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CAT5e, CAT6 and CAT6a cores compared by the numbers
The categories differ in bandwidth, pair separation and crosstalk margin, and those differences are built into the core rather than the jacket.
CAT5e supports gigabit Ethernet and is specified to 100 MHz. CAT6 raises that to 250 MHz and tightens crosstalk, which is why its cores are twisted at shorter and more carefully varied lay lengths and often carry a spline to hold the pairs apart. CAT6a goes to 500 MHz and adds control of alien crosstalk between adjacent cables.
Everything that produces those differences happens at the core stage. Lay length, pair separation and the consistency of both across a reel determine the crosstalk margin, and no jacket can improve a core that was twisted inconsistently.
For a manufacturer the practical consequence is that pair twisting, not jacketing, is what limits LAN output. Buying the twisted core moves that constraint off the shop floor while keeping the electrical characteristics under control.
Specifications
| CAT5e | 100 MHz, gigabit Ethernet |
|---|---|
| CAT6 | 250 MHz, tighter crosstalk, often splined |
| CAT6a | 500 MHz, alien crosstalk controlled |
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