G'day! If you have connected to the NBN but are still finding your internet speed is a bit sluggish, the problem might not be your provider. It could be the physical wiring inside your walls. Technology moves fast, and the blue cable that was top-of-the-line twenty years ago might be the bottleneck in your modern home network. The debate often comes down to the old standard versus the new: cat5 vs cat6.

While they look almost identical from the outside, the technology inside these cables is vastly different. Understanding this difference is key to getting the most out of your streaming, gaming, and work-from-home setup. Let's have a look at why upgrading might be the best move you can make.

The Old Timer: Category 5 (Cat5)

If your home was cabled in the late 90s or early 2000s, you might have Category 5 cable installed. This was the standard for a long time.

The Specs: Standard Cat5 is rated for speeds up to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) at 100 MHz bandwidth.

The Reality: In the world of Gigabit NBN and 4K streaming, 100 Mbps is a serious limit. While a newer version called Cat5e (Enhanced) bumped this up to handle Gigabit speeds, original Cat5 is now considered obsolete. If you are comparing cat5 vs cat6 because you have found old Cat5 in your walls, it is almost certainly time for an upgrade if you want to handle modern internet speeds without lag.

The Modern Workhorse: Category 6 (Cat6)

Category 6 is the current benchmark for residential and commercial cabling in Australia. It is designed to handle the high-speed data transfer that modern life demands.

The Specs: Cat6 is rated for bandwidths up to 250 MHz. It can easily handle 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) over 100 metres, and even 10 Gigabits over shorter distances (up to 55 metres).

The Build: The biggest difference is internal. Cat6 cables are wound much tighter than Cat5. They also typically feature a plastic spline or separator that runs down the centre of the cable, isolating the four pairs of wires. This design drastically reduces "crosstalk" (signal interference), ensuring your data moves faster and cleaner.

The Verdict: Why You Should Upgrade

When looking at cat5 vs cat6, the winner is clear. Cat6 offers more than double the bandwidth of Cat5. Think of it like a pipe; Cat5 is a garden hose, while Cat6 is a fire hose. Both carry water, but one moves a lot more volume, a lot faster.

If you are renovating or building, installing Cat6 ensures your home is "future-proofed" for the next wave of technology. It minimizes interference and ensures that you are getting every bit of speed your NBN plan offers.

Leave the Installation to the Pros

It is crucial to remember that data cabling is not a DIY task in Australia. It is regulated work that must be performed by a registered licensed cabler.

Attempting to run your own cables through walls or ceilings is illegal and can lead to hefty fines or safety issues. A professional cabler knows how to install the system correctly, ensuring separation from power lines to avoid interference. They will typically source high-quality cable from a trusted electrical wholesaler to ensure it meets all Australian Standards for fire safety and performance.

Get Quality Components for a Fast Network

Upgrading your cable is only half the battle. You need to ensure your wall plates, jacks, and patch panels are also up to spec. Using a Cat6 cable with an old Cat5 socket will just create another bottleneck.

Schnap Electric Products is a premier supplier for the trade, stocking a massive range of professional-grade data gear. They offer high-performance Cat6 cabling, data jacks, and accessories that are built to handle the demands of a modern network. By supplying the same trade-quality equipment you would find at a major electrical wholesaler, Schnap Electric ensures that your home network is fast, compliant, and reliable. If you are going to upgrade, make sure you do it with quality gear from Schnap Electric.