Cat5 and Cat 5e inserts What's the diff?

[PeaveyPhones]

I've been rewiring our computer room. It was a total disaster. Cables not labeled, chessy little 8 conductor couplers in the middle of two cables under the floor somewhere, no distinct cable paths, ect. We've all seen it, right? Anyway I installed Leviton GigaMax inserts in several of the patch panels. I used the unloaded panels and inserts because I needed to be able to accomadate a "multimedia" environment in each rack, ie data, voice, consoles, and fiber. I been uh thinkin' ... What's the differance between a Cat 5 insert and a Cat5e insert? They look almost exactly the same. The pairs punch down a little differant but does that make the differance? I can't imagine the materials are so much better in a Cat5e insert... They do cost more. What's up with that?

Richard Morris

 

[franklin97355]

They are rated different. Same as the cable.

 

[Servamatic]

This is a question that has been asked and answered more than once on here, take some time and read what has been posted in the past.
There is a rather large difference between the two categories as to what they do and how they do it.

Richard S. Anderson, RCDD

http://www.smartbuilthomes.com

 

[daronwilson]

The basis difference is performance. Yes, we have been over this several times, but again, each category rating provides a particular level of performance.

While the jacks may physically look very similar, putting the Cat5 jack on Cat5e wiring may not yield Cat5e performance. The Cat5 jacks were likely designed before Cat5e was even a standard, and as such, may not have been tested to the proper parameters for Cat5e.

So...choose what level of performance you want to pay for, and install the components tested for that level.

Good Luck!



It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com

 

[TouchToneTommy]

Was at a product training seminar for ICC brand. Yes, its a "rah-rah" session, however was also informative. Their Cat-5 Inserts use "lead-frame" connections, no PC Board. They were tested and found to be well within specs for Cat-5e, so they just had to change the mold to add the "e". If you have older ICC brand Cat-5 jacks, you can use them for Cat-5e with no problem.

 

[PeaveyPhones]

Either
1. I missed something here.
2. I didn't do a good job of asking my question.
3. I'm being too inquisitive and thinking way too hard about this.
I did a search for this info elsewhere in the forum and did nor find the answer I'm looking for. Maybe I missed it.
I understand there are different standards, i.e. Cat5e performs better than Cat5, but my question, and I think Tommy got closest to answer, was, why? Is it that the metal components in a Cat 5e insert are better, like comparing 10-karat gold to 14-karat gold? Does the physical layout of how the wires terminate really make a big difference? Interesting that Tommy would mention ICC. My impression over the years has been that ICC is cheap junk but I've seen their inserts and like the way you just lay the wires in straight without a nasty little right angle bend like most inserts. ??? When it comes down to it can we trust the manufacturers when they say a Cat5e is really not just a repackaged Cat5? I suppose someone would do some testing and figure it our soon enough and Companies like Avaya, Hubbell ect would not allow that and therefore I should just buy brand name stuff... I use Leviton because it's readily available from most wholesalers (Anixter, Graybar...) and of course Home Depot, which is great when you find yourself in a bind. Too bad Lowes has not gotten a clue about this and started stocking a good, reasonably priced alternative. Some posts have suggested that Leviton and Amp are sub par. What's the deal. Can anyone, from top to bottom, rank what the best performers are? Whew!

Richard Morris

 

[daronwilson]

I think I understand your question more, however the answers would likely need to come from each manufacturer. As the standards advanced, each manufacturer rushed to make their product 'compliant'. If you examine the different vendors jacks, you will see several different methods of construction used to reach the same goal.

The short answer is I don't know the actual difference, and frankly don't care, because if I install a Cat5e system I use Cat5e components. Could they have repackaged Cat5? Sure, doesn't really matter, I need it to say Cat5e on it and pass at that level.

Shich brand is better? Well there will be 40 opinions here or more, and we've covered this before as well. Personally I think on the low end is ICC, Sprint, Unicom and some others; I prefer Panduit, Amp, Avaya and some of the bigger brand names. While I don't have any real technical problem with Leviton, I avoid it because it is often marketed as a consumer product. I prefer to install a product that is normally only available from a vendor with a training program from the manufacturer. It adds some validity to the project I think. When I walk in and look at a Leviton install, I don't know if it is a weekend warrior with 5 trips to Home Depot or a professional installer. But...that's just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

Good Luck!

It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com

 

[Jtodd]

I'll take a stab at this as well...and go the short answer route...

the physical differences aren't much, unless the manufacture changed design (ie Panduit MiniCom Cat-5 and Cat5e are VERY different physically). Most of the differences are in the electrical aspects of the construction of the jack. Real technical stuff like how the conductor traces route across the PC board and how big they are. Contact pins that are bent differently to keep positive contact with the patch cord.
This is mostly stuff I don't understand, so I don't pay to much attention to it.

I'll second Daron's opinion on jacks. Though I'm not real big on Amp myself. Their newer stuff is better. I will agree with the Leviton part, though they too are making progress for the better.



Justin T. Clausen
Physical Layer Implementation
California State University, Monterey Bay

 

[AvayaNovice]

I'll take the heat for this one, but I have to stand my ground.

As much as I know that ICC probably doesn't pass with a huge margin, or with high headroom... I like the way their products are made. In fact I love it. Their jacks are the easiest I've ever had to work with, and installing them goes much faster than with any other jack I've worked with.

Sure... I've installed Avaya, Leviton, ICC, some Amp, and some Panduit... and I actually like the new Avaya Category 6 jacks, but... when it comes for a standard office wiring job, ICC gets my vote any day.

 

[skip555]

count me as a ICC fan also although I dont get to use them much since alltel closed the local branch and Im stuck with graybar as my prime supplier

 

[AvayaNovice]

That's too bad. They're a great product... so much faster to install. And time=money. We do of course install whatever the customer requests, but if it's our call -- ICC all the way. I'd do avaya if I could, but they're too damn expensive. I just like the way that I can maintain the twist on an ICC jack all the way up to the jack, and spread it over the dividers between the pins, makes it so much faster than the typical four on the left four on the right design.

 

[daronwilson]

Sprint and Allentel also make the same layout of jack as ICC, they could all be made by the same manufacturer for all I know.

I'm kind of a product snob I guess, when I need to be cheap I use the Sprint stuff, jacks are $2.80 for Cat5e I think so pretty affordable.

The panduit is a bit of work to terminate and goes well with the special tool. Ortronics I don't like because the insert from the front of the faceplate. Avaya's new Cat6 is an excellent jack, quite easy to terminate.

Again, it's personal preference.

It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com