To set up a wired Local Area Network (LAN) with your NETGEAR devices, you must use Ethernet cables. Ethernet is a wired networking technology with ports and cables that look similar to legacy phone jacks and cables, but larger and with more pins. Most NETGEAR products use Ethernet technology to transfer information over your wired LAN connections. For more information, see What is Ethernet?
Ethernet standards have evolved over the years to support increased speeds. Different types of Ethernet cables support different speeds and cable lengths, with each type grouped into categories. While many categories of Ethernet cable are available, the most common cables in use today are Category 5e (Cat 5e) and newer.
The following table displays the official Telecommunications Industry Association Ethernet cable standards for common categories in use today:
| Ethernet Cable Type | Maximum Data Rate |
|---|---|
| Category 5 (Cat 5) | 100 Mbps up to 100 m (328 ft.) |
| Category 5e (Cat 5e) | 1 Gbps up to 100 m (328 ft.) |
| Category 6 (Cat 6) | 10 Gbps up to 55 m (180 ft.) |
| Category 6A (Cat 6A) | 10 Gbps up to 100 m (328 ft.) |
Despite the published specifications, Ethernet cables can often transfer data at higher rates than the specification’s maximum. For example, high quality Cat 5e cables can typically transmit up to 5 Gbps at a length of up to 100m (328 ft.) despite the 1 Gbps specification.
However, because the quality of Ethernet cables can vary, we recommend that you use a Category 6 (Cat 6) or better Ethernet cable if your ISP or wired LAN devices support Multi-Gig speeds like 2.5G, 5G, or 10G. If your ISP or devices support 1 Gbps (Gigabit) speeds or less, you can use a Category 5e (Cat 5e) Ethernet cable.
If you are setting up a LAN using a NETGEAR Plus, Smart, or Fully Managed Switch, you can use the switch’s Cable Test feature to test the quality of your Ethernet cable. For more information, see How to use the Cable Tester feature on NETGEAR ProSAFE Click Switches?.
For more information:
- What is multi-gig Internet?
- What are Multi-Gig Ethernet and 2.5G Multi-Gig Ethernet ports?
- What options do I have when setting up a multi-gig connection?