Cat6 vs Cat6a — Which Cable Do You Actually Need?

What’s the Difference?

Cat6 and Cat6a are both ethernet cables that look nearly identical from the outside. The difference is in performance and price.

Cat6 supports speeds up to 1 Gbps at 100 metres and 10 Gbps at shorter distances (up to 55 metres). It’s the standard for most residential and small business installs.

Cat6a (augmented) supports 10 Gbps at the full 100-metre run. It has better shielding, is thicker, and costs more — but performs significantly better at longer distances and in environments with more electrical interference.

When Do You Actually Need Cat6a?

For most homes and small offices — you don’t. Cat6 handles everything you need: streaming, gaming, video calls, security cameras, WiFi access points.

Cat6a makes sense when:

• You’re running cables longer than 55 metres at 10 Gbps
• You’re in an industrial or commercial environment with a lot of electrical interference
• You’re future-proofing a new build and want maximum bandwidth capacity
• You’re connecting server rooms or network equipment that demands 10 Gbps

What Does SyncTO Systems Install?

We install Cat6 CMR as standard on all jobs. It covers the needs of 95% of residential and small business installs and gives you reliable performance at a fair price.

Cat6a is available on request for projects where the extra performance is warranted.

If you’re unsure what’s right for your property, we’ll assess your space during the free on-site visit and give you a straight recommendation.