What do you think is the main source to provide speed and bandwidth to the data transmission? Is it the cable structure or the conductor? Well, the answer to this question is tricky and technical as it involves the server speed of the network, cable quality, internal structure, and the type of conductor used in Cat5e Cable, Cat6 Cable, and Cat6a Cable.
You are familiar with the Copper and CCA (Copper-Clad Aluminum) both are used as bridges to transfer the bulk traffic. But here they are not common and neither is there a need to compare these two conductors due to their different properties. Let’s come to the point and discuss each part of the network speed to understand the ideology of the cable speed.
Difference between Copper and CCA Conductor
The internal conductor has more importance than any other factor as the conductor will identify the throughput of the cable. There is a myth that the cable supporting gigabit speed as Cat5e riser cable or Cat 6 riser 1000 ft bulk cables will intentionally increase the speed of the server. Nah, that’s not the right thing to say for low-voltage cables.
For that reason let’s compare both CCA and Copper to identify the signal strength and its properties. What are the differences between these two conductors?
| Attributes | Copper Conductor | CCA Conductor |
| Composition | Pure Copper | Copper-Clad Aluminum (30% copper and 70% Aluminum) |
| Conductivity | Higher electrical conductivity | Lower than the copper conductor, good electrical conductivity |
| Cost | Most expensive | Less expensive |
| Weight | Heavier than CCA | Lighter than copper |
| Durability | Highly durable and resistant to corrosion | CCA is less durable and higher chance of eroding and mechanical damage |
| Applications | Fast Ethernet Applications, Electrical cables, etc | Commonly used in only ethernet cables due to its low electrical conductivity |
| Environmental Impact | Recyclable metal but mining can impact the environment | Aluminum is also recyclable but its production may cause environmental implications |
| Performance | Known for its superior performance | Good performance especially over shorter lengths. |
In essence Copper and CCA differ, Copper is a highly durable and performance-oriented conductor that can alter the speed of the cable and support the right data transmission speed as set by your ISP. Now, let’s discuss the cable quality of the Cat5e riser cable and Cat6 riser cable to know each cable’s speed and the ideal behavior.
Cat5e vs Cat6 Ethernet Cable
With the evolution of advanced technology, bulk ethernet cables are altered according to the speed and high bandwidth requirements. The same is the case with Cat5e riser 1000 ft cable as “E” defines (Enhanced Category 5 Cable) with improved internal structure.
The cat5e riser 1000ft cable has 4-5 twists per inch which maintains the electrical flow within the cable by lowering the EMI influence. The cable conductors have 24 AWG conductor size which is ideal for PoE and other applications. It uses RJ45 connectors and is backward compatible.
Bulk Cat5e Ethernet Cable will cater to 100 Mbps to 1000 Mbps speed and 350 MHz bandwidth to provide smooth signal transmission. This is not enough, you can use this cable for shorter lengths 164ft or over longer runs 328ft to get the speed as per your need.
Cat6 Ethernet Cable
This is the modern category of cable. Cat 6 riser cable is the complete package for speed, high bandwidth, and performance. So, it may be required to run the cable over longer runs approx 328ft or 305ft the Cat6 ethernet cable will deliver the right type of speed.
Let’s peek into the Cat6 ethernet cable internal structure to evaluate the cable properties. Starting from the conductor size of 23 AWG it describes the potential of the conductor thickness and the power to push forward the data signals. Bulk Cat6 Riser Cable has a better speed capacity of 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps. The major impact of the Cat6 riser cable is its internal twisted pair tightness — 5-6 twists per inch enables this cable to provide the fastest speed while avoiding extra signals to interrupt the flow.
Another feature of the cable is the spline. It is a plastic material in a cross-skeleton structure also known as the twisted pair separator. It keeps twisted pairs apart to minimize pair-to-pair crosstalk.
When To Buy Cat5e Riser Copper Cable?
It is so obvious that the need of pure copper cable is needed when you have to deal with performance and speed. The copper cable is more secure to use for longer data transmission. Ask your ISP about the speed and choose the right cable to cater to the gigabit or 10 Gbps speed.
- Performance is mandatory
- Gigabit speed or PoE application
- VoIP or IoT devices
- Commercial and residential installation need
- For Small business needs
- High bandwidth
Similarly, the Cat6 riser bare copper cable has a high usage for high-end applications; its 23 AWG conductor will pour out the maximum output at the right speed for your gaming devices, PoE/+/++ up to 60 watts.
Final Thought
CCA is a good choice while Copper cables are the right choice for networking needs when data has to travel for longer runs. Cat5e riser and Cat6 riser both have differences due to their internal structure but the copper conductor capacity is the same while transmission.
For a cost-effective option buy the CCA (Copper-Clad Aluminum) cable thus the cable is good for short distances and might deteriorate signal quality on longer runs.