Navigate the essentials of network cabling—from wire gauges and Ethernet categories to coaxial specs and hardware accessories. This section helps you choose the right cable for speed, distance, environment, and budget.
What you’ll learn
- AWG (American Wire Gauge): How conductor size affects flexibility, resistance, and signal performance.
- Ethernet Categories (Cat5e–Cat8): Bandwidth, frequency, shielding, and where each makes sense (home, office, data center).
- Solid vs. Stranded: When to use solid conductors for fixed runs and stranded for patch cords and frequent movement.
- CCA vs. Pure Copper: Why copper-clad aluminum can impact PoE, heat, and long-term reliability.
- Coaxial Basics: 50Ω vs 75Ω use cases, loss characteristics, and connector compatibility.
- Accessories & Splitters: When a CAT5e splitter applies, its limitations, and alternatives to maintain throughput.
Who this is for
IT admins, installers, and DIY network builders who need quick, practical guidance to match cable specs with real-world applications.
Featured topics
- What is AWG?
- Decoding Category Cabling: From Cat5 to Cat8
- Choosing the Right Cable: Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, Cat8
- Cat 8 Ethernet – High-Speed Networking
- What CCA Wire Can Do to Your Network
- Network Cabling – Solid or Stranded?
- What is Coaxial Cable?
- 50 Ohm vs 75 Ohm Coaxial Cable
- Exploring Different Cable Types and Their Uses
- CAT5e Splitter