Switching to gigabit speeds

[wseyller]

I'm getting all the hardware necessary to run gigabit in a small business. I was wondering if using Cat 6 would make any improvement over Cat 5e overall.

 

[sooner22]

futureproof

 

[JackMDS]

Technically with the current Giga hardware you would get the same.

However if you buy/install new one use CAT6 so you would not need to buy/install again in the future.

Peer to Peer Giga Networks

Setting a Home/SOHO Giga network.

 

[cmetz]

wseyller, cat6 cable does deliver better signal performance and you have more signal quality headroom, so if any of your links are marginal, you'll be better able to get 1000BaseT with low/zero error rates. In theory, cat5e is enough for gigabit. Many pro suppliers and installers will recommend you use cat6 if you will actually use gigabit immediately, just to give you that extra headroom.

 

[wseyller]

Thanks for the input. We are moving to a new location and we are have the cable installed. I believe we decided to have the contractors put in cat6.

 

[spyordie007]

Good call, it's much easier and less expensive to have it installed now than riping it out a few years down the road.