PATCH cables

LAN network cables / PATCH cable

A LAN network cable is one of the most popular and universal types of network cable used in wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices together in a local area network, as well as deliver the Internet to a global network.

Application of cables with RJ45 sockets

Network FTP (Foiled Twisted Pair) cables are used to connect computers, printers, routers and switches, routers, various automation devices or computer peripherals. Network LAN cables carry data in packets called frames, each of which contains a source address, a destination address, and error-checking functionality.

LAN Cable Structure

LAN cables, unlike other cables, are a bundle of wires that run in pairs. They are also called signal cables and are primarily designed for high-speed digital data transmission. They consist of 8 wires combined in pairs, which end with an RJ45 socket.

Types of signal and network cables

When choosing network cables, in addition to the length, there are several other parameters that we need to pay attention to, such as the presence and type of insulation of the wires, the connection method, and the type of cable category.

• UTP - without insulation;
• FTP - with general insulation;
• SFTP - with general insulation and insulation of the pairs;

 

• straight;
• cross;

 

• cat 5 - up to 100 MB/s;
• cat 5e - up to 1 GB/s;
• cat 6 - up to 10 GB/s;

 

By insulation

Signal cables are mainly divided into UTP, FTP and SFTP. The main difference in the cables is the type of insulation and their application. UTP network cables are the main ones, they contain 8 wires without insulation. Therefore, they are suitable for indoor use over short distances of several meters.

FTP cables differ in that they have an outer aluminum sheath that protects them from interference and therefore can be used for outdoor laying over long distances.

SFTP cables are the highest class of network cables. In addition to general insulation, they also have individual insulation in pairs of wires. In addition to being isolated from electromagnetic interference and being able to be used over long distances, they are also suitable for Gigabit networks, where all wires are used.

Connection method

The most common LAN cables are straight cables, meaning each input pin corresponds to the corresponding output pin by the color of the wire. The other type of cables are crossover cables, which are used in very rare cases, such as connecting two computers directly without a switch or router.

Category

The third important parameter when choosing a network cable is the category. The main categories are cat 5, cat 5e and cat 6. And recently cat 7 has also been introduced. The type of category is usually related to the speed of the network. Level 5 categories are designed for consumer-grade networks between 100 and 1000 MB/s. High categories from 6 and up are designed for business networks with 10 GB/s.

The difference between the categories is mainly in the internal structure of the wire pairs. In high categories, the wire pairs are twisted more tightly and are designed to transmit data over long distances without lag, delay or interruption.