| Cable type |
Bandwidth (Mhz) |
Connector Type |
Standard Status |
Testing |
Comment |
| Category 5 |
100 |
RJ45 |
Installation defined in ANSI/TIA/EIA568-A: 1995. Testing defined by TSB-67 and TSB-95 (in final review) |
TSB67
TSB 95 |
First defined in 1991, redefined in 1995. Category 5 connectors not available until ~ 1995.Cable systems installed before 1995 contain non-standard hardware. |
| Category 5 E
(enhanced) |
100 |
RJ45 |
In development by TIA TR-41.8.1 UTP System Task Group as Standards Proposal 4195-A. Will be Addendum to
TIA/EI568-A |
Also defined
inSP4195-A |
The International cabling Standard (ISO/IEC11801) will upgrade its definition of Category 5 cabling, rather than define Category 5E.
|
| Category 6 |
200 |
RJ45 |
In development by TIA TR-41.8.1. Draft 1C was distributed on April 9, 1998 |
|
Products labeled Category 6 today may not be in complance with the final specification. |
| Category 7 |
600 |
RJ-45 (2 pr),
4 pr TBD |
In development |
|
Expected in ISO/IEC 11801-2000 |
Conclusion
Only a few years ago many industry experts and pundits claimed that 10 Mbps Ethernet would never operate over twisted pair cabling. Similar claims were made with 100 Mbps. Today, these claims are being repeated by various vendors about 1000 Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet). Marketing hype aside, the IEEE 1000BASE-T Task Force is specifying Gigabit Ethernet for operation over the installed base of Category 5 cabling. According to the industry experts that make up the IEEE 1000BASE-T Task Force, any link that is currently using 100BASE-TX should easily support 1000BASE-T.
For more information on the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance, Gigabit Ethernet, or 1000BASE-T, see the GEA web page at: http://www.gigabit-ethernet.org/. For specific white papers, see: http://www.gigabit-
ethernet.org/technology/whitepapers/.
