Main Difference between Flat and Round Ethernet Cables

When setting up a wired network, internet cabling is the first thing you want to set up in the computer room or lounge room. Most people are familiar with the common types of Ethernet cables, such as Cat5e, Cat6,Cat7,Cat8 cables, and many more. But most of us don’t know that some Ethernet cables can be divided into flat and round cables according to their shape. Here, we will discuss flat and round cables and their differences.

What is a flat Ethernet cable?

The flat Ethernet cable is a flat form of copper wire with twisted pairs arranged side by side rather than in a square shape. Most Ethernet cables are unshielded because placing an overall shield on a flat Ethernet cable is very difficult.

This makes external EMI protection of flat Ethernet cables not readily available because the natural shielding tendency protects against external EMI for round cables.

What is a round Ethernet cable?

The round ethernet cable is round-form insulated wire that contains some layers of filler substances to keep the original circular shape it helps minimize the heating because of friction. These filler materials protect the cord against some outer elements. In data centers and telecom rooms, round electrical wires are more commonly utilized than flat ones.

Let's discuss the differences between flat Ethernet cable and round Ethernet cable.

The telecommunications industry uses both types of cables, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Cable design:

The round cables, with some layers and filler substances, are durable and maximize the space inside the cross-sectional area. This small area allows cables to fit in the panel and machine openings.

On the other hand, flat Ethernet cables do not include any protective filler, which reduces the cable's weight and cost. Other than flat Ethernet cables, they provide more consistency in the electrical equality of conductors.

Maintenance:

The flat cable design is for permanent installation and is not recommended for standard patch leads. This is one of the major reasons behind most standard category cables, including Cat6, Cat7, and Cat8 ethernet cables

.

Flat cables require more maintenance than round wires, and they cannot provide the high uptime that round cables do.

Insulation and Attenuation:

Flat cables use similar insulation to electrical cables. However, flat ethernet cables are affected by interference, so they are not recommended for long distances. Because of the increased electromagnetic interference, attenuation is usually worse when using flat ethernet cables.

Physical Composition and Space Management

The difference between round and flat Ethernet cables concerns how the actual physical space will be handled.

Generally, round cables have a thick coat that surrounds them and provides resistance and strength against the hardest blows from the outside.

Round Ethernet cables are the best suitable for environments where the cable is often twisted or bent.

On the other hand, flat Ethernet cables are flexible and may easily lay along walls or even hide under carpets for space management in confined places. However, they are likely to wear out due to having thinner and less protective casing.

Performance Metrics

Some key performance metrics, such as signal integrity, differ slightly with round and flat Ethernet cables.

Generally, the round cable has better signal integrity, mainly because of the wire twist, and lowers the signal noise between them.

On the other hand, the flat cable may be more likely to induce crosstalk between its wires and potentially reduce the quality of the transmitted signal.

Regarding speed, the two support high-speed data transfer, but the round cable usually has a better shield.

For instance, flat cables might be easier to install in tight spaces and sometimes more flexible than round cables, but at the loss of stability in some performance elements.

Durability and Flexibility

The difference lies, however, in the durability and flexibility between the round and flat Ethernet cables.

The round Ethernet cable is usually stronger than the flat one because of its dense insulation sheath.

The flat Ethernet cable easily offers flexibility in its installations around corners and underneath carpets.

The flat Ethernet cable is not very bulky but does not draw attention to itself.

If one is not very careful, a flat Ethernet cable will experience higher mechanical wear. To summarize, a round cable is nice under harsh conditions, while a flat cable is very good both in service and during installation.

EMI Protection and Signal Quality

There are notable differences in EMI protection and signal quality between round and flat Ethernet cables.

Round Ethernet cables, known for their thicker shielding, generally provide better protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI). This robust shielding acts as an effective barrier, shielding the internal wires from external electrical disturbances, thereby maintaining signal integrity and ensuring a more stable and dependable connection.

Conversely, flat Ethernet cables often have less shielding, making them more vulnerable to EMI, which can degrade signal quality.

As a result, round Ethernet cables are typically favored in scenarios where optimal EMI protection and signal reliability are paramount, such as in high-speed data transfer settings or demanding industrial conditions.

