What is the Cat6 Cable Maximum Throughput?

Throughput in networking and data transmission is the amount of data transferred from one point to another point in a given amount of time. Simply put, throughput is the data transfer speed of the cable. For example, if you are purchasing the Cat6 cable, then its maximum throughput will be the amount of data that can be transferred through it in unit time, which is an impressive 10 GBit/s over 50 meters. The amount of data is measured in megabits (Mb) or gigabits (GB) and time is measured in seconds (s).

To reiterate, the Bulk Cat6 Ethernet cable supports data transfer at a speed of 10 GBit/s up to a distance of 50 meters. But it decreases down to 1 GBit/s when you run the cable at up to 100-meter lengths. But wait, that is not all there is to it! There are other conditions that can alter the maximum throughput of this cable. Keep reading to find out exactly how fast your cable is able to transmit data.

Industry Standard

As per TIA (Telecommunication Industries Association), you can expect Cat6 cable to deliver a maximum speed of 1Gbps with an operating frequency of 550MHz. TIA has crafted these standards so that both manufacturers and customers should have a clear understanding of what capabilities can be expected from a Cat6 cable 1000ft. This industry standard also streamlines the specifications of all the cables in the category. 

As far as the length is concerned, a 100-meter cable consists of 90 meters of cable backbone whereas the remaining 10 meters consists of patch cables. At this distance, you can expect the Cat6 cable to deliver a 1000BASE-T gigabit speed. 

The wired networking sector has been witnessing advancement at a rapid pace and ethernet cables are no exception. The Cat6 cable that was initially designed for delivering a speed of 1Gbps can now deliver a speed of 10Gbps. However, this speed is achieved in an ideal scenario. If you are mulling over setting a network of 10Gbps, then it is better to go for a Bulk Cat6a cable.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has raised the bar for Cat6 cable’s capabilities. IEEE standard 802.3bz states that your Cat6 ethernet cable can deliver 2.5GBase-T performance and 5GBase-T performance over a distance of 100 meters or 328 feet.

Cat6 Throughput Requirements

Besides meeting certain speed requirements, there are also some transmission requirements that the cat6 ethernet cables should meet. Some of these requirements of transmissions are Insertion Loss, Return Loss, NEXT Loss, ACRF, PS NEXT, and PSACRF. You can explore these in the description section of your ethernet cable.

With an impressive speed of 10Gbps up to a distance of 180 feet and 1Gbps over a distance of 328 feet, cat6 ethernet cables remain an ideal solution for both residential and small and medium businesses. Installing Bulk cat6 cable also future-proofs your network for future updates. With extra layers of protection, the Cat6 cable significantly reduces electromagnetic interferences and near-end crosstalk.

Cat6 Cable Types

It is available in three variants: Cat6 Plenum cable, Cat6 Riser Cable, and Cat6 PVC cables. As far as the data transfer speed and bandwidth capacities of these three variants are concerned, they are exactly the same. The only thing that differentiates these 3 variants from each other is their jacket material. Plenum comes with the finest and hence can be used in riser spaces and outdoor installations. Riser cable comes with somewhat medium-quality jacket material and PVC cables are only fit to be installed in outdoor spaces because their jacket material is not of the finest quality and can hence catch fire.

Do You Need Cat6 Cable?

Cat6 cable is ideal for 1000BASE-T networking. Additionally, it can support 10BASE-T applications at up to 50 meters. For these applications, a Cat6 cable is an affordable option. If you need to use the said application, gigabit, and 10 gigabits, you will need the Cat6 cable. Having said that, this cable’s main highlight is its performance at a much more affordable price. But if you do not care for this highlight, you can get the Cat6a cable.

SmarTech Cables

For cutting-edge ethernet cables or accessories, check out SmarTech Cables. We are the industry leader in manufacturing and distributing networking cables and accessories of the highest standards. Our products exceed the industry standards and we are offering market competitive prices. If you need assistance, our professional customer support team is available at [email protected].