How to Get 2.5G and 5G Speeds Without Breaking the Bank

Written by Don Schultz, Senior Technical Marketing Specialist, Fluke Networks Certified Copper/Fiber CCTT, BICSI TECH, INSTC, INSTF Certified

Modern networking is getting more demanding. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may be offering you Internet speeds greater than 1 Gigabit and you want to take advantage of that, but are not sure if your current cabling system will handle it. WiFi APs (Access Points) are getting faster to take advantage of this, too. Perhaps you are a small business and wish to upgrade your speeds without replacing hundreds or even thousands of feet of your existing cabling, but don’t need 10G yet?

Up until relatively recently, you had a choice if you were a consumer. You could purchase LAN equipment that supported 1 Gigabit (1000BASE-T) at relatively commodity level prices or you could spend a huge amount of money on expensive Enterprise level LAN switching equipment that supported 10 Gigabit (10GBASE-T) over copper cabling if you needed to go faster. There were no stop points in between--so your choices were barely adequate 1G speeds or perhaps massive overkill 10G speeds for your LAN. NBASE-T entered the market, introduced intermediate speeds, and this newer LAN equipment is now commonplace and near commodity level pricing. This blog is about how to improve your network speeds using NBASE-T to go beyond 1 Gbps, and what to watch out for.

Please watch this video first, and then come back and finish reading! Both mediums will help fully explain getting from A to B!

What Is NBASE-T? (The Short Version)

First, it is a good idea to explain the underlying technology so you understand what you are deploying. We will get into the “how to” a bit later. Let’s give you a brief overview of NBASE-T!

• NBASE-T serves as the basis for the IEEE 802.3bz standard that defines 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T application protocol speeds -- two new intermediate speed tiers between 1G and 10G.
• NBASE-T was designed specifically to extend the useful life of the billions of feet of installed unshielded Cat5e and Cat6 cable that can't run 10GBASE-T well or at all, but is more than capable of handling 2.5 Gigabit and 5 Gigabit, respectively.
• There are two subtypes of NBASE-T:
  • 2.5GBASE-T (for both Cat5e and Cat6 unshielded cable)
  • 5GBASE-T (for Cat6 unshielded cable specifically)
• Both speeds are designed to work up to 328 feet (100m) channel length — the same maximum length as standard gigabit Ethernet over copper twisted pair Category cable (aka Ethernet cable).

If it is not obvious already, Cat6A cabling of any kind will easily handle 10Gbps and lower, which of course includes 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps.

What Cable Do You Need for 2.5G and 5G Ethernet?

So we have some new speeds, but you want to be sure your cable supports them. You are in the right spot!

• Cat5e unshielded (U/UTP): supports 2.5GBASE-T up to 328 feet
• Cat6 unshielded (U/UTP): supports 2.5/5GBASE-T up to 328 feet
• Cat6A unshielded (U/UTP) and above: can handle both 2.5G and 5G with headroom to spare

NBASE-T Cable Category Cross Reference Support Table

Does Cable MHz Support Matter?

The NBASE-T Alliance advises that the following minimum cable operating bandwidths are sufficient for NBASE-T speeds:

• 100 MHz for Cat5e pushing 2.5 Gigabit
• 250 MHz for Cat6 pushing 2.5 Gigabit or 5 Gigabit

It should be noted that these are standard MHz bandwidths and derived from the ANSI/TIA 568.2-E standard for their respective Categories.

trueCABLE disagrees, and yes MHz does matter. As operating bandwidths increase, cable to cable cross-talk (ANEXT) risks increase as you approach 350 MHz. ANEXT is when one cable is “overhearing” another cable, which causes interference.

Early document revisions for NBASE-T called for minimum 156 MHz operating bandwidth for Cat5e and 312 MHz for Cat6. These requirements were struck with little explanation from the documents. Field evidence has shown that cable to cable alien crosstalk (ANEXT) can become an issue with these new application operating speeds (especially 5 Gigabit) and mitigation steps should be taken which we will cover.

