Cat5e

Cat5e, short for Category 5 Enhanced, is a copper twisted-pair cabling standard used for Ethernet and other network physical layers. It is an evolution of Cat5 intended to reduce crosstalk and support higher data rates while remaining cost-effective. Most Cat5e cables have four twisted pairs of 24 AWG copper conductors contained in a plastic jacket; they are typically unshielded (UTP) though shielded versions exist.

Cat5e supports up to 100 MHz signaling and is widely used to carry 100BASE-TX (100 Mbps) and 1000BASE-T (1 Gbps) Ethernet. The maximum recommended link length for Ethernet over Cat5e is 100 meters, including the patch leads, which aligns with the IEEE 802.3 standards used in offices and homes. Because of improved performance over Cat5, Cat5e became the common standard for new installations in the late 1990s and remains prevalent. Connectors are usually RJ-45 plugs; Cat5e cables may be solid-core or stranded and are used for in-wall or patch applications. They can be used with or without PoE, and most Cat5e cables support Power over Ethernet according to IEEE 802.3af (PoE) and IEEE 802.3at (PoE+); higher-power PoE standards require higher-grade cables such as Cat6a in many installations, though basic PoE can run on Cat5e.

Cat5e is typically superseded by Cat6 and later standards for new installations requiring higher performance or longer-term scalability, but it remains in use in many environments because of cost and compatibility.