Quickport Cat5e vs Cat6

[tshephard]

I ordered 1000' of Cat6 because it was not much more than Cat5e.

I've been using all Leviton quickports for my jacks and assumed I could use the Cat6 on them.

I know they make quickports for Cat6, but is there really any difference?

Anyone with any experience out there?

Thanks

-Tim

 

[broconne]

I ordered 1000' of Cat6 because it was not much more than Cat5e.

I've been using all Leviton quickports for my jacks and assumed I could use the Cat6 on them.

I know they make quickports for Cat6, but is there really any difference?

Anyone with any experience out there?

Thanks

-Tim

They should work fine. However, your network will technically be a Cat5e network. Not that it matters...

 

[icellama21]

Be aware that most Cat6 is 23 AWG, not 24 AWG like Cat5e. Although you can punch it down into a regular cat5e terminator, you may have reliability problems. I've never had a problem, but you never know. You can buy 24 AWG Cat6, the "6" is really just the number of twists, but almost all is 23 AWG.

 

[tshephard]

Be aware that most Cat6 is 23 AWG, not 24 AWG like Cat5e. Although you can punch it down into a regular cat5e terminator, you may have reliability problems. I've never had a problem, but you never know. You can buy 24 AWG Cat6, the "6" is really just the number of twists, but almost all is 23 AWG.

I am pretty sure mine is 23 gauge, that is why I was asking if I can punch it down.

I don't care if its only cat5e rated on the connectors. I just wanted the wire in the walls for now.

Thanks

-Tim

 

[gatchel]

Leave some extra cable at both ends just in case. I wish I would have pulled CAT6 and done the exact same thing you are thinking of doing.

I'm not sure about the Quickport branded jacks but in the field I see CAT5 and CAT6 jacks all of the time and there is a difference in the way they terminate.
The CAT6 jacks don't have any wires that overlap when punched down. The wire comes straight in the back of the jack and have little to no area where the wires are untwisted.

The last post in this link, the guy (buckyswider) says he was successful at doing it. FWIW.


http://forums.smarthomeusa.com/viewtopic.php?t=31

 

[signal15]

I've punched down 23awg Cat-6 into Cat-5 jacks and 110 patch panels. Works just fine.

And technically, even though there will be Cat5e stuff in the wiring, if you have one of those big expensive testers, it may still qualify for Cat-6.

 

[PaulD]

Check the specs on the 5e Quickport. I think it is designed to accomodate up to 22 ga wire so it should work. However, as noted earlier you will still have a Cat5e network. I am using Quickport 5e and 5e cable throughout my new house and I have not had any problem getting Gig speed on computers that can use it.

 

[MikeB]

It's like $2-3 extra per jack to go with a Cat6 QuickPort. Why not just do it right the first time?