Cat6a Cables
HP Poly PoE++ 65W 2.5G Adapter with 3.66m CAT6A Cable and Power Cord Black
In stock
Cat6a is the cable to use when the run has to carry 10 Gigabit over its full length, or when it is powering something hungry at the far end — a PoE++ access point, a PTZ camera, a door controller.
The difference from Cat6 is shielding, and it is not cosmetic: most of these are S/FTP, with individually screened pairs inside an overall braid, which is what stops crosstalk from ruining a 10GBase-T link over distance and what keeps power and data apart when the cable is doing both. There are U/FTP and SF/UTP variants too. Lengths run from 1m through the common 1.5m, 2m, 3m and 5m to 10m, in black, blue, grey and aqua.
Shielded cable only works properly when the shield is earthed at the patch panel or switch, so plan the whole path rather than buying one shielded lead in isolation.
Brands are StarTech, Cables Direct, Digitus and Hama. For ordinary gigabit runs, Cat6 cable is cheaper and more flexible.
Cat6a Cables Buying Guide and FAQ
This Cat6a Cables range covers network cables. Below are the common questions.
Which network cable do I need, CAT6A?
Cat6 and Cat6a give more headroom for fast and longer runs. For most home networks, Cat6 is a safe pick.
What length of cable should I buy?
Measure the run and add a little slack so the cable reaches comfortably without strain. Shorter cables keep things tidy, while longer runs suit connecting rooms or reaching a router across the house.
Will a wired connection be faster than Wi-Fi?
A wired network connection is usually faster and far more stable than Wi-Fi, with lower latency, which is ideal for gaming, large downloads and video calls. Where you can, wire your main devices for the best results.