Cat8 braided network cable

I. Comparison of Core Performance Parameters (Clear at a Glance
Explanation of the differences between Category 8 braided cable (Cat8) and Category 6 network cable (Cat6A) in parameter items
The bandwidth of 2000 MHZ (2GHz) and 500MHz Cat8 is four times that of Cat6A
The transmission rate is 40Gbps (≤30 meters) to 10Gbps (≤100 meters). The Cat8 rate is four times that of Cat6A, but the distance is limited
The maximum transmission distance is 30 meters (25G/40GBASE-T) and 100 meters (10GBASE-T). Cat8 is designed for short-distance high-speed transmission, while Cat6A takes into account long-distance transmission
The wire gauge 21-24AWG (commonly 22AWG) and 23-24AWG (commonly 23AWG) Cat8 have thicker cores and better electrical conductivity
The shielding structure is S/FTP (each pair of aluminum foil + overall braided shielding), UTP/STP/FTP (mostly UTP/STP), and Cat8 is double shielding + braided, which has stronger anti-interference ability
Connector types: RJ45 (compatible)/GG45 RJ45 (standard compatible). Cat6A has wider compatibility and does not require special connectors
The crosstalk suppression is extremely high (braided shielding + independent pair shielding) and high (cross isolation + twist optimization). The crosstalk of Cat8 is even lower, making it suitable for high frequency and high speed
Ii. Shielding Structure: The dividing line of Anti-interference capability
Category 8 braided cable (Cat8) : S/FTP double shield + braided total shield
Each Pair of Twisted wires is independently Foiled Twisted Pair.
Four pairs of wires are wrapped with high-density braided shielding layers (usually aluminum-magnesium alloy or tin-plated copper wire, with a coverage rate of 85%-95%).
The outermost sheath provides protection
Advantages: 360° all-round EMI/RFI resistance, extremely low internal crosstalk (NEXT/FEXT), ensuring signal integrity at 40Gbps
Cat6A network cables: mainly UTP/STP
UTP (Unshielded) : No shielding layer, crosstalk is suppressed by a cross-shaped isolation skeleton and precise twisting
STP (Overall Shielding) : Only the outer layer is shielded as a whole, with no independent pair shielding
FTP (Pair Blocking) : Each pair is blocked, with no total blocking
Advantages: Lower cost, more flexible construction, suitable for general interference environments
Iii. Physical Properties and Construction Differences
Flexibility and bending radius
Cat8: Due to the braided shielding layer, its flexibility is slightly lower, but the minimum bending radius is larger (about 15-20 times the wire diameter).
Cat6A: The UTP version has good flexibility, followed by the STP version, and it is more convenient for construction
Wire diameter and weight
Cat8: The wire diameter is thicker (about 7-9mm), and the weight per unit length is greater
Cat6A: The wire diameter is thinner (about 6-7mm), and the wiring density is higher
Termination requirements
Cat8: The shielding layer must be reliably connected to the shielding shell of the crystal head. The grounding requirements are strict. It is recommended to carry out professional construction
Cat6A: The UTP version has simple termination, and the grounding requirement of the STP version is lower than that of Cat8
Iv. Application Scenarios: Each performs its own duties and does not replace one another
The golden scene of Category 8 braided yarn (Cat8)
Data center: Short-distance interconnection between servers and switches (≤30 meters), supporting 25G/40G connections based on TOR/EOR architecture
High-performance computing: AI clusters, low-latency connections between supercomputing nodes
High-frequency trading: Financial data centers, scenarios with extremely high requirements for latency and stability
High-end audio-visual: 8K video production, professional live streaming, lossless high-speed transmission required
The mainstream scenarios of Cat6A network cables
Enterprise campus network: Horizontal cabling for office buildings and factories, supporting 10Gbps to the desktop
Data center: Long-distance connection (30-100 meters), from the access layer to the aggregation layer
Surveillance and security: High-definition camera cluster, supporting PoE++ power supply
Smart home: 10-Gigabit networking for high-end residences, balancing cost and performance
V. Cost and Value Considerations
Cost dimension: Recommendations for Category 8 braided cable (Cat8) and Category 6A network cable (Cat6A)
The price of the cable is high (about 2 to 5 times that of Cat6A), and in non-high-speed scenarios (about 1.2 to 1.5 times that of Cat6), Cat6A is preferred
Among the high construction costs (requiring professional shielding treatment), UTP is easy to install. For ordinary enterprises, choosing Cat6A is more economical
The device compatibility should support 25G/40G switches to be compatible with existing 10G/1G devices. Cat6A backward compatibility is even better, providing longer investment protection
The life cycle is suitable for the high-speed demand in the next five years and meets the 10-gigabit demand in the current ten years. For the core area of the data center, Cat8 is selected, and for the edge area, Cat6A is chosen
Vi. Key Selection Suggestions
The situation of choosing Cat8
A short-distance connection of 40Gbps (≤30 meters) is required, such as interconnection within a data center cabinet
Severe environmental electromagnetic interference (in industrial control areas and areas with dense computer rooms)
Pursuing ultimate low latency (e-sports, high-frequency trading, AI computing)
The situation of choosing Cat6A
It requires a long-distance transmission of 10Gbps (30-100 meters), such as in enterprise campus networks
With a limited budget, I hope to balance performance and cost
The current infrastructure is mainly RJ45, and I don't want to replace the connectors
Special Reminder
The performance of Cat8 drops sharply after exceeding 30 meters and it is not suitable for long-distance transmission
The Cat6A UTP version may need to be upgraded to the STP version in a strong interference environment
Both types of network cables are backward compatible with Cat5e/Cat6 and can be seamlessly integrated into existing networks