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RJ-45 connectors: Are cat5 jacks as good as Cat5e Jacks? Cat 5 Cat 5e RJ-45
I have been slowly upgrading our wiring scheme from multi-level star / rat's nest to switch closets with more hard-wired connections. I am trying to replace everything with cat 5e equipment. In the process, I am coming up with a lot of left over Cat 5 RJ-45 Jacks. I am reluctant to re-use them because of this idea I have that everything should be cat 5e. Is there that much difference between a cat 5 RJ-45 and a cat 5e RJ-45?
One other issue: these cat 5 connectors are only marked with one wiring protocol. I assume it is T568A, but can anyone verify?
One other issue: these cat 5 connectors are only marked with one wiring protocol. I assume it is T568A, but can anyone verify?
Cat5 can support Gigabit ethernet
Cat5e can supper 10 Gigabit ethernet for gigabit connections they require the use of all four twisted pairs
Also Cat5e has better protection from EMI.
If they are wired with T568A the wires would be
white/green | green | white/orange | blue | white/blue | orange | white/brown | brown
Cat5e can supper 10 Gigabit ethernet for gigabit connections they require the use of all four twisted pairs
Also Cat5e has better protection from EMI.
If they are wired with T568A the wires would be
white/green | green | white/orange | blue | white/blue | orange | white/brown | brown
cat5 works with gigabit for shorter distances. cat5e is for gigabit at full 100meter distance (same with cat6 vs cat6a and 10gig ethernet)
for twisted pair, you should follow the A or B wiring scheme. the twisted pairs are designed to keep cross-wire interferance to a minimum. wiring in "any old order" will technically work, but you will not get optimum results.
for twisted pair, you should follow the A or B wiring scheme. the twisted pairs are designed to keep cross-wire interferance to a minimum. wiring in "any old order" will technically work, but you will not get optimum results.
ASKER
I understand the difference in 5/5e wire, but are the jacks different?
These particular jacks say CAT5 on them, but probably because that was all that was around when they were made. Also, as I stated, they only display wiring placement for one standard, which I assume is standard A. Again, this is probably because there was only a single wiring protocol at the time the jacks were made.
It doesn't make sense to me that a cat 5 RJ-45 should be much slower than a cat 5e RJ-45, because they only handle the signal for a centimeter of its path.
These particular jacks say CAT5 on them, but probably because that was all that was around when they were made. Also, as I stated, they only display wiring placement for one standard, which I assume is standard A. Again, this is probably because there was only a single wiring protocol at the time the jacks were made.
It doesn't make sense to me that a cat 5 RJ-45 should be much slower than a cat 5e RJ-45, because they only handle the signal for a centimeter of its path.
There is no functional difference between the old wiring standard and the new. The jack itself never had any protections from EFI then or now. It's just a coupler plain and simple. The pinout is the same. The wire guage is the same. The connector shape and size is the same. Only the color is different.
ASKER
It seems like we are not talking about the same thing, and now I know why. I had a temporary lingo-melt-down. I am not asking about RJ-45 plugs. That word should not even be in the thread (but it is, so sorry.)
I am asking about Cat 5 snap-in wall jacks. The female jack that the RJ-45 plug goes into (okay, I guess RJ-45 fits here.) I have a bunch of these snap-in wall jacks that all say CAT5 on them. Do Cat 5 wall jacks work as well as cat 5e wall jacks? I think they say cat 5 only because 5e didn't exist when they were made, but are there any functional differences?
I am asking about Cat 5 snap-in wall jacks. The female jack that the RJ-45 plug goes into (okay, I guess RJ-45 fits here.) I have a bunch of these snap-in wall jacks that all say CAT5 on them. Do Cat 5 wall jacks work as well as cat 5e wall jacks? I think they say cat 5 only because 5e didn't exist when they were made, but are there any functional differences?
you're referring ot the keystone jacks.
i'm not able to find any documentation with a precursary search to show any technical specification difference between the cat5 and cat5e keystone jacks (TIA website is currently down for maintenance). i know the cables are determined by twists per inch (not applicable for jack), frequency rating, resistance, etc. the conductor size has a lot to do with that, and it's possible a cat5 keystone jack has a smaller conducter than cat5e (measured in the hundredths of an inch)
i'm not able to find any documentation with a precursary search to show any technical specification difference between the cat5 and cat5e keystone jacks (TIA website is currently down for maintenance). i know the cables are determined by twists per inch (not applicable for jack), frequency rating, resistance, etc. the conductor size has a lot to do with that, and it's possible a cat5 keystone jack has a smaller conducter than cat5e (measured in the hundredths of an inch)
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In rereading my post, I apologize if I sounded like I was on a rant :-) I really wasn't. I just wanted to hammer home the point that if the connector placement, or the gauge of the wire were different, it wouldn't be RJ45 anymore, and only then would it matter what kind of jack you had.
ASKER
Keystone--yeah, I've heard that term before. Sure is amazing how difficult it is to talk about somthing when you don't know what to call it.
Thanks guys. I think we are just about done. Last thing: these old keystone jacks that I have are color coded for only one wiring protocol. How do I find out whether it is A or B?
Thanks guys. I think we are just about done. Last thing: these old keystone jacks that I have are color coded for only one wiring protocol. How do I find out whether it is A or B?
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Cat5e cables are certified to operate at gigabit speeds whereas Cat5 cables are not. However, in practicality, Cat5 cables will still work with gigabit equipment, they're just not guaranteed to. If you have 100Base connections going to the individual nodes, then it's really a moot point, as both are certified to work at that speed.
As for the wiring standards, the only difference is the colors on the wires. The pinout locations are identical. If you are wiring your own jacks, then as long as the pins on one end match the pins on the other, the color doesn't matter. The jack's diagram should have both standards listed on its label, but really, all you must do is make sure the colors match the right pins on both ends.