The cable tester they are using is setup to test the actual specification. That is to say they are testing the _very definition_ of Cat-5E, Cat-6, or Cat-6A. T

The cable tester they are using is setup to test the actual specification. That is to say they are testing the _very definition_ of Cat-5E, Cat-6, or Cat-6A. That's the thing about cabling standards: either you meet the requirements of the standard or you don't. I presume the committee that designed 100Base-T, 1000Base-T, and 10GBase-T didn't pick numbers out of nowhere for no reason. Your comment seemed to be using circular reasoning... if the standard is too stringent than it's just a free-for-all, or the manufacturer's made-up non-standard, but there is only one way to be Cat-6A: follow the specs laid out in the standard. Otherwise why even have standards?