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Should I get CAT 7 cables?

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  • 22-07-2016 2:24pm
    #1
    SeanF
    Registered Users Posts: 147 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I'm about to press submit order on 100 metres of Cat 7 cables (to wire from my house to a garden office). It's €275 for 100 metres, versus €49 for 100m of the CAT 6 cables.

    These cables will run under a patio, so I won't be able to change them later. I know that CAT 7 is probably overkill for a small home/small business network, but I'm just worried I'll regret not using CAT 7 in 10 or 20 years time.

    Should I get the CAT 7?


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    #2
    Captain Chaos
    Registered Users Posts: 11,174 ✭✭✭✭Captain Chaos


    No point in going to Cat 7 over Cat 6. You can go to Cat6A for a little more but fibre is the way it's going now.

    The marginal performance gain is not worth the price increase in real word conditions. I install and certify the stuff for industry for a living.

    Cat 7 cable is still not fully ratified yet and at this stage probably never will as it's been around 10 years. Cat 7 will most likely be skipped by industry and Cat 8 will be come the next main standard once finalised.

    Shielded Cat 6A is the highest spec we are asked to install and even then they are mainly for American firms based here. The likes of Amazon and Google are still using and requesting standard Cat 6 and fibre for their new installs. They are not bothering with Cat 6A or 7.


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    #3
    SeanF
    Registered Users Posts: 147 ✭✭SeanF


    Captain Chaos wrote: »
    No point in going to Cat 7 over Cat 6. You can go to Cat6A for a little more but fibre is the way it's going now.

    The marginal performance gain is not worth the price increase in real word conditions. I install and certify the stuff for industry for a living.
    Thanks, but does that mean I should actually get fibre optic cables instead of CAT?


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    #4
    Captain Chaos
    Registered Users Posts: 11,174 ✭✭✭✭Captain Chaos


    SeanF wrote: »
    Thanks, but does that mean I should actually get fibre optic cables instead of CAT?

    You really don't need fibre unless your cable runs are going 100+ metres. Cat 6 has alot of head room even for the next 10 years.


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    #5
    SeanF
    Registered Users Posts: 147 ✭✭SeanF


    Captain Chaos wrote: »
    You really don't need fibre unless your cable runs are going 100+ metres. Cat 6 has alot of head room even for the next 10 years.

    Thanks very much, I'l probably go for the CAT 6 so.


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    #6
    Tow
    Registered Users Posts: 7,557 ✭✭✭Tow


    I would not get Cat7, what you need is exterior/outdoor grade Cat6. The basic type will be made from UV stabilized material and the better will also the double covered and some (Chinese?) are gel filled etc.

    Some thing like this: http://ie.rs-online.com/web/p/cat6-cable/6663900/
    Datasheet: http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/0d39/0900766b80d39a35.pdf

    When is the money (including lost growth) Michael Noonan took in the Pension Levy going to be paid back?



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    #7
    SeanF
    Registered Users Posts: 147 ✭✭SeanF


    Tow wrote: »
    I would not get Cat7, what you need is exterior/outdoor grade Cat6. The basic type will be made from UV stabilized material and the better will also the double covered and some (Chinese?) are gel filled etc.

    Some thing like this: http://ie.rs-online.com/web/p/cat6-cable/6663900/
    Datasheet: http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/0d39/0900766b80d39a35.pdf

    I'm glad I went for CAT 6 now. I've actually just purchased this: http://www.cables.ie/cat-6-external-s-ftp-solid-cable-external.html
    So that should be fine.


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