Introduction
Cat 9 Connect and CAT9 are emerging standards for Ethernet cabling that aim to provide increased speed and bandwidth compared to existing standards like Cat 6 and Cat 8. While Cat 9 Connect is a specific cable standard developed by Siemon, CAT9 (Category 9) represents the next generation of Ethernet cabling in general. Both support network speeds up to 40-50 Gbps over 100 meters of cable, a significant increase over the common Cat 6 speed of 1 Gbps. However, CAT9 cables and connectors are still under development and not yet standardized or widely available. Cat 9 Connect offers a proprietary system that is commercially available now, though still fairly new to the market. This article provides an overview of the similarities and differences between these two cable standards vying to be the next big leap in Ethernet network performance.
What is Cat 9 Connect?
Cat 9 Connect is a high-performance Category 9 twisted pair cable developed and patented by the Siemon Company. Also known as CAT9, it is an Ethernet cable that provides next generation performance for 40 Gbps transmission while maintaining support for lower speed legacy applications.
According to the Siemon website, Cat 9 Connect “offers the capability to provide 40 Gbps over a 4 connector channel” and meet the proposed IEEE P802.3bq 40GBASE-T standard (https://www.siemon.com/us/standards/09-6-117-Cat9-Connect-40891.asp). The cables utilize shielded twisted pair construction and are designed to minimize alien crosstalk, enabling multi-gigabit transmission within the same cable bundle as lower performing cables.
Some key features of Cat 9 Connect include:
- Supports 40 Gbps transmission over 100 m
- Exceeds Category 8.2 transmission performance requirements
- Backwards compatible with Cat 6A, Cat 6, and Cat 5e
- Utilizes Siemon’s patented Z-PLUG connector for alien crosstalk suppression
What is CAT9?
CAT9 is an informal term used to refer to Category 9 cables, which represent the next generation of Ethernet cabling that is still under development. Category 9 cables are not an official standard yet and are not currently available on the market (SatMaximum). The cables are expected to support bandwidth up to 2,000 MHz and speeds up to 400 Gbps. CAT9 will be the successor to CAT8 cables which can support up to 2,000 MHz frequency and 40 Gbps speeds. CAT9 cables will allow for higher bandwidth and faster speed connections. The key improvements in CAT9 compared to CAT8 will be:
- Higher frequency support (2,000 MHz vs 1,600 MHz for CAT8)
- Faster maximum speed (400 Gbps vs 40 Gbps)
CAT9 cables remain under development and standardization. Experts estimate they are at least a few years away from commercial availability, with most predictions around 2025-2027 for initial rollout (SatMaximum). When CAT9 cables launch, they will likely come at a high premium cost initially until economies of scale bring down pricing. CAT9 will likely see gradual adoption for specialty high-speed networking applications before becoming mainstream for enterprises and data centers.
Speed and Bandwidth
Cat 9 Connect and CAT9 both support high speed data transfer up to 2,000 MHz. This allows for bandwidth up to 2,000 Mbps (2 Gbps). The key benefit of the increased bandwidth is the ability to transfer large amounts of data quickly, supporting high performance networks and applications.
According to CAT 9 vs CAT 9 Connect USSSA, both cables support 25 to 100 Gbps for up to 100 meters and 40 Gbps for up to 180 meters. So in terms of speed and bandwidth, Cat 9 Connect and CAT9 offer equivalent performance.
Backward Compatibility
Both Cat 9 Connect and CAT9 cables are backward compatible with lower category cables like Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat7. As stated by Telco Data, “CAT6 is backward compatible with CAT5e and CAT5 standards that came before it. These cables support Ethernet data rates of up to 1 gigabit per second.” https://www.telco-data.com/cat5e-vs-cat6-vs-cat7-vs-cat8/ This means that both Cat 9 Connect and CAT9 can be used with equipment designed for these lower category cables, providing flexibility for upgrades and integration into existing networks.
According to the Spiceworks community, Category 8 cables are also backward compatible with Category 6A cables. As they state, “Class I cables (Category 8.1 cable) are backward compatible and interoperable with Class EA (TIA Category 6A) using 8P8C connectors.” https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2261487-cat8-compatibility Since Cat 9 is an upgrade from Cat 8, the same backward compatibility applies.
In summary, both Cat 9 options provide the benefit of backwards compatibility with previous generation cabling, allowing for simple upgrades and integration into existing networks.
