Side-by-Side Comparison
Ethernet Cables
Cat 8.1 vs. Cat 8.2
Comparing 2 standards across 11 specifications. 6 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Cat 8.1
Cat 8.2
Category 8.1 (Cat 8.1) is an Ethernet cabling standard defined in ANSI/TIA-568-C.2-1 (Category 8) and ISO/IEC 11801 Class I. Operating at 2000 MHz (2 GHz), it supports 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T data rates over a 30-meter channel using backward-compatible 8P8C (RJ45) shielded connectors.
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
11 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Frequency Bandwidth
|
2000 MHz | 2000 MHz |
|
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
|
40 Gbps | 40 Gbps |
|
Supported Physical Layers
|
25GBASE-T / 40GBASE-T | 25GBASE-T / 40GBASE-T |
|
Max Channel Length
|
30 m | 30 m |
|
Permanent Link Max Length
|
24 m | 24 m |
|
Channel Classification
|
ISO/IEC Class I / ANSI/TIA Category 8 | ISO/IEC 11801-1 Class II |
|
Shielding Requirement
|
Shielded (F/UTP, S/FTP, or F/FTP) | S/FTP or F/FTP (strictly shielded) |
|
Standard Connector
|
8P8C (RJ45 shielded) | — |
|
Backward Compatibility
|
Cat 6a, Cat 6, Cat 5e RJ45 ports | — |
|
Standard Connectors
|
— | TERA (IEC 61076-3-104), GG45 / ARJ45 (IEC 60603-7-71) |
|
RJ45 Backward Compatibility
|
— | Requires hybrid patch cords / adapters |