Cat 7
Category 7 (Cat 7) is an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or shielded twisted pair (STP) cable standard defined by the ARIB T-56 standard in Japan. Unlike Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 6a, Cat 7 is not part of the IEEE 802.3 standard or the ISO/IEC 11801 standard, though it is often marketed as a high-performance Ethernet cable.
Specifications
- Bandwidth: Supports frequencies up to 600 MHz.
- Speed: Capable of supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) up to 100 meters.
- Shielding: Requires individual shielding for each twisted pair (S/FTP or F/UTP) and overall cable shielding to reduce crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
- Connectors: Typically uses GG45, TERA, or Next9 connectors. Standard RJ45 connectors are not officially compliant with Cat 7 specifications, though they are frequently used in practice with shielded RJ45 variants.
Comparison with Other Categories
- vs. Cat 6a: Cat 6a supports 10 Gbps up to 100m with 500 MHz bandwidth and is IEEE/ISO certified. Cat 7 offers higher bandwidth (600 MHz) but lacks universal standardization for data networking.
- vs. Cat 8: Cat 8 is designed for data centers, supporting 25 Gbps and 40 Gbps up to 30 meters with 2000 MHz bandwidth. Cat 7 is generally considered obsolete for new high-performance installations in favor of Cat 6a (for general use) or Cat 8 (for short-reach high speed).
Integration Notes
- See Ethernet Cable Selection: Categories, Network Speed, and Cost-Effectiveness for a detailed breakdown of cost-effectiveness and ISP speed matching.
- Key considerations from recent analysis:
- ISP Speed Matching: Cable category should align with ISP provisioned speeds; Cat 7 is often overkill for residential broadband unless future-proofing for 10GbE.
- Cost vs. Benefit: Cat 7 cables are significantly more expensive and rigid than Cat 6a due to heavy shielding, offering diminishing returns for most home users compared to certified Cat 6a.
- Standardization Issues: The lack of IEEE certification for Cat 7 can lead to compatibility issues with standard networking equipment that expects RJ45 compliance.