What Type of Ethernet Cable Should You Use? - Make It EASY

In this video, I answer some common questions about the types of ethernet cables you should use in your home network.


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If you’re looking to buy ethernet cables for your home network, here are a few I recommend:



0:00 Introduction
0:44 What category of ethernet cable should you use?
4:38 Another item to consider when buying ethernet cables
5:18 Do you need to use a different type of cable to connect different devices?
6:27 Do all ethernet cables need to be the same category?
6:51 Summary and conclusion

What types of ethernet cables should you use in your home network?
When it comes to choosing ethernet cables for your home network, you need to ensure the cables can support the bandwidth provided by your internet plan.

To do that, you need to ensure you’re using the right category of ethernet cables in your home network. An ethernet cable category represents the specifications to which the cable was made. As long as you’re using Cat5e ethernet cables or above (e.g. Cat6, Cat6A, etc.) in your home network, you should be in good shape.

To take it one step further, you can future proof your home network if you use Cat6 or Cat6A cables, because they both support bandwidths of 10 Gbps. In buying these categories of cables, you know you won’t have to replace them any time soon (if ever).

Do you need to use a different type of ethernet cable depending upon the devices you’re connecting?
As I mentioned above, as long as the ethernet cables you’re using support the bandwidth requirements of your home network, it doesn’t matter what category of cable you’re using.

For example, you can use a Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6a cable to connect your modem and router. You don’t need to use a specific category of cable.

Do all ethernet cables in your home network need to be the same category?
No, all the ethernet cables in your home network do not have to be the same category. For example, you could use a Cat5e cable to connect your modem and router, and you could use a Cat6 cable to connect your laptop to your router.

I know I sound like a broken record here, but as long as the ethernet cables in your home network support the bandwidth of your internet plan, you can mix and match all you want.

Conclusion
If you have any questions about ethernet cables and how they should be used in your home network, please leave a comment below.

[doomtomb]

super useful, I am in the process of upgrading my home from 5E to 6. I wanted 6A but none of my distances are over 50m so it should be fine up to 10Gbps

[lucaslesley]

Thank you! was having a lot of confusion with this topic. was thinking of upgrading my home network setup and your vid helped getting it started !!

[catherineyork]

Learning a lot! Keep up the great work!

[CapitanGreenhat]

Cat 8. Always get the best to be the best and have the best. Bc why the F not. Its seriously not that much more in price. Maybe you mow a couple extra yards or something. Most high end routers and motherboards are supporting 10g lan connections so go for it. Now if we could just hurry up and get docsis 4.0 and seagate double arm hamr drives. 😢

[James_Knott]

If I switch from CAT 5 to CAT 6, will you talk faster??? 🙂

[canaldecasta]

amp netconnect systems cable 1900 24 awg unshielded cat 5 01/47
How bad is this one? ^^'