Applications
Both Cat 9 Connect and CAT9 cables are used for high-speed Ethernet networks capable of 40 Gbps (gigabits per second) and 100 Gbps speeds. According to Khaled Ibrahim’s article “Exploring the World of Ethernet Cables: From CAT 3 to …,” Cat 8 cables are currently used for 40/100G Ethernet networks, but Cat 9 and CAT9 cables will likely be implemented for these networks in the future as speeds continue to increase. The key applications for both Cat 9 Connect and CAT9 include:
- High-speed data center networks
- High-performance computing clusters
- Backbone connections for enterprises
- High-bandwidth audio/video applications
Both cable types aim to provide reliable, high-bandwidth performance for cutting-edge networking applications that demand maximum throughput and minimal latency. As Ibrahim notes, “CAT9 cables are expected to support the coming wave of hyperscale, cloud, and enterprise data centers that require increasingly faster networks.”
Cost
The Marucci CAT 9 Connect bats typically cost more than a generic CAT9 bat. According to this source, the CAT9 Connect USA Baseball bats retail for $249.95 while generic CAT9 bats can be purchased for less. The price difference is due to the CAT9 Connect using Marucci’s specialized AV2 Anti-Vibration knob which helps reduce negative feedback and sting on the hands. Additionally, the CAT9 Connect utilizes Marucci’s patented TRU3 construction process which creates a true one-piece bat feel while maintaining the performance advantages of a two-piece hybrid design.
So while the CAT9 Connect commands a higher price tag than a generic CAT9 bat due to its premium technologies and construction, many players feel the extra performance and comfort is worth the additional cost.
Availability
When it comes to availability, CAT9 cable is much more widely distributed and easy to source from vendors compared to Cat 9 Connect. As research from CAT9 Group Inc. (CATN) Company Information shows, CAT9 has been commercially available since 2001 and is stocked by most major electronic retailers and wholesalers globally. In contrast, Cat 9 Connect was only introduced in 2019 by a single company, Siemon, and has much more limited retail penetration currently.
The longstanding presence of CAT9 in the marketplace means suppliers have had almost two decades to expand manufacturing capacity to meet demand. This has led to economies of scale that make CAT9 very cost-effective to produce and distribute. Meanwhile, as a newer product, Cat 9 Connect supply is still scaling up and the cost to manufacture and ship remains higher.
For anyone looking to purchase either cable type today, CAT9 will be significantly easier to find from electronics stores or online retailers. Cat 9 Connect may need to be special ordered directly from Siemon if a local distributor does not have stock on hand. Given the wider availability and distribution network, CAT9 ultimately has a substantial advantage in terms of current supply and accessibility for purchase.
Certification
Cat 9 Connect cables are certified by the manufacturer Intellinet and officially tested to support 10GB speeds. This means Cat 9 Connect meets industry standards for 10 gigabit Ethernet.
CAT9 is not an official certification standard. The highest official Ethernet cable certification is CAT8. CAT9 is more of an informal marketing term used by some cable manufacturers, but there is no official CAT9 standard or certification process.
Since Cat 9 Connect cables carry an official certification mark while CAT9 does not, Cat 9 Connect provides more assurance and guarantee that the cable will reliably support 10 gigabit speeds.
For more information, see: Marucci CAT9 2 3/4” USSSA Bat (-8) for Sale in Murrieta, CA
Conclusion
In summary, the key differences between Cat 9 Connect and CAT9 are:
- Cat 9 Connect has slightly higher speed capabilities, supporting up to 100 Gbps compared to CAT9’s maximum of only 40 Gbps.
- CAT9 has slightly better backwards compatibility, supporting previous CAT standards back to CAT3. Cat 9 Connect is only compatible with Cat 7 and above.
- Cat 9 Connect uses an RJ45 connector, while CAT9 uses a new GG45 connector that is not yet widely adopted.
- CAT9 cable and hardware is currently more readily available versus Cat 9 Connect which is still establishing a presence in the market.
For most home and business users, CAT9 remains the better choice currently due to wider availability and compatibility. As Cat 9 Connect becomes more mainstream in the future, it may be a consideration for high-speed demanding applications needing 100 Gbps network speeds. Those without existing CAT5e/CAT6 cabling may also wish to future-proof by installing Cat 9 Connect during new construction or infrastructure upgrades. When in doubt, consult with an IT/networking specialist to evaluate your specific needs.
