The short version
| Cat6 | Cat6a | |
|---|---|---|
| Rated bandwidth | 250 MHz | 500 MHz |
| 1 Gbps | Up to 100 m | Up to 100 m |
| 2.5 and 5 Gbps | Generally up to 100 m | Up to 100 m |
| 10 Gbps | Shorter runs only, up to 55 m depending on conditions | Up to 100 m |
| Size | Thinner, easier to pull | Thicker, stiffer, needs gentler bends |
Where the difference matters
Wi-Fi access points. Current access points increasingly come with 2.5 or 5 gigabit ports, and the fastest are moving further. An access point drop is the one run in most offices likely to need more than a gigabit within the life of the cable, and cable usually stays in the ceiling for many years.
Links between closets and floors. These cables carry everyone's traffic. Where copper is used for them rather than fiber, Cat6a gives headroom.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) in bundles. Access points, cameras and desk phones are often powered through the cable. Higher power levels warm the cable, and large bundles hold that heat. Cat6a is generally the more comfortable choice where many high-power PoE cables share a pathway.
Where Cat6 is fine
Desk drops for computers and phones, printers and most cameras run at a gigabit or less, and Cat6 handles that over the full distance. In an office where those make up most of the runs, Cat6 is a reasonable, lower cost choice.
Cost and installation
Cat6a costs more per foot, and because it is thicker and stiffer it takes longer to pull and terminate and needs more room in trays and conduit. In older buildings, that space is sometimes the deciding factor. A site survey tells you what the pathways can actually hold before you choose.
Whichever you choose
- Every component in the channel should match the category: cable, wall jacks, patch panels and patch cables. One lower rated part limits the whole cable.
- Shielded cable only helps if it is installed and grounded as a shielded system.
- Have every cable certified with a proper tester, and keep the results. They are what lets you rule the cable out when something breaks.
- Cat5e still works in existing installations, but it is not worth installing new.
Our cabling page has more on how we survey, install and certify, and the Grand Blanc page covers cabling alongside the phones and cameras we install.