise or interference issue to speak of.
CCurious
Commendable
- Oct 10, 2016
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Thickness of cat6 depends on the gauge, if its shielded, and if there is a center spine. I'm pretty sure cat6 and up all have spines that their 4 pairs wind around at the very minimum. The lower the gauge the thicker the cable. So although 26 or 28 AWG cables are thinner than 24 awg there is more resistance and the cables will start to heat up more. They sell 26,28,30awg cat6 cables btw. For me i wouldnt ever go higher than 24 AWG. Most cat5e cables are typically 24awg. Cat6 shielding (ie, S/UTP, S/FTP, SF/FTP, U/FTP) is likely not necessary for residential use and also will be more hassle to properly ground them.
So just get cat 6 U/UTP 24awg cables. cat 6 unshielded cables naturally have shielding vs cat5e unshielded cable due to the tighter twists and the pairs winding around its spine.
In all variations discussed cat6 will always be slightly thicker than cat5e. Unless you're willing to go to a much higher gauge like 28awg.
So just get cat 6 U/UTP 24awg cables. cat 6 unshielded cables naturally have shielding vs cat5e unshielded cable due to the tighter twists and the pairs winding around its spine.
In all variations discussed cat6 will always be slightly thicker than cat5e. Unless you're willing to go to a much higher gauge like 28awg.
fowang
Distinguished
- May 30, 2006
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Put cat6 in if you want, to be honest future proof where you can, 10g maybe enterprise levels on bandwidth but remember only a few years ago the fastest MOST could get was only 20mb now in some locations 1gbit if not more, in the early days of ADSL only getting 512kbs going back to 2000 here! Like I am putting cat6 backbone into my house there isn't much difference in price now.
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