Home Networking: Upgrading Ethernet Network

Note to myself:  regardless of what your current internet provider can offer, when upgrading ethernet cables then plan for the future by buying cat-6*

Click here for data.

PS:  Don't forget to buy shielded twisted pair only.   This will reduce interference from other signals.

Common industry abbreviations for cable construction

Industry acronyms	ISO/IEC 11801 name	Cable shielding	Pair shielding
UTP	U/UTP	None	None
STP, ScTP, PiMF	U/FTP	None	Foil
FTP, STP, ScTP	F/UTP	Foil	None
STP, ScTP	S/UTP	Braiding	None
SFTP, S-FTP, STP	SF/UTP	Braiding, foil	None
FFTP	F/FTP	Foil	Foil
SSTP, SFTP, STP PiMF	S/FTP	Braiding	Foil
SSTP, SFTP	SF/FTP	Braiding, foil	Foil

The code before the slash designates the shielding for the cable itself, while the code after the slash determines the shielding for the individual pairs:

U = unshielded

F = foil shielding

S = braided shielding (outer layer only)

TP = twisted pair

TQ = twisted pair, individual shielding in quads

Yours Truly.