When you need an ethernet cable that can handle all sorts of high-speed ethernet applications, you buy cat6 cable 1000ft. But when you are looking to buy it, you may face a problem: which one do you need? There is a variety of different bulk cat6 cables to choose from. And it is crucial to choose the right cable to set up a flawless network.
If you are unsure about the difference between cat6 and cat6 riser cable, read on. This blog will clear all of your questions. We will walk you through the definition of cat6 cables, the difference between its different types, and choosing the right one for specific use cases.
Without further ado, let’s cut to the chase and answer these questions.
Cat6 Cable 1000ft
The first thing you need to understand is the Cat6 cable 1000ft. Because as we shall see later, the cat6 riser 1000ft is one of its many types. It is made for specific use cases like other variants of the cable.
The cat6 cable 1000ft was introduced as an enhanced version of the previous Cat5e cable. Cat stands for the category and 6 represents the 6th generation of twisted pair ethernet cables.
It is produced in large lengths, though shorter patch cords are also available. This cable in particular is a bulk ethernet cable. It means that it is produced in long lengths of 1000ft.
Bulk Cat6 Cable is designed for large-scale installations such as entire buildings or similar construction projects. It is also used to set up wired networks for CCTV cameras in streets, neighborhoods, etc.
Performance of the Cable
The Cat6 Ethernet Cable is quite fast and reliable when it comes to performance.
The speed on it can reach up to 1 GBit/s over 100 meters. But when you run the cable at 50 meters, the speed can reach up to a maximum of 10 GBit/s.
Moreover, it offers a voluminous bandwidth capacity of 550 MHz. This is more than enough for almost all high-speed ethernet applications.
Twisted Pair
There are 8 total conductors in all bulk ethernet cables, including Cat6 riser 1000ft. They are all twisted in pairs. The tighter the twists, the better the signal transmission. That is because the magnitude of interference and crosstalk in the cable is reduced when the parallel running wires are twisted into pairs.
Moreover, the twisted pairs also feature a plastic structure in between the pairs. This is integrated into the cable to ensure that no far-end crosstalk or near-end crosstalk affects the cable performance. Known as spline, it also gives the cable a firm structure.
Jackets
The cables are available in multiple jackets. For instance, plenum and riser are the most commonly used ones. There is a PVC jacket as well as an LLDPE (direct burial) jacket.
But the most commonly used ones are the plenum and riser. Here in this article, we are concerned with the riser variant.
The reason why this cable comes in different jackets is because of its use case. For each use, a cable with a specific jacket has to be run in LAN networks. For instance, the cat6 plenum cable will be used in indoor horizontal spaces. Similarly, the cat6 riser cable will be used in its specific use case. More on that later.
Cat6 Plenum Cable
The Cat6 Plenum Cable is the most commonly used one on the market. It comes with the highest-rated plenum jacket which is also the safest for indoor air-handling spaces.
It is the same as any other category 6 ethernet cable such as Cat6 riser 1000ft. However, it comes with a plenum jacket that makes it different.
When you are setting up a LAN network and need a cable to run in the indoor HVAC ducts or air handling spaces above dropped ceilings and below-raised floors, this is the one to get.
Cat6 Riser Cable
The Cat6 Riser Cable is the one that you run vertically in indoor LAN networks. Its jacket is made from high-quality PVC materials which are coated with fire-retardant material. What this means is that it prevents flame from propagating along the cable length in case of a fire hazard.
Cat6 riser cable is run in indoor vertical settings such as between floors, inside walls, elevator shafts, etc.
Pertinent to mention here is the fact that this cable should be run in contained spaces. Because it can emit toxic smoke in case of a fire hazard, it must be installed in spaces where smoke cannot escape.
Moreover, the cat6 riser cable can also be used outdoors where the weather is not too harsh. For instance, if you need to run an ethernet cable to an outdoor post to connect an IP security camera, you can use it. However, make sure that it will not be subjected to extreme weather conditions. Otherwise, it is bound to be damaged soon.
Difference Between Cat6 and Cat6 Riser Cable
Well, what is the difference between the Cat6 cable 1000ft and the Cat6 Riser Cable?
The cat6 cable 1000ft is the base category. And the Cat6 Riser Cable is one of its many types. Other types include Cat6 Plenum, Cat6 PVC, and Cat6 Direct Burial.
The riser-rated cable is different because of its jacket. And because it comes with a different jacket, it is used in its specific applications.
Final Verdict
In a nutshell, the cat6 riser cable is a type of cat6 cable 1000ft. The other 1000ft ethernet cable variants of the Cat6 include the plenum, direct burial, and PVC. However, the riser cat6 being a popular variant is often considered to be the base variant of category 6 twisted pair ethernet cables.
