Where To Buy Cat 7 Cable
Ethernet cables come in all shapes, lengths, and sizes, but the biggest differentiating factor between them is their category. This term is used to denote the generation of Ethernet cable, which in turn tells you a lot about its performance potential and the level of shielding it has to prevent crosstalk and exterior noise. Where cables like Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, and even Cat 8 are quite typical, however, Cat7 is a little different.
where to buy cat 7 cable
Those other categories of cable were part of the standard development of Ethernet cables. They improved incrementally generation upon generation and were released in a fairly uniform manner over the years, but Cat 7 was an attempt to leapfrog ahead of that, delivering much greater performance potential years ahead of comparable Ethernet cable designs.
Not on Cable Matters. All cables in that store are accurately labeled to help you make an informed choice. But knowing what is Cat7 can save you some headaches when it comes to upgrading your Ethernet cables.
A quick look at Cat7's capabilities might make you wonder what all the fuss is about, because on paper at least, it has everything you might want in an Ethernet cable. Originally ratified as a standard in 2002, Cat7 was the first Ethernet cable type to offer speeds up to 10 Gbps over up to 100 meters of copper cabling. In ideal circumstances, Cat7 Ethernet cables can operate up to frequencies as high as 600 MHz. That's noticeably higher than Cat6 cables, although falls very close to the capabilities of Cat6A, which debuted two years later.
Cat7 cables do have stricter standards for crosstalk than Cat6, roughly comparable with Cat6A. It typically achieves this with a tighter twisting of the internal wires, though you can also get Cat 7 cables which have shielding of the twisted pairs, and an overall braid or foil wrap for the cable as a whole, doubling the layers of shielding over older categories of Ethernet cabling.
One of the most important reasons is that the Cat7 specification is a proprietary standard developed by a group of companies. It is not an IEEE standard and is not approved by TIA/EIA. Cat7 cables don't use the traditional RJ-45 Ethernet header (technically known as an 8P8C connector). The GG45 connector that is used instead, is a proprietary connector. It is, however, backward compatible with RJ-45 and could be used interchangeably for the most part, but due to the limited adoption of Cat7 Ethernet cables, the GG45 Connector is hard to come by. Cat7 cables are also compatible with the TERA connector, although that has also seen very little use in the industry. (see below)
This lack of conformity with prior cable standards has led to Cat7 being an exceedingly unpopular cable category and ultimately drove the development of Cat6A cables shortly after its initial release. While that standard proved more popular, it also added to the confusion. Marketing comparable Cat6A cables is difficult when Cat7 sounds better and newer, by virtue of having a higher number category. This has resulted in some sellers using Cat7 as a way to sell their Cat6A cables. So be sure to check the specifications of any Cat7 cables you are interested in buying, before typing in your card details.
While connector preference drove some people and companies away from Cat7 though, arguably the most important factor in its low popularity is that it lacks the official stamp of approval from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). That doesn't preclude anyone from using Cat7 cables, but it does mean many are less inclined to do so.
Unfortunately, this strays further from the plans of the IEEE, which ratified in 2016 (six years after Cat7A was ratified) that Ethernet cables officially supporting 40 Gbps speeds would require support for up to 2,000MHz, meaning Cat8 cables are the only ones to officially support such speeds.
Beyond simply being more standardized, though, Cat 8 is simply a better cable. It is rated to support frequencies up to 2,000 MHz over up to 30 meters, giving it the official support for up to 40 Gbps over that shorter cable run. Though Cat 7 cables have been shown to be capable of delivering such bandwidths, they only support frequencies up to 600MHz, so lack that official support for such high bandwidths.
In terms of shielding both cables are roughly equal as standards. They both require shielded twisted pairs and an overall shielding over the cable itself, but Cat 8 comes in a wider range of shielded options. Some have splines, others add additional foil or braided shielding for the overall wire, and some have both.
As for cost, Cat 8 Ethernet cables are typically a little more expensive, but considering you get the ratified and official standard and supported features, as well as more impressive rated performance, there really is no competition: Cat8 cables are better.
Cat7 cables are not a common standard, nor one you need to concern yourself with. If you need the kind of performance Cat7 offers, Cat6A is perfectly up to the task. It's a widely supported cable standard and has all of the benefits of Cat7 without the drawbacks.
In the vast majority of cases, if your network is less than 10Gbps then Cat6A cable is going to be all you need. Let's say you live in Chattanooga, Tennessee though and you've just upgraded to the fastest residential internet service in the country at 25Gbps.
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Taking a look at the specifications between Cat7 and Cat6A we have identical performance for all intents and purposes, regardless of the specification difference of 100 MHz, which means they will both run at the maximum 10 Gigabit speed. There is no reason to opt for Cat7 when bulk Cat6A cable is readily found and typically for less money. Cat6A will also be far easier to work with and terminate.
Unless your network equipment is up to the task, you are likely using 1 Gigabit Ethernet technology like 99% of the world. 10 Gigabit equipment is extremely expensive. While it is becoming more available, it is likely only found in medium and large businesses that have the need for very high speed. Cat7 cable will not make your existing network equipment or internet any faster. You will simply waste money. For the average home and small business user, purchasing anything higher than Cat6 is of no benefit either. This all said, if your network is designed to run 10 Gigabit speed, and you need this speed past 110 feet (165 feet depending on conditions) then indeed Cat6A is the way to go. For help with deciding what network technology best matches the cable to use, take a look at The Need for Speed.
NBASE-T is also a game changer. Now, 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T are realities for existing Cat5e and Cat6 (respectively) unshielded cable installations. These speeds will satisfy all but the most demanding home and small business users. See more about NBASE-T in Just What is NBASE-T?
Cat7 and Cat8 cable are fully shielded, and referred to as S/FTP. What this means is that not only does it have an overall braided shield, but also each individual pair is foil shielded as well. This makes for extremely stiff and thick cable, which will be difficult to terminate. Most installers will wish to terminate either of these Categories to patch panels or keystone jacks.
The best Ethernet cable for your network depends upon what your current equipment can support, while keeping a reasonable eye on the future. Network technology progresses, but not so quickly that a cabling installation will become obsolete overnight. As always, HAPPY NETWORKING!
A Category 7 cable (CAT 7) is used for the cabling infrastructure of Gigabit Ethernet with performance of up to 600MHz. Put simply, a CAT 7 cable is what we recommend you use when wiring your smart home.
The Loxone Cat7 cable is designed to run a network when wiring a smart home. If you are looking to buy an ethernet Cat7 cable to simply plug into a router or switch we recommend the AmazonBasics RJ45 Cat7 Network Ethernet Patch Cable
CAT 7 cable, whilst being the more expensive option, is also considered the most durable, and has a longer lifespan than CAT 5 and CAT 6, improving its overall return on investment, and is the best choice for wiring with the future in mind.
Life can be unpredictable to say the least, so it makes sense to plan your new home with the future in mind. With a CAT 7 cable, you can create an expandable and flexible cabling system which will save you the expense of re-wiring for new features in the future!
Actually yes! Thanks to Loxone Tree, you can reduce the number of cables that need to be run within the home. Loxone Tree is a free-form wiring topology which allows you to connect devices on a room by room basis, rather than wiring individual devices back to a central point like you would in a star wiring topology. 041b061a72