If you are fitting out a new office or re-cabling an old one, the installer will probably ask whether you want Cat6 or Cat6a. Both are good. The right choice depends on your building, how long you expect the cabling to last and what you plan to plug into it.
The short answer
- Cat6 supports 1 Gbps over the full 100 metre channel and 10 Gbps over shorter runs (up to about 55 metres in good conditions).
- Cat6a supports 10 Gbps over the full 100 metre channel.
- Both support Power over Ethernet (PoE) for phones, cameras and Wi-Fi access points.
For most small offices where desks need 1 Gbps, Cat6 is perfectly adequate. Cat6a is the safer choice if you want the cabling to last a long time, have long runs, or plan to install newer Wi-Fi access points and other kit that benefits from faster uplinks.
Practical differences
- Size: Cat6a cable is thicker and stiffer, so it needs more room in trunking and containment and a larger bend radius.
- Cost: Cat6a cable and components cost more, and installation takes a little longer.
- Shielding: some Cat6a is shielded (for example F/UTP). Shielded systems must be installed and earthed properly to work as intended.
- Distance: the 100 metre limit is for the whole channel, usually up to 90 metres of fixed cable plus patch leads at each end.
What about Wi-Fi?
Modern Wi-Fi access points can need more than 1 Gbps of uplink and more power than older models. If you are investing in new managed Wi-Fi, check what the access points need before choosing cable and switches.
Questions to ask a cabling installer
- Will every link be tested and certified, and will we get the test results?
- What warranty does the manufacturer provide on the installed system?
- Will cables and patch panel ports be labelled to a clear scheme?
- Are you allowing spare points for future growth?
- How will cables be contained and routed, and is that compatible with the building’s fire-stopping requirements?
- Who supplies and installs the comms cabinet and patch leads?
Don’t forget the rest of the network
Fast cable will not help if your switch, firewall or broadband line is the bottleneck. Plan cabling, networking equipment and connectivity together.
When to speak to BMT
We design and install structured data cabling for offices, with every point tested and labelled. Call us on 0161 672 7461 or 01706 391 047, or get in touch online.
Related reading: Office move IT checklist for Manchester · Why is my business Wi-Fi slow?