Setting up a network for your small business can be a time-consuming and monotonous process. While not necessarily difficult, it can involve some confusing questions in unexpected places. Ethernet cord, for example, involves choices that you do not feel qualified to make. In order to alleviate some of that confusion, here is a brief overview of the ethernet cord options so you can make an educated decision.

• Category 5: The differences between the cables come down to megabits per second, either 10 or 100, then the new gigabit options. Cat5 cables can technically handle all three options, but they were only designed for the first 2, so handling a gigabit is certainly not going to be pretty. That level of network interference will not be acceptable in a business, meaning you should move on to the next option.
• Category 5e cat5e ethernet cables are the enhanced version of the cat5 cord. They are better prepared to deliver gigabit speeds, although that is the absolute limit of its capabilities. If your business requires it, cat5e cable bulk ordering can be done easily.
• Category 6 Cat6 ethernet cables are the new kid on the block, and designed specifically for gigabit speeds. They can also handle the next development, which will be 10 gigabits although it will be strained with that much the same way that cat5e cables are strained by a gigabit. Also like cat5e, the cat 6 cables bulk ordering process is easily accomplished online.

If I had to choose when setting up a new network, I would choose the cat 6. It has the capabilities to handle future advancements, meaning it will not need replacement soon. If cost right now is a concern, cat 5e will work, and if it’s well made it will physically last for 5 or 10 years, but consider just buying cat 6 cables bulk as a necessary cost to prevent the need to simply replace all of it when the technology moves on and makes them useless.