Cat 5e with cat 6
Cat 5e with cat 6
Planning to add POE cameras soon and have a cable concern. All my equipment is Cat6 inside, but for the exterior I’m considering outdoor Cat 5e—something I can source nearby for a fraction of the cost since I only need roughly 50 feet per camera. Should I encounter any problems with this setup? I can also get outdoor Cat 6 locally, though it’s a different color.
No problems unless you intend to exceed 1Gbps with the camera, which seems unlikely
If there’s a nearby lightning strike, your 5E insulation might fail. Also, extending 50 feet of 5E into the Cat 6 cable for another 100–200 feet to the server room could cause cross-talk. Neither distance alone is sufficient; you may need a repeater, making Cat 6 more cost-effective. Remember to install drip loops and seal all connections properly.