Network cable category recognition strategy: from skin identification to professional testing

　　First, quick identification method: check the outer skin logo

　　The outer skin of the network cable is usually printed with a clear category logo, which is the most direct and fastest way to judge:

　　Category 5 network cable: Identified as CAT5, suitable for 100Mbps network, with a maximum tranSMission rate of 100Mbps.

　　Super Category 5 network cable: identified as CAT5e, supports gigabit network, with a maximum speed of 1Gbps, making it a coMMon choice for home networks.

　　Category 6 network cable: marked as CAT6, supports gigabit network, has stronger anti-interference ability, and is suitable for complex electromagnetic environments.

　　Super Category 6 network cable: identified as CAT6a, supports 10 Gigabit network (10Gbps), and has a cross skeleton inside, suitable for data centers and high-performance equipment.

　　Category 7/Category 8 network cable: Identified as CAT7/CAT8, it supports higher frequencies and speeds, but it is expensive and less commonly used in households.

　　Note: Some network cables may be printed with "E" (such as CAT5e, CAT6e), representing "enhanced" or "super XX class", but CAT6e is not an international standard, it is recommended to choose clearly marked CAT6a The super six network cable.

　　In-depth observation method: inspecting the internal structure

　　Peel off the outer skin of the mesh cable and observe the internal details.

　　Cross Skeleton:

　　Six or more types of network cables: with a cross-shaped skeleton inside, used to fix the position of the wire pair and reduce crosstalk.

　　Super six network cable: The skeleton may adopt a gear-like design to enhance its anti-interference ability.

　　Category 5/Super Category 5 network cable: no cross skeleton, only one white tensile cable.

　　Copper core diameter:

　　Five types of network cable: copper core diameter ≤ 0.45mm.

　　Super five network cable: copper core diameter 0.45mm-0.51mm.

　　Category 6/Super Category 6 network cable: copper core diameter 0.52mm-0.58mm, the thicker the transmission performance, the better.

　　Shielding layer:

　　Unshielded Network Cable (UTP): No shielding layer, suitable for ordinary home environments.

　　Shielded network cable (STP/SFTP): Contains aluminum foil or metal mesh shielding layer, suitable for high-interference scenarios (such as computer rooms).

　　III. Professional testing methods: tool verification performance

　　Network cable tester:

　　Function: Detect network cable connectivity, line sequence and transmission performance.

　　Operation: Insert both ends of the network cable into the tester and observe the order of the indicator lights (the straight line is 1-8 in sequence, and the cross line is 3-6-1-4-5-2-7-8).

　　Result: If the indicator light sequence is abnormal, it indicates that the wiring sequence is wrong or there is an open circuit.

　　Speed measurement tools:

　　Software speed measurement: Use iPerf3 or SpeedTest to measure the actual transfer rate.

　　Hardware speed measurement: Bandwidth and anti-jamming capabilities are detected by professional equipment such as Fluke testers.

　　Multimeter measurement:

　　Operation: Adjust the multimeter to the resistance gear and measure the resistance at both ends of the wire core.

　　Standard: The normal wire core resistance should be close to 0 ohms. If the resistance is too large or infinite, it indicates that the wire core is damaged.

　　IV. Comprehensive judgment method: combining scenarios with requirements

　　Home network: Super Class 5 (CAT5e) or Class 6 (CAT6) cable is sufficient to support gigabit broadband.

　　E-sports/high definition audio and video: It is recommended to choose Category 6 (CAT6) or Super Category 6 (CAT6a) to ensure low latency and high stability.

　　Data center/enterprise network: Super Class 6 (CAT6a) or Class 7 (CAT7) network cables to meet 10 gigabit transmission requirements.

　　Five, pit avoidance guide: beware of counterfeit products

　　Low price trap: the unit price of super six network cables is usually ≥ 7 yuan/meter. If the price is too low, it may be a counterfeit product.

　　Vague logo: The genuine network cable logo is clear and includes brand, category, and certification information (e.g. UL, ETL).

　　Material counterfeiting: Genuine network cables use pure copper conductors, counterfeit products may use aluminum wires or copper-clad aluminum, and the wire core is soft.

　　By applying the above methods in a comprehensive manner, you can easily identify network cable categories, avoid shopping mistakes, and create an efficient and stable network environment.