What is cat3?

Cat3, also known as Category 3, is a type of Ethernet cable used for networking and connecting devices to a local area network (LAN). It is an older type of Ethernet cable that can support data transfer speeds of up to 10 Mbps and is typically used for short distances, such as within a home or small office.

Cat3 cables contain four twisted pairs of copper wires and are often used for telephone and voice communications, as well as some Ethernet networks. They are typically unshielded and have a maximum frequency of 16 MHz.

While Cat3 cables are still used in some older systems, they have largely been replaced by newer and faster Ethernet cables, such as Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a, which can support higher data transfer speeds and frequencies. It is important to note that Cat3 cables are not suitable for Gigabit Ethernet or higher-speed networking applications.