Data Communications Cabling FAQ
Cable:	Usage:	MHz:	Discription:
Category 1 Cat 1 (1.2Kbps)	Telephone	-	Unshielded twisted pair used for transmission of audio frequencies. Used as speaker wire, door bell wire, etc. Not suitable for networking applications.
Category 2 Cat 2 (4.0 Mbps)	LocalTalk Telephone	1.5	Unshielded twisted pair used for transmission at frequencies up to 1.5 Mhz. Used in analog telephone applications. Not suitable for networking applications.
Category 3 Cat 3 (10.0 Mbps)	Voice 10Base-T	16	Unshielded twisted pair with 100 ohm impedance and electrical characteristics supporting transmission at frequencies up to 16 MHz. Defined by the TIA/EIA 568-A specification.
Category 4 Cat 4 (20.0 Mbps)	Token Ring	20	Unshielded twisted pair with 100 ohm impedance and electrical characteristics supporting transmission at frequencies up to 20 MHz. Defined by the TIA/EIA 568-A specification.
Category 5 Cat 5 (100.0 Mbps)	Ethernet 100Base-TX	100	Unshielded twisted pair with 100 ohm impedance and electrical characteristics supporting transmission at frequencies up to 100 MHz. Defined by the TIA/EIA 568-A specification.
Category 5e Cat 5e Enhanced Cat 5 Cat 5+	Fast Ethernet	400	Category 5e is a new standard that will specify transmission performance that exceeds Cat 5. Cat 5e has improved specifications for NEXT, PSELFEXT, and Attenuation. Like Cat 5, it consists of unshielded twisted pair with 100 ohm impedance and electrical characteristics supporting transmission at frequencies up to 100 MHz. To be defined in the TIA 568-A-5 update.
Category 6 Cat 6 (2.4Gbps)		550	Category 6 is a proposed standard that aims to support transmission at frequencies up to 250 MHz over 100 ohm twisted pair.
Category 7 Cat 7 (100.0 Mbps)		600	Category 7 is a proposed standard that aims to support transmission at frequencies up to 600 MHz over 100 ohm twisted pair.