What is the difference in AWG of CAT6 and CAT6a Plenum?

CAT6 Plenum cable is the standard for the sixth generation of twisted pair networking where it provides a spectacular result in the field of performance and speed. The reason behind it is, of course, the massive data transmission speed of 10 Gbps over a 100 meters wired network and the noise ratio is also reduced as compared to the previous categories with a performance frequency that can go up to 550 MHz.

Cat6 Plenum Cable

Contrary to Category 6, Category 6’s augmented - the advanced version - provides does even more in the sense of noise cancellation by providing a performance frequency of up to 850 MHz. This improvement in the bandwidth, signal-to-noise ratio, and crosstalk guarantees better broadcasting in the presence of any interference in the surrounding.

About American Wire Gauge
AWG is inversely related to the wire diameter, meaning the smaller the gauge, the larger the diameter of the wire. The large diameter of the wire means less electrical resistance for the signal it carries. Copper network cables with a smaller gauge are available in longer lengths because they allow signals to travel further, by offering less resistance. Also, less resistance means it’ll generate less heat.

What AWG is in Category 6 and 6a Plenum?
Category 6 consists of 22 to 24 American Wire Gauge, meaning the width of the wire would be a bit fatter than its predecessor. Contrary to this, the width of the wire of Category 6a cable would be even faster than the predecessor of the same category, as it is a 16 to 20 American Wire Gauge. This is one of the ways you can identify between the two wires - the width. Note that both these cables use the same connector of RJ45, just like the predecessor.

Cat6a Plenum Cable

What is the Plenum Jacket Type?
Just like Category 6 Standard, CAT6a Plenum Cable also comes in many variants of jacket types and the most common jacket type is Plenum. This is the reason you should know what is the difference between Plenum and non-Plenum cable so you can use them in a suitable setting.
Plenum jacket type is used in the plenum setting, which is the horizontal setting in the building and could be a viable host to heat such as air vents and raised up floors. In such places, it is recommended to use this jacket type as it has extra protection from heat and thus it protects from damage from fire - further saving from threatening causes like toxic gasses and visible smoke that can get out from the burning of the cable.
Therefore, if you are not installing the networking cable in the vertical setting then Plenum is recommended - otherwise, you might use non-Plenum cables.

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What’s new in CAT6 & CAT6a Plenums?

CAT6 Plenum is the sixth generation of networking cables with capabilities far beyond the time of its introduction in 2002. The specifications of this category were truly futuristics with its instinctive approach towards the next generation.

It won’t be wrong if we say that this cable saw the future and adapted it because 10 gigabytes of data transfer speed over the course of 100 meters and at the time when even internet was finding its way towards the surface was truly phenomenal.

Before we truly delve inside these two cables, it's better to understand the jacket type as well. In this scenario, Plenum is the jacket type of these two cables. The word plenum comes from the plenum space concept which is basically spaces that are meant for heat and cold air to pass through them, these spaces mostly include the air vents.

Now, the cables when putting in such spaces can be harmful to the environment for the very reason that they are less protective of the heat and hence can burn and produce visible smoke and toxic gasses. With such cases to be of an issue, there came plenum cables. These cables with their fire strict properties protect the environment.

Category 6’s Standard Plenum is one of the top 3 networking cables in the world right now and the very reason behind it is that they are very effective and are useful for a long term cycle. The specifications for this cable is a speed of 10 gigabytes that can travel the course of 100 meters giving the performance of up to 550 MHz.

CAT6a Plenum is the augmented type of Category 6. What’s different with its advance competitor per se, is the performance frequency. Although the speed of both these cables, standard and ‘augmented’, are similar, the difference in frequency is the real deal in the considerations of the consumers. This category’s augmented plenum gives a high bargain with a frequency of up to 850 MHz.

The real question is what’s new and if we compare these specifications to the predecessors we can easily determine that the predecessor lacked in speed where we are getting a speed of 10 gigs, the predecessor gave only 1 gig and also in the frequency department with twice to thrice as much frequency than the predecessor.

Hence, this is the very reason why these two networking cables are two of the top three networking cables in the market today and why they are really known to be the futuristic ethernet networking cables.

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IoT in Controlling Our Future

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the major technological fields that is taking over the world as we know it. It is an extension of the internet from beyond surfing the web to fully controlling the things around us.

