Is the Cat5 Ethernet Cable Still Good for Networking in 2025? Find Out

Networking devices can be wireless or wired. It all depends on the type of device and how they should be interconnected. Several options are available for wired connections, including the Cat6 and Cat5 ethernet cable. These are widely known for their networking capabilities and stable network connections.

This guide focuses more on the Cat5 ethernet cable to fully understand how it is built, its uses, speed, and more.

What is a Cat5 Ethernet Cable?

A Cat5 Ethernet cable is a type of twisted-pair cable commonly used for connecting devices and networking applications. Its twisted-pair design is vital to minimizing signal degradation and interference. During termination, you can use RJ45 connectors to make it easy to plug into different devices and network ports.

Parts of Cat5 Ethernet Cables

Cat5 ethernet cable comes with various parts that, when combined, make it possible for the cable to work as expected. The parts include twisted pairs of copper wires, a sheath, RJ45 connectors, and optional shielding.

The cable features four pairs of twisted wires. Twisting the cables together minimizes interference. The wires are made of copper, which is a very good conductor of electricity.

On top of the wires, you have the sheath. The sheath encases the twisted pairs to keep them in one place and provide additional protection.

Shielding is optional, as some brands offer it with their cables, and others do not. Shielding further reduces interference from the environment and improves the signal strength.

Types of Cat5 Ethernet Cables

When looking for category 5 cables, there are two main types: Cat5 and Cat5e.

Cat5 is the older standard, where these cables support up to 100Mbps compared to Cat5e, which is enhanced to offer speeds of up to 1000Mbps. Cat5e features improved signal performance and reliability, which is vital for applications with more speed needs.

Cat5 cables are best suited for slow ethernet connections or older network setups. Compared to Cat5e cables, they are a popular choice for home and small office network setups because of their speed, performance, affordability, and ease of setup.

Currently, Cat5 cables offer limited speeds, limiting their use. Because of their performance, more people use Cat5e cables. Also, Cat5e offers impressive backward compatibility with the older Cat5 standards.

Cat5e will have more shielding performance and better signal interference protection, as expected. The signal quality delivered by this cable is better than what Cat5 offers.

Uses of the Cat5 Ethernet Cables

The primary use of Cat5 ethernet cable is for networking. It is a cable used to connect devices to a local area network. You can connect computers, modems, routers, game consoles, and many other devices to form a network.

Besides LAN applications, the ethernet cable can still connect devices in offices, schools, and other workplaces. The key to the connection is to find a way to transfer data between devices.

Other applications for the Cat5 cables include:

• They can be used as telephone lines to carry telephone signals
• They are also used for transmitting video and audo signals in CCTV systems
• These cables can be used for home automation applications
• The cables also support Power over Ethernet applications

How to Identify Cat5 Ethernet Cables

One of the easiest ways is to check the cable jacket. The category information will be printed on the outer jacket, showing whether it is a Cat5 or Cat5e cable.

You can also check the overall thickness of the cable. Cat5 cables are thinner and more flexible than the Cat6 and Cat7 cables. Since Cat6 cables have a plastic separator, they are thicker than Cat5 cables.

A Cat5 cable tester is another good method you can use to identify Cat5 Ethernet cables. This is because the tester measures different types of cable characteristics including the signal quality and bandwidth. This should help in identifying the cable type with ease.

Tips for Installing and Using Cat5 Ethernet Cables

Installing and using Cat5 ethernet cables should not be hard. There are a couple of steps you can take to make this possible. Here is what to do:

• Assess your network needs to see if the Cat5 cable will do a good job of addressing them.
• Next is to prepare the cable for installation. Cut the cable to the appropriate length and strip the cable sheath. Use the right cable stripper to remove the outer encasing.
• Terminate the cable. In this case, insert the wires into an RJ45 connector using the correct sequence depending on the application. Use a crimping tool to attach the connector to the wires.
• After the termination is done, proceed to test the cable using a Cat5 cable tester to see if it is terminated properly before you can start mounting and using it.

Proper handling is highly recommended. This means you should not have sharp bends or kinks in the cable. This may cause damage or lead to signal loss. Also, where you place the cable is important. Ensure you do not set them over electrical conduits, which can cause signal interference.

How to Test a Cat5 Ethernet Cable

Testing the Cat5 ethernet cable should be something you do as part of troubleshooting a network issue or before you are done with a new installation. Some of the methods for testing the cable include:

• You perform a visual inspection to check the cable for physical damage. This includes cuts, frayed ends, or kinks that may cause a connection problem.
• Use a cable tester, which is more accurate in helping determine whether the cable is okay. Plug into the TX and the RX ports and start the test. Check to see if any light is illuminated. If the cable is faulty, then the lights will not illuminate.
• A multimeter is also a good way to test whether the cable is working. First, you have to set it to continuity test mode. What we are testing for is continuity in the cable. Put the probes to the corresponding pins on each side of the cable. If there is a beep, it shows there is a connection, but silence indicates a break.
• You can also swap the cables to see if the cable you are suspecting is good or not. If it is not working in a new port, then it means that the cable is the issue and should be replaced.

Should You Still Use Cat5 Ethernet Cable in 2025?

The maximum speed of the Cat5 cable is 100Mbps. In 2025, this type of speed is not enough for many applications. We can say that the Cat5 cable is obsolete, and there are newer and better standards in place right now that you should consider.

If you must stick with Category 5 cables, then consider the Cat5e cable, which offers more performance and reliability. Since it supports up to 2.5GBps for up to 100 meters, it should easily support the needs of many people, especially for home or office use.

Cat6 and beyond are now more preferred because of their overall performance. These cables offer higher speeds and wider bandwidths than Cat5e. As such, they are the best for demanding applications.

Conclusion

Cat5 ethernet cable, at one point, was a good pick for networking applications. You can get up to 100Mbps connection speed. As much as it might seem a lot, it is not for many applications in 2025. You are better off getting Cat6 and beyond types of cables. They will serve you better. If you must choose the Cat5 cables, we recommend sticking to Cat5e cables as they offer better performance. Just make sure they are correctly terminated for the best performance.