Ethernet Patch Cables - Cat 5E, Cat 6, Cat 6A, Cat 7, Cat 8

Our Custom QuickTreX Ethernet patch cables are made to order in the USA with premium components. We make ethernet patch cables with custom length and color options in booted and non-booted. Our custom Ethernet patch cables are individually Fluke tested and Certified and are labeled with the part number and individual serial number. Our testing includes near end crosstalk (NEXT) and return loss. We also allow for custom label on one end or both ends. These cables perfect for critical networks. We offer our custom Ethernet patch cables in the following category types: Cat 5E, Cat 5E Shielded, Cat 6E, Cat 6E Shielded, Cat 6A Shielded. We also offer all cables in both plenum and riser rated jacket options. For outdoor and harsh environment locations we offer custom outdoor direct burial rated Ethernet patch cables in both Cat 5E and Cat 6. We also offer Tactical & Rugged Deployable Custom Ethernet Assemblies which are perfect for outdoor or other major events such as concerts, conventions, and even military and industrial testing. Our Stock Ethernet patch cables are great quality and also good for tighter budget installations. We offer out Stock Ethernet patch cables in Cat 5E, Cat 6, Cat 6A, Cat 7, and Cat 8 in both shielded and unshielded. We also offer a wide variety of jacket diameters and strain relief boot styles to fit your custom Ethernet cable installation.

If you need to connect, we have the cable. Our premium quality Ethernet Patch Cables are industry compliant and meet or exceed a full range of patching performance requirements. Whether you need connectors to patch into your router, network server, computer, or other hardware, we have it here in stock, all supporting Power over Ethernet (PoE).

Use our easy Configuration Tool to build it out and find which products you need fast. As always, we are here to help so please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding our products or our services.

Cat 5e

- Ethernet network connectors for data transfer speed and connection distance

- Least expensive option

- Slower data transfer speeds up to one Gigabit per second at 100 MHz to 328 feet

- Provides capable performance for most applications

- Minimal crosstalk and reduced interference

Cat 6

- Faster and more expensive than Cat 5e, limited in distance

- Supports data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps at 250 MHz

- Improved insulation for less crosstalk interference

- Qualified to handle the fast pace of Gigabit Ethernet networks

Cat 6a

- More sophisticated than Cat 5e and Cat 6

- Works well for long-term Gigabit Ethernet networks

- Supports 10 Gbps transmission speed up to 328 feet at 500 MHz

- Less crosstalk than Cat 6

Cat 7

- Use in cabling infrastructure of Gigabit Ethernet

- Performance of up to 600MHz

- Recommended for use when wiring smart home devices

- Shielding of twisted pairs significantly improves noise resistance

-Highly durable, long lifespan, improved overall return on investment

Cat 8

- Cables designed for high-speed data centers where servers, switches, and other network hardware are located near together

- Can handle 25G and 40G network

- Patch cables are stranded to improve flexibility and have the reach to cover Top, Middle, or End-of-Row network topologies

- Shielded to provide strong signal reducing crosstalk

All About Copper Patch Cables

At LANshack, we sell more varieties of patch cables than any one. Patch cables are available in Premium Custom and in stock varieties.

Premium Custom Patch Cables

Our line of QuickTreX® custom patch cables are made to order and are built in the USA by highly trained technicians. They are available in any length and all cable types. They are constructed with premium components and are individually tested to guarantee top performance for critical networks. These cables come individually labeled with the unique serial number and part number for easy identification.

In Stock Patch Cables

Our line of stock patch cables are ready to ship same day, are offered in most color options, and all standard lengths. These cables are great quality and provide solid performance. They cater perfectly to those who need to finely balance budget and performance.

Booted vs. Non-Booted

Traditionally, booted cables were bulky and hard to manage verses the non-booted variety. However all of our custom booted cables have flush fitting boots with easy release tabs thereby eliminating all of the drawbacks of booted cables. Therefore we highly recommend booted cables for the extra strain relief they provide at the connector.

Stranded vs. Solid Conductors

Generally speaking, patch cables utilize stranded conductor cable for the extra flexibility that they provide. Therefore most of our patch cables are made with stranded conductor cable. Due to the fact that plenum rated cable is only available in the solid conductor variety, our plenum custom cables utilize solid conductor cable. There is a slight tradeoff in flexibility however plenum rated cables can be installed in plenum spaces.

Why Use Plenum Rated Cables

Building codes mandate that any material that occupies a plenum space must be “plenum rated”. A plenum is any space that is utilized to send or receive air from heating or air conditioner units. In most commercial buildings the hung ceiling is used as a return air plenum to circulate the air back to the heating or air conditioning units. Another example of a plenum space would be a raised computer floor. So if your cable will run through a plenum space, the cable must be Plenum Rated.

Cat 6A Cabling

If you plan on running 10-Gigabit Ethernet, you will need the extra bandwidth provided by Cat 6A cabling. One of the key factors of Cat 6A cabling is to keep noise to a minimum. Noise can come from several different types of sources. With Cat 6A, one of the critical considerations is ANEXT which is the noise coming from an adjacent cable. This is why we recommend Shielded Cat 6A cabling

Why Use Shielded Cabling

Shielded cabling wards off unwanted signals or other noise. Keeping interference out will in theory make your data run faster. If your cabling is unshielded, you may still benefit from shielded patch cables (at the patch panel) since much of the noise can come from an adjacent patch cable. And as stated earlier, we recommend Shielded c able for Cat 6A since the low tolerance for noise is a strong factor.

When to Switch to Fiber

UTP and STP cables have a distance limitation of 100 meters which is about 328 feet. If your run is over 328 feet than you must switch to fiber optic cabling. Fiber Optic cabling has much higher distance limitations and is immune to noise and interference. We recommend a minimum OM2 fiber. We sell custom made ready to pull fiber assemblies that are easy to install.