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Cable Ready Net managers have four cabling options for high-speed networking. Here's the rundown. Category 5 (UTP) Description: Four pairs wrapped in a thermal plastic insulator, twisted around one another and encased in a flame-retardant polymer Maximum operating frequency: 100 MHz; suitable for token ring, Ethernet, fast Ethernet, gigabit Ethernet (after mid-1998), and 155-Mbit/s ATM List price: About $300 per 1,000 feet Enhanced Category 5 (UTP) Description: Same as Cat 5, but the manufacturing process is refined and the cable is of a higher grade Maximum operating frequency: Up to 200 MHz; suitable for token ring, Ethernet, fast Ethernet, gigabit Ethernet (after mid-1998), and 155-Mbit/s ATM List price: About $360 per 1,000 feet "Category 6" (SFTP) Description: Four pairs wrapped in foil insulators and twisted around one another; an extra insulating shield; and a flame-retardant polymer jacket Maximum operating frequency: 600 MHz; suitable for token ring, Ethernet, fast Ethernet, gigabit Ethernet (after mid-1998), and 155-Mbit/s ATM List price: About $800 per 1,000 feet Multimode fiber Description: Glass cable that transmits data as pulses of light Maximum operating frequency: Not applicable; suitable for all high-speed networking applications List price: About $400 per 1,000 feet, but connecting hardware costs are much higher than those of copper counterparts [ Home ] [ Registration | Subscriptions ] [ Contact Us | E-Mail ] Home Contact Editors Lab Tests Registration Tech Tutorials Buyer's Guide Global Networks Opinion / Columns FAQs Subscriptions