200FT CAT6 Outdoor Extension Cable, Weather Shielded, cUL CMR Riser Rated, UV Treated, Direct Burial Underground (4-pack)

What are the advantages of CAT6 over CAT5e?
The foremost advantage of a CAT6 (or Category6) ethernet cable is its transfer speed capabilities. CAT6 cables are able to transfer up to 10 Gbps (gigabytes per second).* This is a drastic improvement over CAT5e cables, which can handle up to 1 Gbps.

Higher Frequency
The additional speed provided by CAT6 cables is mostly due to an increase in frequency. A cable’s frequency is essentially the rate at which data can be sent through the wires. This is measured by the number of cycles per second (Hz or Hertz). A CAT5e ethernet cable, for example, has a frequency of 100 Mhz (megahertz). This means that it is capable of completing around 100 million cycles per second. In comparison, a CAT6 cable has a frequency of 250 Mhz, which is around 250 million cycles per second. So the transfer rates are more than two times faster with a CAT6 cable.

Less Cross-Talk
Another advantage of CAT6 cables is their ability to reduce the impact of “crosstalk” (interference from other nearby cables that disrupt the normal flow of data within a cable). This is done in many ways, including an aluminum foil wrap to prevent EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) and by using a tighter twisted cable design.

CMR Riser Rated
Cables are classified into different categories according to The National Electrical Code (NEC) and Canadian Electrical Code (CEC). This CAT6 ethernet cable is CMR Riser rated, which means that, along with being able to be safely run through walls or ceilings, it can be run between floors in non-plenum areas (plenum areas are spaces with air circulation for heating and air conditioning systems).

Fire-Resistant
The cable jacket of this CAT6 ethernet cable has passed a vertical burn test to certify that flames will not travel down the cable. Based on UL Cable specifications for CMR, the fire resistance should be limited to a height of eight feet based on the “vertical tray flame test.” This is particularly important in preventing fire from quickly spreading between walls and floors.

Waterproof / UV Treated / Direct Burial
The jacket of this CAT6 ethernet cable has been constructed to withstand the outdoors. It is completely waterproof, and has been UV treated, which offers protection from the elements and prevents degradation over time. This cable can also be run underground without the need for a conduit. If running cables underground, it is required to be buried at a depth of at least 24 inches. If running cables overhead, the required height is a minimum of 10 feet. It is also recommended to protect any exposed ethernet cable connections with an RJ45 Weatherproof Camera Cable Shield.