Bulk ethernet cables are an integral part of every modern infrastructure. Be it a hospital, a school, an apartment building, or a high rising office building. Almost all modern infrastructure uses high-performance ethernet cables. But buying ethernet cables is not as easy as it might seem. They come in multiple variants with each having unique applications.
To get the right Ethernet cables for your network, you need to know the particular specifications of different variants. CCA and solid copper are one of the specifications that you should understand to make a wise decision when buying ethernet cables.
So in this article, we will discuss the difference between CCA and solid copper cables. Read on to learn.
What is a CCA Ethernet Cable?
Copper-clad aluminum cables have an aluminum base that is plated with copper to enhance their performance and lifespan. These cables are ideally used for small domestic networks with a minimum performance requirement. These cables are affordable and can perform seamlessly at their optimum capacity.
What is a Solid Copper Ethernet Cable?
Solid copper cables are Premium Quality Ethernet Cables designed for home and business networks with a high-performance requirement. Now, it is pertinent to mention that bare copper is the best conductor that you can get today. It is resistant to corrosion, ductile, and highly efficient at data transfer.
In almost all heavy duty LAN networks, this cable is used for the best networking experience. And that is why you will notice it being used in all business networks. Moreover, solid copper cables are easier to twist and turn while installation and relay a stronger signal in both long distance and short distance signal transmission.
In the next parts, we will discuss the major differences between both types of cables with due regard to their cost, performance, applications, etc.
Cost
CCA cables are more affordable as compared to their bare copper counterparts. Aluminum is a cheaper conductor than copper which reduces the cost of CCA cables.
Copper being the finest conductor comes at a little extra cost than its counterpart. However, in the long run, the price is paid off by the cable itself in the form of lower or almost no maintenance and replacement costs.
Performance/Speed
The overall performance and speed of both cables are almost the same. For instance, Bare Copper Cat6 Plenum and CCA Cat6 plenum have the same data transfer rate and bandwidth capacities which are up to 1 Gbps over a length of 100 meters and 550 MHz, respectively.
However, in long term applications, CCA cables are more likely to wear out because of the brittle nature of aluminum metal as opposed to the malleable and ductile nature of copper.
Future Proofing
If you want to establish a future proof network, you need to buy cables that are long lasting and support all high speed ethernet applications. Bare copper is more likely to fulfill your networking needs. It will last extended periods and you won’t notice a decline in its performance.
Applications
Solid copper and copper clad aluminum cables have almost the same capacity to support ethernet applications except for PoE. CCA cables are not the best option if you will be running PoE applications in your network but solid copper cables are ideal for all sorts of ethernet applications. For instance, Cat6 plenum bare copper cables can support ethernet applications up to 10Gbps and PoE, PoE+/++, etc.
Additionally, CCA cables are not verified by the best industry regulatory bodies for network safety compliance, so you ought to consider that too.
CCA or Solid Copper: Which cable to buy?
Choosing between CCA and solid copper is simple. Define what you want? If you want a cheaper option for moderate performance and perhaps for temporary use, you can make do with a CCA cable.
But if you are looking for a higher quality cable that supports all high-speed ethernet applications and lasts long, then go with a solid core Ethernet cable. It’s the best option.
Conclusion
Finally, buying ethernet cables is an easy task if you know what their specifications mean and if you clearly know your networking needs. What you need to do is to compare the cable specifications and your needs to choose the right cable for your network.
