Category 5e cables are often sought after for computer networking applications, telephone communications, and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode). This article will help to explain what category 5 and category 5e are and how these wires are made.
What Is It
To fully understand what category 5e cables are, you must first learn what category 5 cables are. Below is a brief introduction to both category 5 and category 5e cables.
Cat5
Category 5 cables are twisted pairs of copper wires held together by a single cable jacket. Each pair consists of three twists per inch throughout the entire thread. Category 5 cables are exceptionally good at transferring information because it has such a high signal-to-noise ratio. While all cables are susceptible to interference from both external and internal sources, category 5 cables are built specifically to reduce this interference. Category 5 cables generally transfer data at 100 megabits per second.
Cat5e
Category 5e cables are just the new and improved version of category 5 cables. Category 5e cables come with stricter guidelines and performance specifications outlined by the TIA-EIA-568-B standard. Category 5e cables have been designed to cut down on crosstalk between wired pairs in the cable. Category 5e cables are also referred to as ethernet cables because they are used for ethernet networking between modems, routers, and computers. When category 5e cables became the standard in 2001, the original category 5 cables were completely abandoned. While category 5e cables are much better than the original category 5 cables, they are still limited to 100 meters in length, although this should be more than enough cable for any household or small office.
How It’s Made
These cables may seem simple but category 5e cables are actually very complex and a lot goes into creating them. Below is a list of the many processes that go into manufacturing category 5e cables.
Copper Rod Breakdown
To create category 5e cables, the factory starts off with 5,000 pounds of pure copper. The copper is fed through a special blade made of diamond that cuts the copper down into much smaller sizes. The copper is then cut again while an electrical current is applied to soften the metal. The copper is then scanned by a laser system to make sure that the metal is small enough to make wires out of it.
Copper Insulation Process
The wire is then insulated with a metal jacket to prevent spontaneous electrical malfunctions that would result in data loss. Once this metal insulation is added, the wire is put in a container of water to sit and cool off while the metal hardens.
Copper Twisting
To prevent electrical interference between the wires (which would usually express itself as glitches, sounds, or other unwanted signals), the copper wires are twisted together. When a copper wire is twisted, it is referred to as a cable unit.
Jacketing
The cable unit is then wrapped with a molten PVC plastic to protect the wires and to protect others from touching those wires. During the jacketing process, any additional armor, waterproofing, shielding or other protection may be added. Once the wires are jacketted, the finished product is sent off to sit in cold water for an extensive period of time. A laser is once again used to make sure the total diameter of the finished product meets the correct specifications.
Printing
Once the cable unit is jacketed, it is sent to the printer where it is labelled. OSP (Outside Plant) cables have their labels indented into the jacketing to mark how long the cable is. Premise cables, however, are passed through an inkjet printer that simply stamps the correct numbers onto the jacket. This extra process makes it easier for the consumer to measure out cables for long jobs.
Coiling
The jacketted cable unit is then wrapped into a coil to fit easier into the box. A good amount of effort goes into coiling wires in order to make sure they’re not going to spring apart as soon as they are removed from the packaging.
Final Testing
After all of this manufacturing is over with, the factory puts the finished product through a long series of tests and performance checks to make sure the cables are up to the correct standards. For one, electrical tests must be performed in order to make sure the cable operates as it is meant to. Also, the integrity of the cable must be checked and double checked to make sure the wires do not come lose or that any pieces come off.