Depending on the quality and type, network cables are classified into categories that help us know the characteristics of them.

The categories of network cables most commonly used are:

- Category 5
- Category 5e
- Category 6
- Category 6
- Category 7

As can be seen, category 5e (enhanced or improved) and category 6A (Augmented), are an improvement of categories 5and 6, respectively, which it has improved the top speed and bandwidth.

The higher the category, the higher the speed of maximum data, the maximum 100 meters distance as its standard.

You can see a table which shows the 5 categories, where V is the maximum velocity, D is the maximum and MHz frequency which can work away.

UTP cable is standard twisted pair is referred by its acronym UTP (Unshiedld Twiested Pair/Unshielded Twisted Pair). The major advantages of this cable are its low cost and ease of handling. Its main disadvantages are a higher error rate compared to other cable types and their limitations to work at high distances without regeneration. FTP is a type of cable caracteriza that each twisted pair is uniformly during creation. A comprehensive screening of all pairs is performed by a apantallante outer sheet. This technique allows to have similar characteristics to the shielded cable. STP is characterized by that each pair is covered with a metal mesh, in the same way that the coaxial cables, and the set of pairs is coated with a sheet apantallante. Referenced frequently with their acronym STP (Shield Twisted Pair/Shielded Twisted Pair)