Too Many Network Cables? Here's How to Find the Right One

Typical price i
9.– to 31.–

Copper cables, often referred to as Ethernet cables, are widely used for short-distance data transmission and are available in various categories (e.g., Cat5e, Cat6).

They are cost-effective and suitable for typical home and office networking needs, delivering reliable performance for streaming, gaming, and general internet use.

Typical price i
20.– to 64.–

Fibre optic cables use light to transmit data, allowing for higher speeds and greater distances compared to copper cables, making them ideal for high-bandwidth applications.

They are perfect for businesses or users requiring fast internet speeds and low latency, particularly in environments with heavy data traffic or long-distance connections.

Typical price i
9.– to 31.–

Supports data rates up to 10 Gbps over short distances and has reduced crosstalk compared to previous categories.

Ideal for home networking and small businesses, offering reliable performance for streaming, gaming, and general internet use.

Typical price i
9.– to 29.–

Enhanced version of CAT6, capable of supporting 10 Gbps up to 100 meters with better shielding against interference.

Recommended for environments with high network traffic or for future-proofing installations, ensuring consistent performance.

Typical price i
14.– to 43.–

Features improved shielding and supports data rates up to 10 Gbps over longer distances, with a frequency of up to 600 MHz.

Best suited for data centers and professional setups where high-speed and reliable connections are critical.

Typical price i
14.– to 43.–

Designed for data centers, supports speeds up to 25 Gbps or 40 Gbps over short distances, with a frequency of up to 2000 MHz.

Ideal for high-performance computing and server applications, ensuring minimal latency and maximum throughput.

Typical price i
17.– to 48.–

An advanced version of CAT8.1, providing similar speeds but with improved specifications for even higher performance levels.

Perfect for cutting-edge networking environments that require ultra-fast data transfer, making it suitable for 5G and cloud computing applications.

Typical price i
7.– to 27.–

Ideal for short connections, such as connecting a device directly to a router or switch without excess cable.

Perfect for small spaces where minimal cable length prevents tangling and maintains a tidy appearance.

Typical price i
14.– to 35.–

Offers flexibility for moderate distances, suitable for connecting devices across rooms or to nearby networking equipment.

A great choice for home or office setups where devices need to be placed at a comfortable distance without sacrificing performance.

Typical price i
23.– to 51.–

Designed for longer runs, accommodating connections between devices in separate rooms or larger spaces.

Ideal for professional environments or situations where devices must be positioned far apart, ensuring strong connectivity without loss of signal quality.

S/FTP (Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair) features foil shielding around each twisted pair as well as an additional overall shield.

This design offers maximum protection against interference, making it ideal for high-speed applications in noisy environments like data centers.

U/FTP (Unshielded Foiled Twisted Pair) has individual foil shielding around each pair, but lacks an overall shield.

This option provides better protection than UTP while remaining cost-effective, suitable for office setups where some interference is present.

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) consists of twisted pairs without any additional shielding.

While it is the most economical choice, UTP is best used in environments with low interference, such as residential wiring.

F/UTP (Foiled Unshielded Twisted Pair) features an overall foil shield around all the twisted pairs but no individual shielding.

This offers a balance between cost and shielding effectiveness, making it suitable for moderate interference scenarios like small business networks.

Features a larger core diameter, allowing multiple light paths for data transmission over short distances.

Ideal for local area networks (LANs) and data centers where high bandwidth is needed over shorter runs, providing cost-effective solutions.

Utilizes a smaller core diameter, enabling a single light path for long-distance data transmission with minimal signal loss.

Best suited for telecommunications and long-distance networking, ensuring high speed and reliability over extended distances.