Can Category-8 (CAT-8) Cables substitute for SFP28 Cables and QSFP28 Cables?

Absolutely, the aforementioned server/switch OEM’s are designing their hardware to use Category-8 Network Patch Cords in lieu of far more costly High-Speed Direct Attach (DAC) Cables, Optical Transceiver Modules and Active Optical Cable (AOC) assemblies.  A 25Gbps or 40Gbps CAT8-based link can substitute for a 25Gbps SFP28 or 40Gbps QSFP+ link – all with a per-cable cost reduction of up to 90% comparatively!  

If I choose to build out my network using Category-8 Cables, how long will it last?

Using Category 8 (Cat 8) Cables for your Local Area Network (LAN) build-out is a wise investment, even if you have yet to upgrade to 25GBASE-T/40GBASE-T CAT8-capable server/switch/HBA hardware.  Amphenol Cables on Demand is able to offer our CAT8 Cable line-up at factory-direct prices that are comparable to our CAT6a Cables.  Cat 8 is truly “future-proof” with a projected service life of well over 30-years.

Are there Category-9 (CAT-9) Cables in development and how does it compare to CAT8?

The TIA/EIA has openly forecasted that CAT-8 hits the maximum predicted performance envelope using the series’ standardized 4-pair (twisted) wire and companion RJ45 8P8C (8-pin, 8-conductor) connector type.  Any future designs are likely to feature more wire pairs and/or a switch to parallel (bonded) pair wire, necessitating the use of a non-RJ45 connector.  Thus, there is no market demand nor a settled design standard for CAT9, making CAT8 the preeminent Ethernet Cable design for decades to come.

Is there any performance benefit of using Category-8 in a basic home/office network?

Even though typical home and office networks are almost uniformly using Gigabit Ethernet link speeds, with occasional enthusiasts like gamers running 10G Ethernet, there are still perceivable performance benefits of using CAT-8 Ethernet Cables in these installs.  CAT8’s high-bandwidth shielded cable and connector designs permit superior insertion loss, cross-talk and SKEW characteristics for a 100-fold improvement in Bit-Error-Rate (BER) over CAT6a – equating to a smoother, low-latency network application experience.

What key design parameters define CAT-8 Cables from Amphenol Cables on Demand?

Category 8 Network Patch Cables from Amphenol Cables on Demand feature stranded all-copper 26-AWG wire construction, as this provides the ideal balance between signal integrity and cable flexibility.  Our CAT8 Cables feature U/FTP topology, which means no outer shield, but each wire pair is foil-screened (aka STP Shielded Twisted Pair).  This offers excellent interference immunity and the absence of the outer shield makes short tight turn radius intra-rack cable runs a breeze.  

Do Category-8 (CAT-8) Cables have native PoE (Power over Ethernet) support?

Yes, all Category 8 (CAT8) Cables support Power over Ethernet natively, however, not all Cat 8 Cables are equal in this regard.  This is because the latest TIA/EIA release standards governing all CAT-type Ethernet Cables permit usage of reduced-diameter 28-AWG thin-line patch cables.  However, since Amphenol-brand CAT8 Cables from Cables on Demand are 26-AWG, they support all of the PoE power classes up to 100-watts.

What Cat-8 Cable length/color options does Amphenol Cables on Demand offer?

As CAT-8 is fairly new to the marketplace and our Cat-8 Cable line-up only recently debuted, we are offering our cables in the popular color of black.  However, we have the capacity to produce them in customized colors and lengths should an OEM/Reseller show interest.  Please contact our Customer Service team, toll-free, at 1-866-223-2860 or e-mail customerservice@cablesondemand.com to inquire. 

At present, you may purchase any of the following standard CAT8 Cable lengths (color=black) from the Cables on Demand website – in-stock now and available to ship out on the same day when ordered by 3:00PM Eastern Time:

Available Lengths include 1ft, 3ft, 5ft, 7ft, 10ft, 14ft, 20ft, 25ft, 30ft, 40ft, 50ft and 65ft.

What other Network Patch Cables does Amphenol Cables on Demand offer?

Amphenol Cables on Demand (https://cablesondemand.com) offers one of the largest selections of Network Patch Cords on the web today.  Genuine Amphenol brand Ethernet Cables are renowned for their superior quality and reliability by IT professionals and switch/server OEM’s alike.  Dell, HP and Oracle use Amphenol-brand CAT-Cable Patch Cords from Cables on Demand to outfit their datacenter rack build-outs. 

Our Network Patch Cable Assemblies, including CAT8, undergo extensive qualification testing prior to shipment from the factory.  We endorse a zero-failure-rate quality-control policy by channel testing our cables with the newest generation Fluke DSP Cable Qualifier, ensuring flawless performance in your network install from day one.  Shop over 500 patch cords from our product categories below:

Category-8 (CAT8) Ethernet Cable Guide – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Part #2 of 2 – Amphenol Cables on Demand