Network at Home
Network at Home
Technically, the type of cable is mainly about its quality. In theory, you could send 10Gbps over Cat5 if it’s short enough and might drop at 1Gbps with a longer or less stable Cat7 cable. The equipment itself doesn’t matter as long as the signal travels well. Standard requirements usually specify both length and category, but none include Cat7. The typical guidelines are: 100Mbps – Cat5 @ 100m, 1Gbps – Cat5e @ 100m, 2.5Gbps – Cat5e @ 100m, 5Gbps – Cat6 @ 100m, Cat5e for most situations, 10Gbps – Cat6A @ 100m, and up to 40Gbps – Cat6 @ 55m. For higher speeds like 25Gbps, you need Cat8 at 30m.
There are options available for telephone patch panels that connect phone cables from the main entry point into various sections of a building. These panels allow you to route the lines flexibly within your space.