Every product comes with its set of pros and cons. There is no such thing as a perfect product. Such is the case with the Cat6 shielded cable 1000ft which has its pros and cons. It features a metal foil wrapping around all the individual conductor pairs of the cable. The shielding keeps the interference and external noise levels at a minimum. Which ultimately ensures a smooth and high-speed data transfer without interruptions in the transmission.
Although the Shielded Cat6 1000ft cable is ideal for high performance, it is also a bit tricky to install. Similarly, its minimum EMI and external noise features are balanced by its price which is higher than its unshielded counterparts. This blog explores the various pros and cons of using the Cat6 shielded 1000ft cable. Be sure to read till the end.
What is Cat6?
Before we begin exploring the advantages and disadvantages of the Cat6 shielded Cable 1000ft, we need to explain what it is.
The shielded Cat6 cable is the 6th category of ethernet cables that comes with 23 AWG conductors. The conductors are eight in total which are twisted into 4 pairs. The tightly twisted conductor pairs are also important for keeping the interference levels at a minimum. Additionally, there is another important component in this cable which is the spline. Also known as a wire separator, it keeps the conductor pairs separate from one another which also limits the internal crosstalk in the cable.
Cat6 Shielded Cable 1000ft
The Cat6 shielded cable 1000ft is one of the most widely used ethernet cables. It is affordable, performs impeccably, is easy to install, and can maintain minimum EMI and external noise. These properties make this cable highly sought after in the networking industry.
Shielded Cat6 cable comes in different types too. The difference in its types is distinguished by the type of jackets it comes with. The jackets of the cable are made from different types of materials.
Cat6 Shielded Cable Jackets
For indoor horizontal runs, use the plenum-rated Cat6 shielded cable. For indoor vertical runs, use the Cat6 riser-rated cable. You can also use its plenum counterpart in this type of setting. Use the PVC-rated Cat6 cable for outdoor temporary runs. The PVC is the least premium cable jacket and it is used very seldomly. Last but not least is the direct burial of Cat6 LLDPE. The LLDPE jacket of the Cat6 cable features a gel-filled design which makes the cable suitable for use in underground applications. As implied by its name, you can bury it directly underground as well.
Cable Performance
The performance of the shielded cable 1000ft is particularly important. The performance is the major advantage of using this shielded Cat6 cable 1000ft. As mentioned earlier, if you have a crowded network, meaning with multiple cables running in parallel to one another, you might want to use it. The interference in crowded networks is higher than average and this cable will prevent it from negatively affecting the transmission speed and signal quality.
Similarly, Cat6 shielded cable is best used in long-distance transmissions. If you are running a cable from your office to a server room that is situated on another floor, you will need to use this. Over long distances, the resistance and interference in the cable add up causing unreliable data transmission.
The Problem of EMI
As you might have guessed from our above discussion, EMI is a big problem in wired LAN networking. There are other ways of mitigating it but simply using the shielded Cat6 cable is the most convenient. For instance, you can minimize interference in a network by laying entirely separate ducts for different cables. This will indeed reduce EMI but it will cost more and is quite hard work.
Instead, you can simply buy Cat6 shielded cables which are already integrated with shielding against interference in the network.
Pros of Using Cat6 Shielded Cable 1000ft
As mentioned earlier, the Cat6 shielded cable 1000ft comes with its own set of pros and cons. The following are the most important advantages and disadvantages of ethernet cables you should know about.
Minimum EMI
The first and foremost advantage of using the Cat6 shielded cable is its resistance against EMI. You can be sure that your data transmission will be clear of noise.
Everlasting
The shielding of the 1000ft cable not only protects it from EMI and noise but also harsh weather and other environmental uncertainties. This makes the cable everlasting.
Excellent Signal Integrity
The signal integrity of the shielded cable is on spot. It is not interrupted and data is transferred without loss in data packets.
Ideal for Long-distance and Crowded Networks
If your network is crowded or needs to run the cable over long distances, the Cat6 shielded cable is your best option.
Cons of Using Cat6 Shielded Cable 1000ft
The main disadvantages of using the shielded Cat6 1000ft cable are that it is a bit tricky to install and costs more.
Cost
The Cat6 shielded cable costs more. That is because of its added layer of protection. But note that the cost of the cable is worth it because it provides a smoother internet connection.
Installation
Because of the shielding, the cable is also a bit tricky to install. You will need experience or expert advice to ensure a flawless installation. Shielding underneath the cable jacket makes it stiffer which is hard to pull through indoor tight spaces and ducts.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, using the Cat6 shielded cable 1000ft has certain pros and cons. It is a bit expensive and tricky to install but also performs flawlessly while maintaining excellent attenuation and signal integrity.