What’s a Gigabit network?

In short Gigabit Ethernet Networks (GbE or 1 GigE) allow transfers of Ethernet packets at a rate of a gigabit per second.

There’s a common misconception among technical people that you can transmit data at gigabit speeds over standard CAT5 cable. And it’s a myth indeed, even though the IEEE ratified the IEEE 802.3ab standard in 1999 defining gigabit Ethernet transmission over unshielded twisted pair CAT5 cable. However, the only twisted pair copper cables that support gigabit Ethernet are CAT5E (enhanced), CAT6 and CAT7 standard, which introduces even more strict specifications for system noise and crosstalk than CAT6 by adding shielding of individual wire pairs and the cable as a whole.

In light of the above, if your network already happens to be wired with CAT5E or CAT6 cable, then you don’t have to do anything to upgrade to gigabit other than upgrading the hardware, such as gigabit switches and network cards. Otherwise a new network wiring needs to be installed.

If you are attempting to upgrade your wiring on your own we have to caution everyone that CAT5E and CAT6 cables require a different type of RJ-45 connectors. Although the wiring sequence is remains the same as it was with CAT 5 the noteworthy difference is that a CAT6 RJ-45 connector for staggers individual wires to accommodate their thicker size, while a CAT5 connector holds individual wires in a straight line. That said, even you are successful in attaching a CAT5e connector to a CAT6 wire you are not going to have a CAT6 certified network.

However, as Gigabit Ethernet is much less tolerant of poorly installed wiring than 100BASE-TX and requires all four pairs to be present it is crucial that all of preexisting Cat5e data lines are thoroughly tested and certified to make certain that your Cat5e wiring is capable of handling and operating at proper transmission speeds. This is where we Kontech comes in to make that sure your existing cable infrastructure can handle the gigabit speeds right down to the patch cable level.

Using state of the art technology by Fluke Networks and Siemon we can certify your facility cabling. Copper certification tester guarantees cabling installations comply with TIA/ISO standards and it significantly reduces total time to certify by improving every aspect of the testing process. This tool allows to accurately measure cabling performance and alien crosstalk, as well as multiple error correction requests – common cause of slowness at workstations and backbone connection levels.