EATON Cables If you are buying Ethernet cable for the first time, focus on these four features and you'll make a good decision. Other factors are worth considering in certain circumstances so if in doubt, read on. Speed (data rate): the speed of a cable refers to the amount of data it can transmit per second. 100 Mbps means the cable can transmit 100 million bits of data a second. In a commercial network, speed is usually dictated by the equipment you are connecting (for example, a network switch with Gigabit Ethernet ports). In the home, choose a cable that can support the speed of your Internet connection, plus some room for speed upgrades in the future. A cable's Category designation (e.g. Cat5e, Cat6, etc.) is an easy way to identify the speed of a cable. See Table 1: Category Cable Summary for more information.

Shielding: some Ethernet cables are shielded to protect the cable's conductors from electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by power lines, large machinery and fluorescent lighting. Shielding also prevents parallel conductors inside the cable jacket from interacting with one another. See Ethernet Cable Shielding for more information.

Cable length: The maximum length of an Ethernet cable is about 295 feet (90 meters). Good quality cables with shielding and thicker conductors can reach further but some trial and error will be required. Keep in mind that cable runs are rarely straight so plan on extra cable for some twists and turns. See Ethernet Cable Length for more information.

Installation location: cable jackets are rated for fire safety. If you plan on running cable through walls or between floors, choose rise-rated (CMR) or plenum-rated (CMP) cable. See Jacket Ratings for more information.

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