Cat6A Network Cable

Cat6A is the grade at which twisted-pair copper becomes a genuine 10 Gigabit medium. Where Cat6 supports 10GBASE-T only over reduced distances and under favorable conditions, Cat6A is specified to carry it across the full 100 m channel. The Heizka Copper Cabling System CAT6A is published at 1–500 MHz, Class E_A, and is built on 23 AWG solid bare copper with a cross-filler core.

Why the Bandwidth Doubles

10GBASE-T occupies roughly 400 MHz of spectrum, which is why Class E_A is characterized to 500 MHz rather than the 250 MHz of Class E. Doubling the frequency range is the visible part of the change. The harder engineering problem is alien crosstalk: coupling between one cable and its neighbors in a bundle, which cannot be cancelled by the transceiver the way pair-to-pair crosstalk within a single cable can. Cat6A construction attacks it geometrically. The Heizka cable uses a cross-filler core that holds the four pairs in fixed quadrants, plus a PET wrap separator, with polyolefin insulation. The result is a larger outside diameter than Cat6 and a cable that must be handled accordingly.

Published Specifications

Conductors are 23 AWG solid bare copper in an unshielded twisted pair (U/UTP) design. Published impedance is tiered across the frequency range: 100 Ω ±15% from 1 to 100 MHz, ±22% from 100 to 250 MHz, and ±25% from 250 to 500 MHz. Nominal velocity of propagation is 65%. DC resistance of each conductor is 9.38 Ω/100 m or less, and propagation delay is 45 ns/100 m or less. Jacket diameter is 7.4 ± 0.3 mm, tensile strength is 110 N, and minimum bend radius is ten times the maximum jacket diameter. Installation temperature range is 0°C to +70°C; operating range is −20°C to +70°C. Standards cited are ISO/IEC 11801, ANSI/TIA/EIA-568.2-D, IEC 61156-5 and EN 50173-1, with RoHS and CE certification.

Where Cat6A Earns Its Cost

Three cases justify the premium over Cat6. The first is wireless density: modern access points backhaul above gigabit and are usually ceiling-mounted at distances that leave no room for a reduced-reach compromise. The second is service life. Horizontal cabling is the longest-lived layer in a building network and the most disruptive to replace, so cabling to Class E_A buys headroom across two or three switch refreshes. The third is Power over Ethernet at higher classes, where the 23 AWG conductor’s lower loop resistance limits bundle temperature rise. The cable supports PoE and PoE+ as published.

Installation and Testing Notes

Cat6A is stiffer and larger than Cat6, so recalculate pathway fill rather than assuming a like-for-like swap, and keep bundles loose and unbound at intervals to avoid compressing pair geometry. Field certification must include alien crosstalk parameters (PSANEXT and PSAACRF) where specified; pair-to-pair testing alone does not qualify a Class E_A channel. Respect the ten-times bend radius and the 110 N tension limit; exceeding either permanently changes the cable’s electrical behavior in ways visual inspection will not reveal. See how to buy and support for procurement and documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an unshielded Cat6A cable adequate for 10GBASE-T?

Yes. Class E_A is defined for both unshielded and shielded constructions, and the alien crosstalk requirement is met in U/UTP by pair separation geometry rather than by a screen. Where the electromagnetic environment is severe, or where regulatory or security requirements call for a screen, consider a shielded construction such as Cat7A S/FTP instead.

Does the cable support 25G or 40GBASE-T?

No. 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T are defined over Category 8 to 30 m and are a data center top-of-rack technology, not a horizontal cabling grade. Cat6A’s published ceiling here is 10GBASE-T over 100 m.

Which jacket applies to plenum or occupied-space work?

Four jacket materials are published: PE, CM, PVC and LSZH. Select against local code for the pathway in question. LSZH in orange is the option intended for enclosed occupied spaces where smoke and halogen emission are regulated. Confirm the specific listing required by your authority having jurisdiction before ordering.

Can I terminate Cat6A on Cat6 connecting hardware?

The connectors will mate, but the channel then performs to Class E. To certify a Class E_A link, cable, jacks, panels and cords must all be Cat6A.

To confirm stock, packaging or pricing on any HEC6A part number, or to have a cable schedule reviewed against your channel lengths and PoE loading, see the copper cable range or contact us for a quote.