Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) NetworkingNetwork AccessEasy
A network technician is installing a new Ethernet cable run in an office environment. The cable needs to support Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) over a distance of approximately 70 meters. Which of the following cable categories is the minimum requirement to reliably achieve this performance?
- ACategory 5 (Cat5)
- BCategory 6 (Cat6)
- CCategory 3 (Cat3)
- DCategory 5e (Cat5e)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Category 5e (Cat5e)
Category 5e (Cat5e) is the minimum standard for Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) over distances up to 100 meters. Category 6 (Cat6) also supports this but is not the minimum.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Cat5 only reliably supports 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet) over this distance.
- B. Cat6 supports Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet over shorter distances, but Cat5e is the minimum for this scenario.
- C. Cat3 only supports up to 10 Mbps and is unsuitable for Gigabit Ethernet.
Ethernet Cable Categories
Standardized classifications for twisted-pair cables, indicating their performance capabilities for data transmission rates and frequencies.
- Higher categories support faster speeds and longer distances.
- Cat5e is the minimum for Gigabit Ethernet.
- Cat6 and Cat6a support 10 Gigabit Ethernet over varying distances.
Memory trick: Faster the number, faster the data flow.