(479) 360-6435

CALL NOW (479) 360-6435

NETWORK CABLING BENTONVILLE BUSINESS PHONE SYSTEMS

Which One Do You Need?

  • For Small Offices or Homes: If you’re setting up a small office or home network with typical internet usage, Cat 5e should suffice, especially if cost is a major concern.
  • For Growing Businesses: If you anticipate needing higher speeds in the near future, Cat 6 offers a good balance of performance and cost, making it a solid choice for most businesses.
  • For High-Demand Environments: If your environment demands the highest performance, especially for 10 Gbps over longer distances, or if you want to future-proof your network, Cat 6A is the best choice.

Each category of cable has its strengths, so consider your current network requirements and future growth when making your decision.

Network Cabling, Install, Repair, & Maintenance, Service Bentonville

At Bentonville Business Phone Systems, we specialize in providing top-quality network cabling services to ensure your business communications run smoothly and efficiently. Our expert technicians design and install structured cabling systems that support your phone, data, and network infrastructure, optimizing performance and reliability. Whether you’re upgrading existing systems or setting up a new office, our customized solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of your Bentonville, AR business, ensuring seamless connectivity and long-term scalability. Trust us to deliver the foundation your business needs to stay connected and competitive.

Cat 5e vs. Cat 6 vs. Cat 6A - which one do I need?

Choosing between Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 6A network cables depends on your current and future networking needs, budget, and the environment in which the cables will be installed. Here’s a breakdown of each cable type and what to consider when making your decision:

Cat 5e (Category 5e)

  • Speed and Bandwidth: Supports up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit Ethernet) and 100 MHz bandwidth.
  • Maximum Distance: Up to 100 meters (328 feet).
  • Use Case: Cat 5e is a good choice for small businesses or home networks with moderate data needs. It can handle most internet speeds available to consumers today and is suitable for typical office tasks like email, browsing, and video conferencing.
  • Cost: The most cost-effective option, making it ideal if you’re on a tight budget.
  • Limitations: As network demands increase, Cat 5e may become a bottleneck, especially in environments with high data traffic or future upgrades to higher internet speeds.

Cat 6 (Category 6)

  • Speed and Bandwidth: Supports up to 10 Gbps, but only over short distances (up to 55 meters). It has a bandwidth of 250 MHz.
  • Maximum Distance: Up to 100 meters for 1 Gbps; 55 meters for 10 Gbps.
  • Use Case: Cat 6 is well-suited for more demanding environments, like medium-sized businesses, where faster data transmission is required. It’s a good option for VoIP systems, streaming, and handling larger data transfers.
  • Cost: Slightly more expensive than Cat 5e, but provides better performance and future-proofing.
  • Limitations: The 10 Gbps speed is only effective at shorter distances, which might limit its use in larger installations.

Cat 6A (Category 6A)

  • Speed and Bandwidth: Supports up to 10 Gbps over the full 100 meters, with a bandwidth of 500 MHz.
  • Maximum Distance: Up to 100 meters for 10 Gbps.
  • Use Case: Cat 6A is ideal for high-performance networks that require consistent, high-speed data transmission over longer distances. It’s suitable for large businesses, data centers, or environments where future scalability to higher speeds is anticipated.
  • Cost: More expensive than Cat 6 due to its higher performance and thicker shielding, which also makes installation more challenging.
  • Limitations: The additional cost and complexity of installation might not be justified unless your network demands require the higher performance.