How to choose appropriate Ethernet cable for your network layout project? If you are unsure whether to use Cat5 or Cat5e Ethernet cable in your IP video surveillance installation, we recommend using Cat5e for the most majority scenarios, and Cat6 is so far the highest standard which has the capability to transmit data with 1Gigabit speed.
Why should not choose Cat5? Cat5 is the oldest the standard which had been phased out as it only supports 10/100Mbps data transmission speed that no longer meets the increasing demand for fast network data transmission. Cat5e Ethernet cable is the substitute which is completely back-compatible and offers increased performance against standard Cat5.
Although Cat5e is sufficient for the most majority network applications (common IP video surveillance projects). Yet Cat6 can provide better performance if you consider to utilize the Power over Ethernet technology. Why? Because Cat6 twisted pair cable adopts diameter 0.57mm copper core design can lower power dissipation.
Cat5: 10/100Mbps network standard, maximum 100Mbps data speed, physical bandwidth 100MHz, transmission distance 37 meters.
Cat5e: 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet, maximum 1200Mbps data speed, physical bandwidth 100MHz, copper core diameter 0.51mm, transmission distance 100 meters.
Cat6: 10/100/1000Mbps network standard, maximum 2400Mbps data speed, physical bandwidth 250MHz, copper core diameter 0.57mm, transmission distance 100 meters.
Cat6a: 10Gigabit network standard, maximum 4800Mbps data speed, physical bandwidth 500MHz, replaced by Cat7, however optical fiber cable is the ideal choice for 10Gigabit network transmission.