RJ45 vs CAT6: Difference and Comparison

In the epoch of technology, the internet is way more important than a normal man thinks. Especially the need for wifi, mobile data, and other wireless internet providers is burgeoning. Over and above for a good WI-FI connection, ethernet cables play a crucial part. 

Key Takeaways

1. RJ45 refers to a connector for networking and telecommunication, while Cat6 refers to an Ethernet cable for high-speed internet connections.
2. RJ45 connectors can be used with various cables, while Cat6 cables can only be used with RJ45 connectors.
3. RJ45 connectors come in different categories, but Cat6 is the latest standard with better performance and higher data transfer rates.

Rj45 vs CAT6

RJ45 is large and bulky and used in Ethernet networks that have a configuration of 8P8C. It can support 10 GBPS speed over Ethernet networks. Category 6 cable (CAT6) is a twisted pair cable used for Ethernet and networking. It supports 10 GBPS of transfer speed for distances up to 180 feet.

Registered Jack 45 is an acronym of Rj45 and a product of the Registered Jack connector.

It is widely used as a connector of the ethernet cables as a standardized physical network interface. In addition to that, they are the backups for modular connectors and 50-pin types of miniature ribbon connectors.

On the other hand, Category 6 cable is an acronym for Cat6. It acts as a standardized twisted pair cable for Ethernet.

Moreover, it is replaced by other network physical layers that are less adaptable by Category 5/5e and Category 3 cables. Coincidently, Cat6 liaises with Rj45 connectors for affixing the ethernet wires. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	RJ45	CAT6
Meaning	Registered Jack-45 connector is a data networking interface that connects a device to a Local Area Network (LAN). RJ45 comes up with eight pins under two versions- T-568A and T-568B cables.	Category 6 Cable is a twisted cable for Ethernet and networking routes. CAT5 was replaced by CAT6 due to the frequent crosstalk system.
Color Code	There are eight wires- white/Green, Green, White/Orange, Blue, Orange, White/Blue, White/Brown and Brown. Only 4 wires take action in communication and data transmission.	There are six colour codes in CAT6, which are Blue, Yellow, White, Grey, Black and Red. All six pins have distinct properties for Ethernet networks.
Applications	RJ45 is primarily used for ethernet networking connectivity with computers, data, WiFi access and many other networking routes.	CAT6 is a twisted pair cable, which is commonly used for Ethernet and network applications. The end of the CAT 6 cable uses RJ45 connectors for smooth ethernet.
Number of pins	RJ45 wired two versions- T-568A and T-568B cables. Each cable has eight different pins(8P8C), four are solid, and the other four are striped.	There are six pins, where Gray, Green, Yellow, and Blue connect the Ethernet and other routes.
Date Rate	RJ45 experienced crosstalk from line to line. RJ45 provides 1Gbps per second.	10 Gbps Ethernet Connections within the range of 30-35 meters and extends to 1Gbps per second within 100 meters.

What is RJ45?

Having that said, RJ45 is a part of the Registered Jack connectors with interface standard as the number 45. It is used in the places of an 8-pin plug or jack for ethernet networking. It is garnered as an A1 connector, used to connect networks to Ethernet.

Further, it is based on local area networks (LAN), which are covered with a range of 100 to 1000 meters. It has a plastic material at the end of the cable and eight pins.

Out of the eight pins, four are used for sending as well as receiving data, while the remaining four are used for USB or other networking roles. 

As of now, the RJ has two wiring designs; T568A and T568B. These two types of pinouts are used to correlate the twisted-pair cable onto the connector interface.

Moreover, the crossover Ethernet cable is ubiquitous, which has a T-568A connector on one end and a T-568B connector on the other. This crossover is employed to connect one computer to another, with no hub, router, or switch. 

What is CAT6?

Back in 2002, the Electronics Industries Association and Telecommunication Industries Association (EIA/TIA) joined mutually to fabricate this cable.

Whereas, Cat6 is an abbreviated form of Category 6 and was put into implementation in 2018. It is a well-known twisted-pair cable for Ethernet-based computer networks. Following the Cat5e and Cat5, it is much more convenient as it produces less noise and crosstalk.

Besides, speaking of its performance, the cable can transfer the network at speeds of up to 10 Gbps and has a standard bandwidth of 250 megahertz. Due to high frequency, Cat6 is the best twisted-pair cable used to transfer data at a faster rate. 

Unlike RJ45, the Cat6 has only four wires that are used to transfer data. Likewise, Cat6 also follows the LAN operations. However, it refers to MAN, as the maximum distance a Cat6 cable could travel is 100 meters.

The 10BaseT, 100Base-TX, 10 GBase-T, and other ethernet networks bolster the Cat 6 cable.

Main Differences Between RJ45 and CAT6

1. Registered Jack-45 is a connector, whereas Category 6 Cable is a twisted pair of cables. The CAT6 end was connected to RJ45 for Ethernet.
2. RJ45 has eight wires where four solid, and the other four are striped- White/Green, Green, White/Orange, Blue, Orange, White/Blue, White/Brown, and Brown. On the other hand, CAT6 comes with six wires- Blue, Yellow, White, Grey, Black and Red pins.
3. CAT6 replaced CAT5 after a lot of crosstalk and verbose systems were reported, whereas RJ45 runs a smooth connector for Ethernet.
4. RJ45 provides 1 Gbps per second, whereas CAT6 gives 10 Gbps Network connections within a limited range.
5. RJ45 is highly used for ethernet networking such as WiFi connection, (LAN)Computers Network, and other routes. Albeit CAT6 is only used as a cable for Ethernet networks. 

References

1. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/4108618/\
2. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6498331/

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023