Cost-Effectiveness and Long-Term Viability

While round Ethernet cables may seem cheap, flat ones have higher cost-effectiveness since they will last a while before a replacement is considered due to their durability and flexibility.

Whereas round cables will tangle and wear out quickly, with a tendency to break over some time, flat cables are designed to endure bending and twisting time and again without wearing out, thus securing viability through many installations.

Besides, flat cables can easily be hidden under carpets or along walls, reducing the possibility of damage risks and maintenance costs.

Flat cables are value-for-money in comparison, as it is observed that the initial investment in them emerges cost-effective in the long term and genuinely sustainable for networking needs.

Aesthetic and Practical Installation

But the difference in Ethernet cables is installed to be both aesthetic and practical. As for the two types of Ethernet cables, round and flat, the difference is strictly within the territory of their appearance and practicality.

The first type is round cable. It is traditional in a way that may tend to crowd the room. On the other hand, flat ones are modern and can be easily hidden.

However, round cables may be tougher and perform better long-distance than flat cables.

Environmental and Operational Adaptability

The round Ethernet cables are less flexible than flat Ethernet cables and are, therefore, challenging to install in cramped places. Flat Ethernet cables are very flexible; people can run them under carpets or rugs.

Round cables would have been ideal in such an environment since roundness means they will have more flexibility in environments requiring constant moving and bending, like offices that are often re-designed.

Conversely, flat cables excel in installations where aesthetics and neatness are paramount. Their sleek design allows them to seamlessly blend into the environment, making them a preferred choice in such settings.

The primary difference between the two is that round cables are more robust and, hence, resistant to damage; they can be used outside or even in an industrial setting.

Flat cables can easily be destroyed due to excessive pressure from heavy objects or foot traffic.

Generally, round cables are applicable in high flexibility and rugged environments, while flat cables are convenient for stationary installations, which need to be very neat.

Electrical Quality & Conductivity

Electrical quality is the ability of an allowed material to let an electric current flow through it. The measure of this ability defines the electrical conductivity.

Due to design, round and flat Ethernet cables differ in electrical quality and conductivity. Round cables offer higher conductivities, given that their cylindrical shape allows for good insulation and low interference.

Flat cables, on the other hand, are more flexible and save space in construction. However, due to their flatter design and possible signal interference, they may have less conductive characteristics.

Scalability and Future-Proofing

Round Ethernet cables are bit like a single-lane roads. They'll get the job done, but they can quickly become congested when more traffic (data) comes through.

Flat Ethernet cables are like four- to six-lane highways, allowing more traffic to scale easily. In simple terms, flat cables can allow for scalability without the appearance of bottlenecks as the size of your network grows or your data needs increase.

With that, the flat cables make your network future-proof as they make data transitions smoother and upgrades easier.

Round cables may very well meet basic needs, but flat cables provide more pliable solutions that could be scalable for the long haul.

Now comes a big question: which type of cable one must choose?

We can say flat cables provide consistency in the electrical equality of conductors. Additionally, the lack of fillers, insulating tapes, and other materials reduces the weight and volume of flat wires. There is also a higher density of cross-section connectivity of wire to cable than the round Ethernet cables.

For all these reasons, flat ethernet cables are less durable and have a higher maintenance cost than round ones. Flat wires are also less sustainable than round ones, and they do not have any protective filler around them.

The modern flat cable design overcomes all the missing functionality and features of flat ethernet. Flat Ethernet cables are also cheaper. Hence, choosing the current flat ethernet cable is better than round networking.

However, you can choose round ethernet cables if you need a high-speed networking setup for your data centers.

Once you decide on the wired setup, you must also look at what you are plugging the cable into. Some computers no longer have an ethernet port, let alone other necessary ports. So, a big part of your setup is a small USB hub with all the right ports.

But even if you are not using a laptop, there are chances that your monitor has ports on the back. This can be quite inconvenient when plugging in peripherals. Just because you have a wired setup doesn’t mean you want to show all the messy cables. You can mount your monitor, push it against the wall, and connect a USB hub. This gives you all the ports in the front, and cable management becomes a breeze! If you want to know more about Ethernet cables, read All Types of Ethernet Cables for more information.

Original source:  Difference between Flat and Round Ethernet Cables