Important in order not to restrict the connection sent by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and to take full advantage of your fiber, the choice of a good Ethernet cable is essential. Category 5e, 6, 6a, 7, shielded or not, which RJ45 Ethernet cable to choose for fiber?
After HDMI cables and Lightning cables, let's analyze the different Ethernet cables available on the market to help you make an informed choice.
What type of RJ45 Ethernet cable to choose for optical fiber?
We advise you to turn to a Cat 8 Ethernet cable todayavailable today at the same prices as those in other categories and with features geared towards the future.
We recommend Ugreen Ethernet cables which offer very good value for money. Their big advantage is to have protection at the pin of the Ethernet cable, which limits the damage it could suffer while benefiting from a braided nylon cable known to be more resistant.
If you need a long cable or if you plan to run it through a wall without protection (PVC trunking for example), we advise you to turn to a more resistant cable.
RJ45 Ethernet cable and optical fiber
If there is one connection that we have found on our devices for years, it is the RJ45 which has been used since the beginnings of modern computing to connect devices together using the Ethernet protocol. Today, the vast majority of them are used to connect devices to the Internet, often via an ISP box modem (Livebox, Bbox, Box SFR, Freebox, etc.).
The standard has evolved over time. Initially capable of transmitting data with a rate of 10 Mbit/s, the Ethernet standard now makes it possible to reach a rate of 40 Gbit/s. Of course, our consumer equipment is not yet capable of reaching such speeds, which are currently reserved for the professional world. It nevertheless remains important to invest at least in Gigabit or 10 Gigabit compatible Ethernet cables in order to benefit from optical fiber without slowing down and to be able to access your equipment locally at full speed and above all to be able to benefit from it. on the long term.
Categories and Shielding of Ethernet Cables
Now let's get to the heart of the matter: there are two important factors to consider when purchasing an Ethernet cable — grade and shielding. The first allows you to certify a flow rate that the cable is capable of supporting and the second serves to protect the cable from electromagnetic disturbances in the environment in which you are going to use it.
Categories of RJ45 cables:
Many categories of Ethernet cables supporting different speeds exist, but here are the most recent:
- Category 5e: theoretical maximum throughput of 1 Gbit/s;
- Category 6: theoretical maximum throughput of 10 Gbit/s;
- Category 6a: theoretical maximum throughput of 10 Gbit/s (higher frequency + longer range);
- Category 7: theoretical maximum throughput of 40 Gbit/s;
- Category 8: theoretical maximum throughput of 40 Gbit/s (higher frequency + longer range).
On paper, a Category 6, 6a, 7 or 8 cable is therefore compatible with 10 Gb/s when connected to devices with a 10GBASE-T Ethernet port, such as the latest Mac Mini. Note that it is possible to have a speed of 10 Gb/s on lower categories if the conditions are perfect (distance/interference). In the case of a wall installation, it is best to directly test the maximum flow rate possible with the current installation before changing it.
Shielding of RJ45 Ethernet cables: UTP, FTP and STP
Shielding is also an element that should not be overlooked. It is separated into two parts and each letter corresponds to a specific type of shielding:
- cable shielding : U (unshielded), F (shielding with aluminum foil) or S (shielding with aluminum braid)
- the connector shield : UTP (unshielded), FTP (9-point shielded with ground connection) or STP (360° CEM shielded). It is an important element for wall cables or cables exposed to strong electromagnetic disturbances.
The majority of cables found on the market are U/UTP (therefore unshielded), but benefit from twisted pairs (TP) which limits sensitivity to interference and crosstalk. The transmission and restitution of the signal remain good, without disturbances.
To take full advantage of your fiber at home, an RJ45 U/UTP or F/UTP Ethernet cable is enough. Carefully measure the length of cable you need to order the correct size. If the distance between the Ethernet port of your device and your box is too long, and the cable risks lying around unprotected or if it passes through conduits, it is better to opt for shielding the cable and connector.
Let's talk 10 Gb/s
Long a fantasy for many techies, 10 Gb/s is now a reality. If uses on the Internet side are not necessarily democratized, it may be interesting to take advantage of it now to take advantage of a better local network in order to access a NAS at a high speed or for a network with many devices.
To access the Internet at this speed, you must have an Internet Box and eligibility for the XGS-PON (at SFR or Orange) or 10G-EPON (at Free) networks. Today, we find in particular:
To go further with your RJ45 Ethernet cable
👉 Make the right choice among all the Free boxes
👉 Discover our comparison of different internet boxes