Side-by-Side Comparison
Ethernet Cables
Cat 6 vs. Cat 8.2
Comparing 2 standards across 16 specifications. 16 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Cat 6
Cat 8.2
Category 6 (Cat 6) is a twisted-pair Ethernet cable standard defined in ANSI/TIA-568-B.2-1. Rated up to 250 MHz, it supports 1 Gbps at 100 meters and 10 Gbps (10GBASE-T) up to 55 meters in low-crosstalk environments, featuring tighter pair twists and a central longitudinal spline separator.
Category 8.2 (Cat 8.2) is an ISO/IEC 11801-1 Class II cable standard operating at 2000 MHz (2 GHz). Engineered for 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T over 30-meter channels, it uses non-RJ45 connectors (TERA, ARJ45, GG45) derived from Cat 7a Class F_A hardware, offering superior internal crosstalk margins.
Specification Comparison Table
16 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Frequency Bandwidth
|
250 MHz | 2000 MHz |
|
Channel Classification
|
ISO/IEC 11801 Class E | ISO/IEC 11801-1 Class II |
|
Max Data Rate (at 100m)
|
1 Gbps | — |
|
Max Multi-Gig Rate (at 100m)
|
5 Gbps | — |
|
Max Data Rate (at 55m)
|
10 Gbps | — |
|
Max Channel Length (10 Gbps)
|
55 m | — |
|
Wire Gauge (Typical)
|
23–24 AWG | — |
|
Internal Spline Separator
|
Yes | — |
|
Standard Connector
|
8P8C (RJ45) | — |
|
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
|
— | 40 Gbps |
|
Supported Physical Layers
|
— | 25GBASE-T / 40GBASE-T |
|
Max Channel Length
|
— | 30 m |
|
Permanent Link Max Length
|
— | 24 m |
|
Standard Connectors
|
— | TERA (IEC 61076-3-104), GG45 / ARJ45 (IEC 60603-7-71) |
|
Shielding Requirement
|
— | S/FTP or F/FTP (strictly shielded) |
|
RJ45 Backward Compatibility
|
— | Requires hybrid patch cords / adapters |