This is a guide to bulk patch cables and it is clear and easy to understand as opposed to some other guides on the internet that can only be fathomed by the smartest of the human species.
What is a patch cable? It is a cable, also known as a cord, that connects electronic devices in a network. For example, you can connect your laptop to the router using an Ethernet patch cord. You can two laptops together to transfer files at high speeds. Like if you use a Cat6a patch cord (cable), you can transfer data at speeds upwards of 10 GBit/s. Now, let that sink in.
Meanwhile, let us bring to your attention that in this blog, we will be talking about Bulk Ethernet Patch cables. If you were living under a rock until now, we will be honored to illuminate you about the types, uses, cost, and specifications of these handy pieces of networking equipment. Let’s get right into it.
What are Bulk Patch Cables?
Simply put, these are patch cables but in bulk. Like in packs of 10, 20, 30, or even 50. These cables are called bulk because of their quantity. Otherwise, they are just like any other ethernet patch cord.
These cables are available in a multitude of shapes and designs. And for every ethernet cable category, there is a patch cable that has the same specifications as the standard of its category. Cat6a patch cables as mentioned earlier. The Cat6a is the 6th augmented category of ethernet cables with a high-speed data transfer rate and a voluminous bandwidth capacity. So, if you are getting the Cat6a patch cable, you are getting the standard specifications of the category as well.
Let’s move on to the other types.
Cat5e Bulk Patch Cables
Cat5e patch cables were originally designed for high-speed applications in offices and commercial LAN networks but now, they are mostly used in home networks. If you are looking to buy a bunch of patch cords for your home use, these are the ones you need.
Still, they are not being rendered entirely obsolete by the latest categories. In offices, homes, and a myriad of commercial networks, you will see them being used readily.
Cat6 Bulk Patch Cables
Cat6 Bulk Patch Cables are mostly used in Ethernet applications with high-performance requirements. For example, almost all LAN networks that were set up before the inception of the Cat6a run on the Cat6 patch cabling. And networks such as offices, schools, and commercial buildings use them.
Some of them might have upgraded to the augmented category 6, but because the performance of the original is still flawless, most of these networks are using it. They can transmit data at 10 GBit/s over a 550 MHz bandwidth that caters to almost all ethernet applications.
Cat6a Bulk Patch Cables
Cat6a is fast, reliable, and highly cost-effective. It supports all high-speed ethernet applications and it is backward compatible with the previous categories of Ethernet Cabling. These bulk patch cables come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, colors, and quantities.
The major difference between this cable and its predecessor is the number of twists per unit length in the cable conductors. 6a features more twists which translate into better resistance against EMI and cross talk.
Uses Of Patch Cables
Patch cables are used everywhere. Specifically, in wired data communications, these cables or cords are the media of information transmission. They allow fast, reliable, and safe transfer of data across multiple devices. More on safety in the next part.
Further, the use of patch cords has simplified networking. You or your entire company no longer need to employ expensive measures to cater to your networking needs. Just a bunch of highly affordable patch cables will get the job done, effortlessly.
Mentioned below is the list of applications you can use patch cables for.
- Telephone
- Audio
- Video
- Hub to Switch
- Router to Hub
- Switch to Router
The Privacy Factor
One thing you would truly appreciate about these cables is their privacy factor. Unlike your regular WiFi signals, the signals transferred on them are private. Without physical access to them, they are next to impossible to be hacked. But you still need to be careful while using them in a public network.
Cost
Cost is the last thing you need to worry about when buying bulk patch cables.
They are extremely affordable and last for eons. Nonetheless, you can find them for as low as a dollar.
Where to Buy?
You can buy bulk patch cables from any online store. The key to buying the best in the market is to check the standard compliance of the products. Also, be sure to buy the cables with bare copper conductors because they are more efficient and easy to use as well.