Thus, for now, trueCABLE recommends the following:

• Cat5e U/UTP cable that supports 156 MHz and higher (56 MHz over standard)
• Cat6 U/UTP cable that supports 312 MHz and higher (62 MHz over standard)

Many manufacturers, including trueCABLE, have overbuilt their Ethernet cable to support these mildly increased frequencies. It pays to check, though!

Does Current Cable Condition Matter?

Yes. Damaged, kinked, over-compressed and especially poorly terminated runs may not pass Category testing for 1 Gigabit operation much less 2.5 Gigabit and 5 Gigabit. Your drops need to be in good condition. Ideally, your drops will have already been Certified to Cat5e or Cat6 Permanent Link limits with a cable analyzer. At the very least, a cable qualification (application speed tester) device should be used to help ensure your upgrade will go smoothly. We will expand on these topics later!

What Network LAN Equipment Do You Need to Upgrade?

Your Ethernet Switch

This is the one piece of equipment you almost certainly need to replace, if your current switching equipment does not support 2.5GBASE-T and/or 5GBASE-T. Standard gigabit switches cap at 1Gbps regardless of cable.

Make sure all of your Ethernet switches support the higher speeds, including the downstream ones!

Multi-gig switches are now widely available at consumer price points There are many options out there, from consumer level to prosumer. Pick what works for you!

Be sure to also upgrade any intermediate (down stream Ethernet switches too). It does not do any good to have a primary Ethernet switch establish a 1 Gigabit connection to a downstream switch, as you will be stuck at 1 Gigabit until all your LAN equipment is upgraded.

WiFi Access Points

Many WiFi APs have a wired 1 Gigabit PoE RJ45 port, although the WiFi AP and your end WiFi devices may support WiFi protocols that easily exceed 1 Gigabit. It is a good idea to investigate PoE (Power over Ethernet) WiFi APs that support at least 2.5 Gigabit so your WiFi devices have access to your upgraded speeds, too.

Don’t forget that PoE WiFi APs are getting faster Ethernet ports too!

Your End Devices

For PCs and servers, you will need to have at least a 2.5 Gigabit RJ45 Ethernet port available. Fortunately, the vast majority of computer motherboard manufacturers have been replacing 1 Gigabit NICs (Network Interface Cards) with 2.5 Gigabit and 5 Gigabit NICs for some time now, even on value motherboards.

In the event you do not have a multi-gig NIC on your motherboard already, you can easily pick up a PCI-E or USB multi-gig NIC that supports 2.5G all the way to 10G if you like!

Be aware that not all end devices are going to support NBASE-T. TVs, for example, typically have a 100Mbps wired port or use WiFi. Network printers, likewise, typically have 100Mbps wired Ethernet RJ45 ports if they are not already on WiFi.

Upgrade Tips to Maximize Performance on Existing Cable

Up until now we have advised that you may keep your existing Cat5e or Cat6 unshielded cable. If you have Cat5e, you will be limited to 2.5 Gigabit and if you have Cat6 in your walls you can make use of 2.5 Gigabit and 5 Gigabit, depending on your LAN switching equipment. There are, however, some concrete steps you can take to dramatically increase the chances of achieving your desired speeds, but also help future proof your installation when 10 Gigabit becomes a necessity.

Replace Your Terminations with Cat6A Components

Even if you're keeping your existing Cat5e or Cat6 cable, upgrading the termination components (patch panels, keystones, patch cords) to Cat6A specification provides meaningful performance benefits. The best, most effective, easily upgraded, and flexible type of installation is a structured cabling system making use of permanent links and then using factory made patch cords to complete those links. This means patch panels, keystone jacks, and component rated accessories.

Did you construct your current LAN with Ethernet cabling hand terminated using RJ45 plugs all around? Yeah, that won’t cut it any longer. Good thing we caught it early!

