Ethernet

@erik_squires I am not an IT professional. I believe you are though.

Going to a higher cat than your source and switch supports doesn’t help anything.

The OP didn’t say what type of internet/speed he has coming into his house. I think that would be a good thing to know, therein a starting point as you said in the above quote, source. Good chance he may be stuck with what he has. It may only justify Cat 5e cable as you said.

His switch may only support the use of a Cat 5e cable.

Just curious if his incoming internet will support Cat 6a would he gain anything by buying a switch that would support Cat 6 or Cat 6a cable?

From the specs, RS130 Network Transport

Network:

SFP Ethernet 10/100/1000 BASE-T(SFP COPPER Type)

 

Justify Cat 6 or Cat 6a  cable?

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@audioman58 said:

which btw digital is not grounded

But the chassis of equipment the shielded ethernet cable plugs into may be. I’ve read posts where a shielded ethernet cable caused a ground loop hum. (Had nothing to do the 4 twisted pairs of the cable.) My understanding the shield is connected at both ends of the cable to the ground metal shell of the RJ45 male connectors. Example of a shielded Cat6a RJ45 plug

If the equipment manufacturer didn’t install a RJ45 jack that is a grounding type, bonded to chassis, then a path to chassis ground is not provided.

FWIW a shield, Faraday cage, does not need to be grounded to work.YMMV

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