I need two ethernet cables to set up a wireless router. I have DSL from Verizon. The cable supplied from Verizon is Cat5e. Here are the specs printed on the cable: verified to ANSI/TIA 5688.2, 24AWG/4PR, 60° C, 30V, E311387. Now I'm considering buying either Cat5e or Cat6. I know Cat6 is faster and the Cat6 I'm looking at is capable of 10/100/1000Mbps. My DSL is only 1 Mbps. Can I use the faster cable or should I stay with Cat5e? I'm also thinking about the future and the possibility of getting FIOS. Can I use Cat6 with FIOS? The price difference between the two cables is only $1.00! So I need to know if I can use Cat6 now with DSL, and use Cat6 later with FIOS. This way I won't have to buy another set of cables. Is there any performance degradation in using cables capable of faster speeds with a slower connection?

I doubt you will ever be able to get internet service that would come close to either of the two specs. Guess you could spend the buck and not worry about it. Playing to the angels Les Paul (1915-2009)

"I know Cat6 is faster " It's not faster. Might want to read this http://www.networkcablingdirectory....

Thanks for your responses and the link discussing differences between cables. Considering FIOS though, is Cat6 better than 5e? I recently received a circular from Verizon stating FIOS can do 5 to 15 Mbps. I think I answered my own question; if cat5e can do 10BaseT and 100BaseT that's way enough, right? I'll never have the need for gigabit speeds. Am I thinking right? Thanks.

Yes, that is what I tried to say. No matter which cable you have you will still be much faster than any ISP. The only real speed I have seen has come from enterprise level nic's and they don't come cheap. Playing to the angels Les Paul (1915-2009)

Thanks for your responses and the link discussing differences between cables. Considering FIOS though, is Cat6 better than 5e? The simple answer to this question is no. They are essentially the same as far as the bandwidth you'll be using at home goes. I recently received a circular from Verizon stating FIOS can do 5 to 15 Mbps. I think I answered my own question; if cat5e can do 10BaseT and 100BaseT that's way enough, right? Cat5e and Cat6 are both capable of 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps. The main difference (as stated in the article wanderer linked for you) is that Cat6 is certified for 1000 Mbps. Cat5e can, and does, do 1000 Mbps.