CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71)InfrastructureEasy
A technician is wiring a new office and wants Ethernet cabling that supports higher speeds and less crosstalk than the older cable type currently installed. Which cable category should the technician choose for the upgrade?
- ACat5
- BCat5e
- CCat3
- DCat6
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Cat6
Cat6 cable supports higher bandwidth (up to 10 Gbps at shorter distances) and has tighter twists that reduce crosstalk compared to Cat5e, Cat5, and Cat3. It is the best upgrade choice among the options listed.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Cat5 supports up to 100 Mbps and has largely been replaced.
- B. Cat5e improved on Cat5 but supports lower speeds and more crosstalk than Cat6.
- C. Cat3 is an outdated standard supporting only very low speeds (10 Mbps).
Ethernet Cable Categories
Twisted-pair cable standards (Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6) that define maximum speed and distance for wired networking.
- Cat5e supports up to 1 Gbps
- Cat6 supports up to 10 Gbps at shorter distances (~55m)
- Higher category numbers generally mean better shielding and less interference
Memory trick: Bigger cable number = bigger bandwidth.