• Replace existing monolithic or straight-across tool-less unshielded patch panels with an unshielded Cat6A component rated 3D stagger patch panel. This is a tool-less keystone patch panel aimed at preventing ANEXT between keystone jacks at your patch panel (head-end of the installation) even at 10G operating speeds. Mount Cat6A unshielded keystone jacks in the panel.
• Replace keystones in your remote wall outlets with Cat6A rated keystone jacks. This should be a fast and easy replacement, assuming you left enough slack in the wall to re-terminate a keystone!
• Use Category rated and Certified component rated patch cords. trueCABLE offers Cat6 unshielded component rated patch cords that dramatically outperform lesser patch cords…even ones claiming to be “Cat6A”.

Remove Nylon Cable Ties — Replace with Hook and Loop

DO NOT use nylon cable ties to bundle or organize cables. Nylon zip ties over-compress cable bundles and cause permanent deformation of the pair geometry, directly increasing alien crosstalk (ANEXT) and potentially damaging the cable physically over time.

Replace all nylon ties with hook and loop (Velcro-style) cable straps — they hold the bundle without compression.

This is a low-cost, high-impact improvement that most installers overlook!

Understanding Alien Crosstalk (ANEXT) Risks

As mentioned above, ANEXT might become an issue. Essentially, we are talking about cable to cable cross talk in this scenario. That means one cable is electrically “hearing” another cable and one or more start to interfere with each other. Here is a table that will outline the risks associated with exceeding 1 Gigabit. Most of this can be mitigated by following the steps above, but here is the baseline based upon Category, speed, and distance.

NBASE-T ANEXT Table (Category vs Speed vs Distance)

• At 5GBASE-T speeds, alien cross talk between adjacent cables in a bundle becomes a meaningful performance risk — more so than at 2.5 Gigabit
• Distance matters: Longer bundles accumulate more ANEXT — be especially cautious with long bundle runs in conduit or cable trays
• This is why replacing terminations with Cat6A components and eliminating nylon ties is specifically valuable — both reduce ANEXT exposure

Test Before You Trust — Cable Qualification

Running multi-gig speeds over existing infrastructure without testing is a gamble.

A basic continuity tester (wire map tester) won't tell you if a run will support 2.5G or 5G — you need a qualification-level test that measures actual bandwidth capacity.

At minimum, use a cable qualifier — such as the Fluke LinkIQ — to verify that each drop can actually achieve the desired bandwidth.

A bit pricey, but worth it. The Fluke LinkIQ will tell you if your new speeds will work or not. If you don’t need full Certification and do this kind of work for a living, you actually need one or more of these devices.

Is NBASE-T a Permanent Solution?

The right long-term answer is Cat6A Ethernet cable throughout, which supports 10GBASE-T to 328 feet and handles any multi-gig speed comfortably. All new construction should make use of Cat6A for structured cabling systems. That said, we are assuming you are keeping your Cat5e or Cat6 cable in this blog.

NBASE-T over Cat5e/Cat6 is a smart, cost-effective stopgap — but it is a stop gap solution on your way to Cat6A and a full 10G network at some point. NBASE-T can extend the life of your existing cable plant by years, allowing you and your network some breathing room until Cat6A recabling becomes more financially feasible.

The upgrade steps outlined above (Cat6A terminations, removing nylon ties) aren't wasted — they're building blocks toward the full upgrade.

Conclusion

So there you have it! Upgrading to NBASE-T involves checking/replacing your switching gear for NBASE-T support, verifying your cable category supports the target speed you want, replacing termination and structural components with Cat6A rated hardware, removing nylon ties, and testing with a cable qualifier as a final step. Upgrading won’t be fully pain-free, but it is possible to do with (relatively) minimal major hassle and attention to detail. You certainly won’t have to deal with pulling cable out of your walls yet and you will add years of life to your existing cabling system. Multi-gig speeds over your existing cable are achievable today — and every step you take now moves you closer to a full Cat6A infrastructure.

HAPPY NETWORKING!!

trueCABLE presents the information on our website, including the “Cable Academy” blog and live chat support, as a service to our customers and other visitors to our website subject to our website terms and conditions. While the information on this website is about data networking and electrical issues, it is not professional advice and any reliance on such material is at your own risk.