About Ethernet Cables

Ethernet cables are the physical lines of communication between two devices on an Ethernet network. All home networks and most business networks are Ethernet based. The vast majority of Ethernet cables are copper twisted-pair, but there are different types, categories, grades and uses of Ethernet cables.

Identification

1. Ethernet is a network architecture defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 standard. They also define the types of cables.

Types

2. Ethernet cables can be either fiber optic (glass or plastic) or copper (twisted-pair or coax).

Copper Wire

3. Old Ethernet cables were copper coax, similar to cable TV. Almost all cables now are four pair twisted-pair, similar to telephone cables. Copper, which is cheap, is used for short (less than 100m) runs from central devices to end devices.

Fiber Optic Cables

4. Fiber optic Ethernet cables are microscopic strands of glass or plastic that use light to send data. Fiber is expensive, requires special handling, and is therefore used for long distance (as far as 2km).

Cable Ends

1. Twisted-pair Ethernet cables are terminated on eight position, eight contact connectors based on the TIA/EIA 568 standard. TIA/EIA 568A is for home networks; TIA/EIA 568B is for business networks.

Speed

2. Copper twisted-pair works at speeds up to one Gigabit per second (1 Gbps). Fiber optic speeds can exceed 10 Gbps.