I've gone through many network cables over the years and the Tripp Lite Cat6 is my favorite. To me, it comes down to these qualities:
1. The connector - The Tripp Lite has an overmolded connector, which means the individual conductors are terminated in the connector and then the cable plastic is molded around all the individual wires. This makes the connector very strong and it's virtually impossible to pull out a wire or break an individual terminal. Metal-body connectors are nice, but they are much more expensive and they aren't really any stronger than a good overmolded connector. Insert-termination connectors (not overmolded, sometimes called modular) are cheap and can fail.
2. The "snagless" design - Tripp Lite uses two little molded bumps at the edges of the connectors to avoid snags when pulling these cables through holes, around equipment, etc. This is a much better design than the typical flap that folds over the release tab. The flap style snagless cables are a pain compared to this design. The molded bumps are better and make it easier to remove the cable from the RJ45 jack.
3. The strain relief - These cables have a long, flexible strain relief at the connector that is molded into the cable instead of simply sliding over it. This makes it very durable and easier to bend than other designs.
4. True Cat6 - Cat5 and Cat5e might be fine for many applications, but Cat6 cables don't cost much more than Cat5 these days and they support higher bandwidth (such as Gigabit LAN and HDMI-over-LAN) so you have a bit more future-proofing. Cat6 cables tend to use larger gauge conductors and better sleeves than Cat5 cables too (in general, not always the case - There are great Cat5 cables out there, but for the money why not go with Cat6?).
5. Cost - There just isn't any reason I can think of to spend more money than these Tripp Lites for good network cables. There are cables that might look nicer or come in fancier packaging, but who cares? The cable has to work and be reliable and these Tripp Lite Cat6 cables do just that. Plus, they have the advantages of good quality and design mentioned above. These cables are a great buy and a fantastic value.
| Brand | Tripp Lite |
|---|---|
| Connector Type | Component |
| Cable Type | Ethernet Cables |
| Compatible Devices | Server, Router, Personal Computer, Modem, Printer |
| Special Feature | High Speed |
| Color | Gray |
| Connector Gender | Male-to-Male |
| Data Transfer Rate | 550 MHz |
| Shape | Round |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Item Weight | 8.8 ounces |
| Specification Met | EIA, ETL, ANSI, TIA |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Item model number | N201-025-GY |
| Product Dimensions | 1.25 x 7 x 11.75 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 1.25 x 7 x 11.75 inches |
| Manufacturer | Tripp Lite |
| Language | English |
| ASIN | B000067SGH |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | June 1, 2002 |
