Cat6 vs Cat6A: what actually differs

Same connector, very different performance. Which one your project actually needs.

Speed and distance

Both ratings handle 1 Gigabit Ethernet over the full 100m without issue. The real difference shows up at 10 Gigabit: Cat6 only supports it over a short run (roughly 37-55m depending on conditions), while Cat6A is built specifically to carry 10 Gigabit over the full 100m.

Crosstalk between pairs

Cat6A has better shielding between the four internal pairs, which reduces alien crosstalk when several cables run side by side in the same conduit or a crowded cabinet.

When to choose which

For an ordinary office network (internet, printers, standard IP cameras), Cat6 is plenty and cheaper. For servers, fast network storage (NAS), or any build that might need higher speeds later, Cat6A is the safer call — replacing an in-wall cable later is far harder than paying the price difference now.

See the category in the catalog

Networking (8)

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