No matter if your cable is Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6a rated, it is also classified as either "solid" or "stranded".
Solid cables are the most commonly used backbone cables in walls, ceilings and ducts, where flexibility is not really needed. This is because the conductor of a solid cable is made of solid metal (usually a thick copper wire), and the cable as a whole is usually stronger. Additional features:
1. Transmits electrical signals better over longer distances
2. Lower attenuation (resistance)
3. More likely to break with repetitive bending
4. Lower Cost
5. Used for horizontal cabling in Ethernet networks
In a stranded cable, the conductor is made up of many small metal filaments twisted together to form a larger and thicker wire. Due to the composition of this thin wire, stranded cables are much more flexible than solid cables. Stranded cables are usually used as patch cords and other shorter network cables, and need to be bent and bent frequently during use. Additional features:
1. Shorter transmission distance (de-rate length by 25-50%)
2. Higher Attenuation (resistance)
3. Not likely to break due to repetitive bending (continuous movement cables require special jackets)
4. Higher Cost
5. Used for patch cabling in Ethernet networks