Cat 6 cable vs Cat 6 patch cable

[Bob Day]

What is the differece between a cable and a patch cable (i.e. Cat 6 cable vs
Cat 6 Patch cable)? I think it is just terminology, and there is not
differed.

Thanks
Bob

 

[AlmostBob]

From my (small) experience, both kinds of cable are cat5,
but the guy making them refers to
straight through cables for hub&router as 'patch' cables,
and crossover cables for peer-to-peer as 'crossover'.


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[AlmostBob]

cat5/cat6 --- sleep deprived

 

[Timothy Daniels]

What is the differece between a cable and a patch cable (i.e.
Cat 6 cable vs Cat 6 Patch cable)? I think it is just terminology,
and there is not differed.

"Cable" is usually refers solid-wire cable. "Patch cable" refers
to cable with multi-stranded wires - which make the cable more
flexible and able to withstand a lot of manipulation. "Cable" or
"solid-wire cable" is used for in-wall or in-plenum or otherwise
permanent installations, whereas "patch cable" is used for relatively
short lengths of cable that are used for relatively short-term
connections, such as between a router and and a modem or
between a modem and a wall jack.

And there are separate plugs for the two kinds of cable,
although most people don't know it. The commonly-available
plug for the RJ45 format is for solid-wire cable. The more rare
plug is for stranded cable, and it holds the strands of wire more
firmly in place so that they won't shift around and thereby cause
a bad connection. That plug is the kind that makers of patch cable
use. You may wonder why patch cables cost so much and why
professional cablers buy them since you may feel that it takes so
little effort to make your own. One reason is this use of the
appropriate plug and the right kind of crimpers to attach it.
Another is that when one makes more than a dozen or so cables,
one's wrist is reduced to putty, and the machines that the manu-
facturers use maintain a crimping pressure that doesn't change
with time so all the cables have the same connection quality.

If you plan to use your cable for many temporary connections,
such as for a patch panel, only patch cables should be used if you
want reliable connections. For a jumper between a wall jack and
your modem which won't be moved much at all, you can get away
with a homemade solid-wire cable, but don't expect a professinal
to admire it.

*TimDaniels*

 

[Unknown]

Absolutely ridiculous. Suggest you Google search for categories and patch vs
cable.
What you posted is false.

 

[Unknown]

Not true at all.

Patch cables are almost always stranded conductors and short. non-Patch
cables are almost always solid conductor cables.

You use Stranded when you're going to be moving the cable.

You use Solid when the cable will remain fixed in position.

There is a LOT of difference between CAT5, 5e, 6, but on a quality cable
and connection system it all supports 1GBPS connections - the difference
is noise, or the ability to not have as much.

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[Navigator]

What is the differece between a cable and a patch cable (i.e. Cat 6 cable vs
Cat 6 Patch cable)? I think it is just terminology, and there is not
differed.

Thanks
Bob

Why ask here? This has nothing to do with XP.

Ask elsewhere

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Not true at all.

Definitely it is true.
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/cat5cables/l/bldef_cat6.htm
"Twisted pair cable like CAT6 comes in two main varieties, solid and
stranded. Solid CAT6 cable supports longer runs and works best in fixed
wiring configurations like office buildings. Stranded CAT6 cable, on the
other hand, is more pliable and better suited for shorter-distance, movable
cabling such as "patch" cables. "


HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Absolutely ridiculous. Suggest you Google search for categories and patch
vs cable.

Suggest you follow your advice.

http://www.lanshack.com/make_cat_6_cable.aspx
"Stranded vs. Solid Wire - Almost all patch cables that are made have
stranded wire. Stranded wire is normally specified for use in patch cables
due to it's superior flexibility. There has been some talk recently, in the
technical sector of the structured wiring community, regarding the possible
use of solid conductors for patch cables. The reason for the spotlight on
solid wire is that it is supposedly more stable, under a variety of
conditions."

What you posted is false.

Definitely it is true.
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/cat5cables/l/bldef_cat6.htm
"Twisted pair cable like CAT6 comes in two main varieties, solid and
stranded. Solid CAT6 cable supports longer runs and works best in fixed
wiring configurations like office buildings. Stranded CAT6 cable, on the
other hand, is more pliable and better suited for shorter-distance, movable
cabling such as "patch" cables. "


Hope this helps.
-pk

 

[Unknown]

What I am saying is that CAT 6 comes in solid and stranded.

 

[Unknown]

I have seen stranded most often used, regardless of length, because crimp on
connectors are easily applied.

 

[Plato]

What is the differece between a cable and a patch cable (i.e. Cat 6 cable vs
Cat 6 Patch cable)? I think it is just terminology, and there is not
differed.

Nothing really. Small cables are just often called patch cables.

 

[Plato]

Patch cables are almost always stranded conductors and short. non-Patch
cables are almost always solid conductor cables.

You use Stranded when you're going to be moving the cable.

You use Solid when the cable will remain fixed in position.

There is a LOT of difference between CAT5, 5e, 6, but on a quality cable
and connection system it all supports 1GBPS connections - the difference
is noise, or the ability to not have as much.

Nice description of the difference.

 

[Chris Barnes]

Even in wiring a house the same holds true - for wiring that does not
move, you use Solid conductors, for wiring that moves you use Stranded
conductor wire - stranded allows for movement without as much chance for
breaking.

Having wired my own house, after wiring my department's building, I have
to say that this is just silly.

The *vast* majority of desktop computers never move (even at home). For
those, the patch cable that uses solid wire is going to give a better
signal than the stranded wire. Not moving means the wire's flexibility
is a moot point.

Now if the computer is a laptop, my experience is that those users eshew
the use of a wired connection entirely and connect via 802.1x. Meaning
once again, the flexibility 'advantage' of stranded is moot.


I make virtually all of my own patch cables out of plenum cat6.