Cat6a vs Cat5e for CCTV: Which Cable?

For a standard 1Gbps IP camera run of up to 100m, Cat5e is still rated to carry the link, since it is specified for 1Gbps at 100MHz over 100m. Cat6a earns its extra cost when you need 10GBASE-T over the full 100m, which Cat6 can't guarantee beyond about 55m and Cat5e doesn't support at all, or when the specification can't be revisited once the cable is in the wall. Whichever you choose, let the camera and switch datasheets set the requirement rather than the category label on the cable.

What actually matters when choosing cat6a vs cat5e

Four things separate the two: speed headroom, interference on the route, how the cable handles on site, and whole-job cost.

• Speed ceiling. Cat5e carries 1Gbps at 100MHz up to 328 feet, according to AV Access. Cat6a is rated to 500MHz and holds 10Gbps over the full run, while Cat6 reaches it only to around 164 feet. If your cameras and NVR have gigabit ports, that extra bandwidth goes unused.
• Interference. Cat6a comes in screened constructions for harder routes. Our duct grade Cat6A F/FTD is built for underground and external runs.
• Handling. Cat6a is thicker and more tightly wound than Cat5e, so allow for heavier conduit fill and wider bends. Pass-through RJ45 crimp tools are listed for Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A, but check that the tool and connectors suit the cable's construction and screening.
• Cost. Cat6a costs noticeably more per metre than Cat5e, and containment and labour add to that. For cable figures, open a trade account or ask for a quote.

If everything on the link is gigabit and no 10G upgrade is planned, Cat5e is adequate; for cable you'll only pull once, Cat6a is the safer specification.

Duct Grade Cat6A Cable for CCTV & Network: best for underground and external runs

This is the cable for installers who need shielded Cat6A in duct or outdoors, where an indoor Cat5e or Cat6 patch lead isn't built for the job.

• Duct grade construction is aimed at underground and external CCTV installations.
• F/FTD shielded Cat6A, a construction that can help where there is electrical interference.
• 23AWG conductors with a 10Gbps rating. By comparison, Antaira puts Cat5e at 1Gbps and 100 MHz, and Cat6a at 500 MHz.
• RJ45 compatible, so it can be terminated to RJ45 connectors.
• UK trade supply from CCTV Line, based at 305 Holbrook Lane, our Coventry base, CV6 4DG.

Trade-off: Cat6A cable is thicker than Cat5e and can be more demanding to terminate, and a shielded cable needs proper termination to earn its shielding. For short indoor camera runs that will never need more than gigabit, Cat5e or Cat6 is simpler. For a duct you only want to dig once, the extra headroom is worth having.

For pricing on this cable, open a trade account. To order, use Duct Grade Cat6A Cable for CCTV & Network.

RJ45 Network Cable CAT6A S/FTP 3m Orange — best for shielded patching in noisy installs

This is a 3m shielded CAT6A patch lead, suited to installers who need low-EMI connections between switches, recorders and patch panels.

• CAT6A S/FTP construction: shielded twisted-pair, which the listing positions for low-EMI installs.
• CAT6A headroom: CAT6A is rated to 500 MHz against 100 MHz for Cat5e, and carries 10 Gbps, per Antaira's cabling comparison.
• 3m length: a short run for rack-to-rack or switch-to-recorder links.
• Orange jacket: easy to tell apart from standard leads when labelling runs, which helps with fault-finding.
• Trade supply: account pricing applies, and stock ships UK-wide from our Coventry base.

Trade-off: if your cameras only need gigabit, Cat5e is rated for 1 Gbps up to 328 feet, so this lead is more than a basic link needs. A shielded lead also only pays off if the rest of the chain is terminated properly, and it is a patch length, not a cable for long fixed runs.

Ready to order? See RJ45 Network Cable CAT6A S/FTP 3m Orange, or open a trade account at https://cctvline.co.uk/account to see your pricing.

Cat6A U/FTP Network Cable White | TruHD RJ45: best for low-EMI structured cabling

This is a white, LSFH-rated Cat6A U/FTP lead with factory-fitted RJ45 connectors, suited to data centre, office and structured cabling runs where interference matters and 10 Gigabit headroom is wanted.

• Cat6A rating: 500 MHz bandwidth, double Cat6's 250 MHz, and it can hold 10 Gigabit over a longer run, up to around 330 feet, per Antaira.
• U/FTP construction: built to reduce electromagnetic interference in busy cabling environments.
• LSFH: a low-smoke fire-hazard cable, relevant where the install spec calls for it.
• Pre-terminated RJ45: ready to plug in, so no crimping is needed.

Trade-off: Cat5e still carries gigabit to 328 feet and costs less, and Cat6A pricing is significantly higher, so it is overkill for a simple gigabit-only camera run. Because the connectors are factory-fitted, you also can't cut it to length on site. Check the live page for available lengths, and note that account pricing applies.

Ready to specify it? See the Cat6A U/FTP Network Cable White | TruHD RJ45.

CAT6 Ethernet Cable 15M – Gold-Plated RJ45 LAN Lead: best for patching CCTV, routers and PCs

This 15M Cat6 patch lead with gold-plated RJ45 connectors suits anyone who needs a ready-made link between a camera or recorder, a router, a PC or a PS4 without crimping their own ends.

• Cat6 rating: Antaira puts Cat6 at 250MHz, against 100MHz for Cat5e.
• Length: 15M fits comfortably within the 100-metre gigabit reach Antaira quotes for Cat6.
• Connectors: gold-plated RJ45 ends, terminated and ready to plug in.
• Use cases: the listing names CCTV, routers, PCs and PS4.

Trade-off: the listing doesn't state shielding, conductor size or an outdoor rating, so treat it as an indoor patch lead. For external or ducted runs, or for 10Gbps over longer distances, Cat6A is the better specification.

Trade accounts see live pricing and stock: CAT6 Ethernet Cable 15M – Gold-Plated RJ45 LAN Lead

Which one should you buy?

Buy Cat6A for new installs you expect to keep for years; choose Cat5e only where 1 Gbps is enough and budget is tight.

• Budget: Cat5e carries 1 Gbps at 100 MHz over runs of up to 328 ft (100 m), which covers a typical IP camera link. It suits small, fixed-scope jobs and short internal runs, with no plan to add higher-bitrate cameras or a 10 Gbps uplink later.
• Best overall: Cat6A is rated to 500 MHz and holds 10 Gbps over longer runs. Cat6 only manages that to around 164 ft (about 50 m), per Antaira's comparison. For a fresh install, that headroom is worth having.
• Specific use-case: For external or underground runs, use Duct Grade Cat6A Cable for CCTV & Network, an F/FTD shielded 23AWG cable. For plant rooms with electrical interference, the CAT6A S/FTP 3m patch lead is shielded.

Cat6A is thicker than Cat5e, so check conduit fill and connector fit before you commit. On cost, the gap depends on shielding and volume. Open a trade account to see your pricing.