What is the difference between a Category 5 cable and a Category 6 cable?

　　The five types of network lines and the six types of network lines are significantly different in several aspects. Here is a detailed comparison of these two types of network lines:

　　I. Internal structure

　　Category 5 lines: The internal structure of Category 5 lines is relatively simple, usually without special isolation or support structures.

　　Category 6 wire: The internal structure of Category 6 wire adds a cross skeleton, which places the four pairs of twisted pair cables in their four grooves. The cross skeleton in the center of the cable also rotates at an angle as the length changes, which helps reduce electromagnetic interference and signal attenuation.

　　Second, the size of the copper core

　　Category 5 wire: The copper core diameter of Category 5 wire is usually less than 0.45mm.

　　Category 6 wire: The copper core diameter of Category 6 wire is larger, and the standard range is between 0.56mm and 0.58mm. The thicker copper core helps to provide better signal tranSMission performance and anti-interference ability.

　　III. Transmission performance

　　Category 5 cable: The transmission bandwidth of Category 5 cable is 100MHz, which is mainly used for voice transmission and data transmission with a maximum transmission rate of 100Mbps. It is often used in 100Mbps network and 10Mbps network, but has been gradually replaced by Super Category 5 cable.

　　Category 6 lines: The transmission frequency of Category 6 lines is 250MHz, which is suitable for applications with transmission rates higher than 1Gbps. Its transmission performance is much higher than that of Category 5 lines and Super Category 5 lines, and it is an ideal choice in gigabit networks.

　　IV. Skin identification and application

　　Category 5 thread: The outer skin of Category 5 thread is usually marked with the words "CAT5".

　　Category 6 wire: The outer skin of Category 6 wire will be marked with the words "CAT6". This helps to quickly identify the cable type during installation and maintenance.

　　In terms of applications, Category 5 lines are mainly used for older Ethernet and broadband access projects, while Category 6 lines are more suitable for modern high-speed networks such as Gigabit Ethernet.

　　V. Other differences

　　In addition to the above main differences, there are also differences between Category 5 and Category 6 lines in terms of impedance matching, noise reduction technology, anti-interference performance, etc. Category 6 lines usually have better impedance matching and noise reduction technology, which can reduce electromagnetic interference and ensure high-quality data transmission. This makes it more suitable for use in high-noise environments, such as industrial areas or transportation hubs.

　　To sum up, there are significant differences between Category 5 and Category 6 wires in terms of internal structure, copper core size, transmission performance, skin identification and application, and other aspects. When choosing which type of cable to use, comprehensive consideration should be made according to specific network requirements and environmental conditions.