What is Network Patch Cord and Types

What is Patch Cord?

Network patch cord refers to the network cable with RJ45 connectors at both ends of the cable, which is used to connect computer devices and network devices. It is commonly used for data transmission between network devices such as computers, switches, routers, and network storage devices in a local area network (LAN).

Patch Cord Types

According to different factors, network patch cords can be divided into different types of patch cords.

Category of Patch Cables

Ethernet patch cord cables are designed for different speeds, performance, etc., depending on the specific application. Common categories include: CAT5E, CAT6, CAT6A, CAT7, CAT7A.

Category 5e: Offers speeds up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second) over short distances. Commonly used for basic home and office networking.

Category 6: Provides better performance and reduced interference, supporting speeds up to 10 Gbps over shorter distances.

Category 6a: Offers enhanced performance and bandwidth compared to Cat6, capable of supporting 10 Gbps over longer distances.

Category 7: Designed for high-performance networking and data centers, supporting speeds of up to 10 Gbps or even 40 Gbps over short distances.

Category 7a: Compared with Cat7 patch cords, it has further improved in transmission performance, bandwidth and anti-interference ability, and supports higher speed data transmission.

Unshielded or Shielded Patch Cord Cable

Depending on the requirements for resistance to EMI and RFI in different application scenarios, network Lan patch cords can be divided into two major types: unshielded and shielded.

Unshielded Patch Cord

Unshielded network jumper cable does not have a metal shielding layer, and the RJ45 connectors at both ends do not have a shielding structure, making it less resistant to electromagnetic interference. It is suitable for general network environments and has high cost-effectiveness.

Shielded Patch Cord

Compared to unshielded patch cables, shielded patch cords add a shielding layer in the cable structure, and metal shielding structures are added to the RJ45 connectors on both sides, which can provide better signal integrity and anti-interference performance. They are suitable for scenarios that require high signal quality and stability.

Solid or Stranded Patch Cord

According to the different internal wire structures, Ethernet patch cords can be divided into solid patch cords and stranded patch cords.

Solid Patch Cable

Lan patch cord consists of 4 pairs of twisted pair cables (8 wires). For solid patch cord, each wire uses a solid wire as the internal wire, which have a sturdy structure, and have the advantages of low signal loss and better interference resistance.

Stranded Patch Cord

Stranded patch cords use multiple metal wires (usually 7 or more) as internal conductors for each wire, which have good flexibility and bending resistance, are suitable for use in narrow spaces and situations that require frequent connection and unplugging.

Wiring Standard

T568A and T568B are two common network patch cord wiring standards used to define the arrangement order of each wire in the RJ45 connector and RJ45 socket.

T568B wiring standard is currently commonly used in the market, but there is no performance distinction between the two standards. Just ensure that the same standard is selected throughout the entire network to ensure the normal operation of network communication.

Advantages of Ethernet Patch Cord Cable

Flexibility

Suitable types and specifications can be selected based on different devices and networks to achieve flexible networking and expansion.

High Speed Transmission

It can provide high-speed, stable, and secure data transmission to meet the needs of various application scenarios.

Easy to Install and Connect

The connections of Ethernet jumper cables are relatively simple, easy to use and configure.

Reliability

It can reduce signal interference and loss, ensuring reliable data transmission.

Gcabling Network Patch Cable​s

Gcabling can supply a variety of  Lan patch cords, here we list some hot-selling products.

*More fiber patch cable types, please contact Gcabling for information!

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