A Category 6 cable (cat6 cable) is a type of twisted pair cable typically used to directly connect multiple devices together in a gigabit (Gb) internet atmosphere. Cat 6 cable contains four pairs of copper wire and uses all the pairs for signaling to obtain its high level of performance.
Cat6 cables support gigabit ethernet data rates of 1 gbps (gigabit per second). These cables can accommodate 10 gig ethernet connection over a limited distance — commonly about 180 ft for a single cable.
Other basic facts about Cat 6 cables include:
The ends of a Cat 6 cable use the same RJ-45 standard connector as previous generations of Ethernet cables.
The cable is identified as Cat 6 by printed text along the insulation sheath.
An enhanced version of Cat 6, called Cat 6a, supports up to 10 Gbps speeds at greater distances.
Cat 6 vs Cat 6a
The category 6 augmented cable, or Cat 6a, was created to further improve the performance of Cat 6. Using cat 6a enables 10 gig ethernet data rates over a single cable run up to 328 ft. Higher bandwidth at longer distances with a 500 mhz frequency and less interference makes the Cat6a a nice upgraded ethernet cable at just a small increase in price. Check price HERE