<P> The most important point is a performance difference between ISO / IEC and EIA / TIA component specifications for the NEXT transmission parameter . At a frequency of 500 MHz, an ISO / IEC Cat 6A connector performs 3 dB better than a Cat 6A connector that conforms with the EIA / TIA specification. 3 dB equals 50% reduction of near - end crosstalk noise signal power; see Half - power point . </P> <P> Confusion therefore arises because of the different naming conventions and performance benchmarks laid down by the International ISO / IEC and American TIA / EIA standards, which in turn are different from the regional European standard, EN 50173 - 1 . In broad terms, the ISO standard for Cat 6A is the highest, followed by the European standard, and then the American (1 on 1 matching capability). </P> <P> When used for 10 / 100 / 1000 BASE - T, the maximum allowed length of a Cat 6 cable is up to 100 meters (328 ft). This consists of 90 meters (295 ft) of solid "horizontal" cabling between the patch panel and the wall jack, plus 5 meters (16 ft) of stranded patch cable between each jack and the attached device . For 10GBASE - T, an unshielded Cat 6 cable should not exceed 55 meters . </P> <P> Category 6 and 6A cable must be properly installed and terminated to meet specifications . The cable must not be kinked or bent too tightly (the bend radius should be at least four times the outer diameter of the cable). The wire pairs must not be untwisted and the outer jacket must not be stripped back more than 0.5 in (12.7 mm). </P>

What is the maximum length of cat 6 cable