Date First Published: 21st May 2022
Topic: Computer Networking
Subtopic: Data Transmission Technologies
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 5/10
Learn more about what Cat 4 is in this article.
Short for Category 4, Cat 4 is a type of Ethernet cable that supports data transmission speeds of up to 16 Mb/s and frequency transmission speeds of up to 20 MHz. Cat 4 consists of eight copper wires that are arranged in four unshielded twisted pairs. It was used for Token Ring, 10BASE-T, and 10-BASE-T4 networks for a short period of time and was the first to support digital voice communications. However, it was quickly superseded by Cat 5 due to speeds of up to seven times faster and longer distances. It is the second official category that was established by TIA/EIA standards.
Cat 4 cables may still be found in older buildings where higher category cables are too expensive and speed is not a concern. Cat 4 cables are rarely used now, but they may still be used by older telephone systems.
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