Multiple Gigabit Speeds for the Whole Home

 

Last week, we started talking about how Wi-Fi 7 can dramatically increase the speeds that users see on their home network. I am sure that the immediate concern for most of our users was:

"Oh great! More hardware to buy, AND I get to run new wires throughout my house."

 

Fortunately, for all internet users, many developments have allowed business-class speeds to be delivered to homes across the United States.

 

Ten Gigabit Speeds in 2006: 10GBase-T

 

If you have not heard of 10GBase-T before, this standard allowed 10 Gigabit connections on common ethernet ports. Unfortunately, this technology has many limitations, such as needing at least CAT6 Cable to achieve the full transmission speed, which could only carry the signal a very short distance, and has strict requirements for the handling and connections on the cable

 

As wireless protocols were being developed in the early 2000s, it became clear that the 10Gbps speed would not be possible over the already widely used CAT5E cable. It then became the goal of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) to develop a standard compatible with existing network infrastructures.

 

Wireless Protocol: IEEE 802.3bz

To accommodate the new technology and the rising use/need for multi-gig connections, the IEEE introduced the 802.3bz Wireless Communication Protocol. The 802.3bz protocol is based on the 10GBase-T standard mentioned above. It divides the total 10 Gigabit Stream by 2 or 4 to establish the 2.5 and 5-Gigabit speeds over the same Ethernet cable used in most housing developments.

If this protocol were not developed, homeowners would be required to run new cabling if they wanted to upgrade their service beyond 1Gbps.

 

Ethernet Cabling

What are the Common Ethernet Types found in US homes?

 

CAT5E Ethernet cabling has become the de-facto wiring for most housing developments due to the versatility and affordability of the materials needed. Additional wiring standards were developed beyond CAT5E, which allow for higher throughput; however, these often come with much steeper costs for speeds that aren't necessary for most users.

 

What type of cable is needed to Benefit from the newest developments in home networking?

 

Regarding the different methods of transport for the 802.3bz, there are two available: CAT5E Wiring and CAT6 Wiring. The Cables That are most often seen and used are displayed here. Note: CAT5E and CAT5 Appear Very Similar. Always check the text on the casing of the cable to determine the type.

 

What are the differences between the Ethernet Cable Standards?

 

The differences in Ethernet Standards are a result of sending more data through the same wires, as this causes interference between wires while data is passing through the cable. As more data gets sent through the cable, the interference grows to such an extent that it is required to have additional dividers in CAT6 and above Ethernet cables. These dividers allow for more data to pass with less interference.

 

 

Standard	Speed (Mbps)	Cable	Max Run	Wireless Protocol	Year Developed
100BASE-T	100Mbps	CAT 5	100 M	802.3 - 1998	1998
1000BASE-T	1000(1G)	CAT 5E	100 M	802.3ab	2001
2.5GBASE-T	2500(2.5Gb)	CAT 5E	100 M	802.3bz	2016
5GBASE-T	5000(5Gb)	CAT 6	100 M	802.3an	2006
10GBase-T	10000(10G)	CAT 6A	100 M	802.3bz	2018

 

 

 

Multi-Gig and TP-Link Products

TP-Link is always working to create networking devices that will allow our users to achieve the best possible experience and speeds for their home network. As a result, many of our newest networking products don't just receive a gigabit connection; they also provide gigabit connections for the devices across your home. Using The CAT5E cabling in your home and our newest networking devices, you can take advantage of these multi-gigabit speeds. Below are some of our newest systems offering whole-home gigabit speeds.

 

 

Archer AX90

 

Archer AX90 Product Page

Interface: 1x 2.5Gb/s RJ45 WAN/LAN + 1 Gbps RJ45 WAN/LAN + 3x1 Gbps LAN ports.

USB Ports: 1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0

 

With the option of using either the 1Gbps or 2.5Gbps WAN ports, you will be able to fully use the gigabit speeds offered by your ISP. Three Gigabit LAN ports allow you to break through the 1Gigabit bottleneck and use your devices to their fullest potential. WAN/LAN support gives you remarkable flexibility to tailor both ports to your network’s needs.

 

Deco XE75 Pro

 

AXE5400 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System

Deco XE75 Pro Product Page

Ethernet Ports: 1× 2.5 Gbps Port + 2× Gigabit Ports
*Per Deco Unit
  Supports WAN/LAN auto sensing

 

A 2.5 Gbps port and Dual Gigabit ports make full use of your Gigabit speeds while the WAN/LAN support meets all of your other network requirements. This mesh system also utilizes the newest part of the 6Ghz band to deliver you the fastest speeds possible to compatible devices