Hi! I am planning to connect several devices in the office via Ethernet and I need to choose the right cable. I am thinking between CAT 5e and CAT 6, but I am not sure what is more important: speed or cable length? What do you recommend? I heard that CAT 5e supports speeds up to 1 Gbps, but I need the network to work quickly and stably. How do I choose the best option? Maybe there are some nuances that I did not think about? Thank you!

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For office networks, CAT 5e cable is usually enough, especially if you do not plan on extremely high loads. As you correctly noted, cat 5e speed is up to 1 Gbps, which is enough for most tasks. But if you plan on future improvements or connecting devices that may require more bandwidth, it is better to choose CAT 6. It supports speeds up to 10 Gbps and is less susceptible to interference, especially over long distances. It is also worth considering the maximum cable length - for CAT 5e it usually does not exceed 100 meters. If the length is longer, it is better to think about higher-speed options.

In general, the choice depends on the tasks facing your network. If you do not expect a very high load and plan to work with regular office applications, CAT 5e will do just fine. But if in the future you plan to upgrade your equipment or deal with large amounts of data, it makes sense to invest in a higher category. It is also important to consider where the cable will be installed - if in conditions with a high electromagnetic field, it is better to choose a cable with additional protection against interference.