From a sci-fi movie that seemed impeccable back in the day to living inside the world that is forming into that very sci-fi - it won’t be wrong to say that the Internet of Things are finally showing what the world is going to look like in not a decade but even in a few years.

Embedded with different kinds of hardware such as electronics and connecting them with the internet can give you full control over the devices. If you ever saw a movie where the lights were turned off by sound or rather a touch of your phone, it is now possible thanks to the IoT.

IoT isn’t limited to the lights; in fact, that is merely the least of what you can achieve with IoT. Internet of Things gives you control over everything involving technology, where you can get any desired output. For instance, you can turn on your car from your phone through the internet; you can sit in the car and open your garage door through the internet; in the future maybe you can drive outside from your phone through the internet; and of course, sitting inside the car, you can shut down the door through the internet as well.

As new as it sounds, this concept isn’t new at all; rather, it had been around for a very long time. This concept came around as early as 1982; when the Coke vending machine was modified at Carnegie Mellon University becoming the first internet-connected an appliance which could tell whether the newly added things were cold or not.

Since then, the evolution of the Internet of Things started and now we have reached to one of the points in time that the IoT is taking over all the appliances and devices related to technology and helping shape the future in a better way. Or is it?

Although, this may sound mesmerizing and safe, with more leniency comes more danger. Connecting to the internet is not secure as hacking will always remain a risky feature. Even with today's technology, hackers can take over the securest websites on the internet, and this could be one of the biggest threats proposed to both your privacy and your security.

IoT is one of the up and coming fields that are going to skyrocket in the nearest future as more and more people are trying out new things and ways to not only connect more devices but also make it as secure as possible.

Whatever the case, in the next few years and definitely in the coming decade, the internet will be all around us; connecting us with the people and the hardware with such ease, but it is for you to decide how you will handle the threat it can propose and what devices you will be willing to pair with it.

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What is CAT6 Plenum Cable?

CAT6 Plenum Cable is one of the most distinguished and futuristic cables that was introduced in 2002 and took the networking world by surprise by it’s faster than ever data transfer speed and a massive improvement on the lines of the performance frequency.

Category 6 is the sixth generation of networking cable and it is often referred to as the futuristic type of cable since its introduction in 2002. The reason behind that reference is its specifications that provide better quality and experience.

The specifications of Category 6 Standard Plenum Cable includes a data transfer speed of 10 ten times that of its predecessor, a speed of 10 gigabytes for a long haul of 100 meters and a frequency which provides a performance twice as much of up to 550 MHz.

This networking cable contains four pairs of wire and uses all four pairs for the purpose of signaling to obtain a high level of performance. Another important fact to consider is that the end the connector of this networking cable is the same, RJ-45 standard, as the previous generations of Ethernet cable.

Furthermore, the jacket type of networking cable is a very important aspect to focus on as well. There are two types of jackets that are folded onto the networking cable: Plenum and Non-Plenum. There are various other types further along the lines of non-plenum cables such as Riser, PVC, etc but the main jacket type that is taking over at the current moment is the Plenum.

Plenum has a very important task to perform and it is better understood under the shade of a concept known as the plenum space concept. Plenum space is any space inside the building that isn’t for human occupancy and is a breathing zone of heat such as the air vents, the raised floors for wired connections, etc.

These spaces can damage the cable by burning it and hence it can result as a harmful thing for the environment and the people. The reason behind which are the toxic gasses and visible smoke that is produced by the burning of the cable. Breathing in such gasses can make you sick and the fire hazard can corrode the building.

To deal with this problem, plenum jackets on the cables were introduced. This jacket type has fire strict properties to protect the cable from burning. This is the reason why this jacket type is getting more and more common.

Another thing to look into is that you can’t replace plenum cables with non-plenum cables but you can replace non-plenum cables with plenum cables. According to law, you can’t use non-plenum cables in plenum spaces or else you’ll be violating the law. This is because of the very reason of how dangerous it can get.

The uses of CAT6 Cable are a lot as it’s a massive upgrade even if we just compare it to its one down predecessor. This massive speed of 10 gigabytes can offer you a faster sharing of files, as well as a faster LAN connection and it can do much more. It is known as a multimedia cable as well, because of the reason that you can share videos, pictures, audio in a much shorter time.

In short, Category 6 Plenum is a safer, faster, and a better networking cable by a long shot. It is because of this reason why this networking cable is known as one of the top three networking cables in the world.

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