I was wondering if I can use a CAT5e keystone jack with CAT6 cable. I am refering to the parts that terminate a cable where it comes out of the wall.

I want to run a 30 ft length of CAT6 but all I have is CAT5e jacks and I don't want to buy any news ones if I don't have to.

I had read somewhere that CAT5e is 100mhz and CAT6 is 200mhz (though I could have sworn CAT6 was 350mhz).

Anyhow any assistance would be appreciated.

1

5 Answers

From Wikipedia:

Category 6 cable, commonly referred to as Cat 6, is a standardized cable for Gigabit Ethernet and other network physical layers that is backward compatible with the Category 5/5e and Category 3 cable standards.

You can always use a lower standard cable or jack, but you will be limited by the speeds of the slowest link in the chain.

7

I would use cat 6 connectors which cost more than the 5e, assuring me of better speed. Also the wall modular female jacks should be of cat6, just to be sure. Better spend a few extra as you already have invested in cat6 cable. maybe you could sell off the 5e to friends or use them to build wire connectors for single computers/slow devices. goodluck!

2

Yes. The RJ45 plug is standard and may only have a different coating on the pins to make it a Cat6 compatible vs. Cat5. You probably won't receive the same speed as if you were using a Cat6 compatible jack.

Doing it this way also denies the ability to call it a Cat6 network though so if you don't care about verbiage technicalities, you are good to go.

2

No. Although I used CAT5e jacks to a CAT6 cable, I couldn't have a connection even if my RJ45 cable tester shown that the pins were connected the right way. The issue was solved when I bought CAT6 jacks. Apparently, no comment about speeds.

Typically, it's up to the RJ45. From what I've seen, CAT6 RJ45 usually uses an insert to aid in placing the wiring. It's easier to fail sticking a CAT6 cable into a CAT5e RJ45, mostly due to the thicker gauge and the crimping not being strong enough to pierce the insulation.

It's possible, but depends on the quality of the RJ45.

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