What is the frequency bandwidth of Cat3 cable?

What is the frequency bandwidth of Cat3 cable?

• A. 100 MHz
• B. 250 MHz
• C. 16 MHz
• D. 500 MHz

Answer: (C)

Cable bandwidth is the range of frequencies a copper pair can carry with acceptable signal quality. Cat3 was designed to support a maximum usable bandwidth of 16 MHz, which aligns with its use for 10 Mbps Ethernet like 10BASE-T. Because the signaling stays within this limited frequency range, Cat3 fits that data rate. Higher-performance categories use higher frequencies: Cat5/5e around 100 MHz, Cat6 around 250 MHz, and Cat6a around 500 MHz. That’s why those cables can support faster networks. So the frequency bandwidth of Cat3 cable is 16 MHz.

Cable bandwidth is the range of frequencies a copper pair can carry with acceptable signal quality. Cat3 was designed to support a maximum usable bandwidth of 16 MHz, which aligns with its use for 10 Mbps Ethernet like 10BASE-T. Because the signaling stays within this limited frequency range, Cat3 fits that data rate.

Higher-performance categories use higher frequencies: Cat5/5e around 100 MHz, Cat6 around 250 MHz, and Cat6a around 500 MHz. That’s why those cables can support faster networks. So the frequency bandwidth of Cat3 cable is 16 MHz.