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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What has Changed From CAT5e to CAT6a Plenum Cables?

CAT5e Plenum Cable’s introduction back in 1998 was one of the major introductions in Category series which paved the way for the next generation of augmented twisted pair cabling known as the sixth generation of augmented Plenum Cable aka. Category 6a Plenum cable.

In the midst of 1998, this cable was introduced with a high-end speed of 1 gig that could travel over the course of 100 meters and not only that but it also provided a frequency of up to 250 MHz. This was an amazing introduction to the category series which actually made the Category 6 look to make a better spec networking cable.

Before indulging into the talk of the generations, the jacket type plays an important part as well. In this scenario, The plenum is the jacket type of these networking cables. The word Plenum comes from the Plenum space concept. This concept revolves around the construction spaces of the building such as air vents which are home to heat and air conditioning.

Such spaces are the zone of heat and can burn the cable hence producing toxic gasses and visible smoke. The plenum jacket type of networking cable was introduced to deal with this problem. This jacket type has fire strict properties which help to protect the cable from burning. This is the reason the plenum spaces in the building always use the plenum cables and the reason why plenum cables can replace the non-plenum cables but not the other way around.

 

Knowing about the plenum jacket type, we can buy the cables as per our interests by looking at the specifications. If we move a bit further and look into the category 6’s augmented plenum spec sheet we come to know that it was really a massive improvement and upgrade on the lines of faster speed and better frequency.

The specifications of CAT6a Plenum Cable includes a faster speed of up to 10 gigabytes that can be used for over the course of 100 meters and better performance of this networking cable with a frequency of up to 850 MHz. If we see the time difference of 4 years between the two generations of networking cable, we can easily deduce that this was a massive upgrade.

So, if the question is really there of what has changed between the two generations, then it is a clear answer that faster speed and performance have changed but this is not all, there’s much more to the story. With better specs, comes better usage. With such speed, you can stream and transfer data in much less time and hence you can do so much more than a speed of 1 gigabyte will restrict you to.

All in all, if you really have a big budget then you should go big and enjoy better speed and performance with CAT6a Plenum Cable but if you have a low budget and a smaller network then you should definitely go with a fifth-generation of twisted pair Ethernet networking cable aka. Category 5e Plenum cable.

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