Ethernet Cables

Cat6 is tested to a higher frequency. Mercury Cat6 reels such as the 808.011UK pass a Fluke test at 250MHz over 100m, where Cat5e reels such as the 808.001UK pass at 100MHz. The 808.011UK and 808.001UK both suit Gigabit Ethernet applications. For 10Gbps networks, choose Cat6a or Cat7 instead.

Cat6a or Cat7. The AV:Link Cat6a flat leads, such as the 113.733UK, support 500MHz and 10Gbps, and the Cat7 S/FTP leads, such as the 113.705UK, 600MHz and 10Gbps. For installed runs, the Mercury 808.032UK Cat6a reel passes a Fluke test at 500MHz over 100m, and the 808.050UK Cat7 reel is rated for 10 Gbps at 600MHz.

An Ethernet cable such as the Mercury 808.011UK is a twisted pair data cable for high-speed data transmission, including Gigabit Ethernet. For example, the 808.011UK is 305m of Cat6 cable with a solid copper conductor, marked at 1m intervals and supplied in a dispensing box, while the AV:Link 113.146UK is a 30m Cat6 RJ45 patch lead for PCs, printers, servers, routers and switch boxes at up to 1Gbps.

Yes, with cable made for it. The Mercury 808.010UK Cat5e, 808.041UK Cat6 and 808.034UK Cat6a outdoor reels have a black LDPE sheath with UV resistant properties for outdoor installations. Check the sheath before running any other cable outside: the SFX Cat5e LSZH reel, for example, is recommended for internal use.

LSZH means low smoke zero halogen, a sheath material that minimises the risk of thick black smoke and poisonous fumes if the cable is caught in a fire. Mercury LSZH reels include the 808.005UK Cat5e, 808.015UK Cat6, 808.031UK Cat6a and 808.050UK Cat7, and SFX Cables supplies Cat5e and Cat6A LSZH reels on 305m.

CCA (copper clad aluminium) is an aluminium conductor with a copper coating, while OFC cable uses oxygen-free copper. The Mercury economy reels, the 808.021UK Cat5e and 808.025UK Cat6, are solid CCA, and its other reels are oxygen-free or pure copper. The AV:Link Cat5e patch leads and the Knightsbridge NETC61M and NETC63M are CCA.

They describe the screening. U/UTP has no screen, F/UTP adds an overall foil around the pairs, U/FTP a foil on the individual pairs, and S/FTP individual pair foils inside an overall braid. The Mercury 808.033UK Cat6a S/FTP suits Gigabit Ethernet in noisy environments, where crosstalk and interference are a concern.

Plan copper Ethernet runs to 100m, the distance over which Mercury reels such as the 808.011UK are Fluke tested. Beyond that, add a switch or an extender part way along the run. Patch leads here reach 30m, with the AV:Link Cat6 113.146UK and Cat5e 113.166UK at that length.

A flat cable suits narrow spaces where a round lead is awkward to route. The AV:Link Cat6a FTP flat leads, such as the 113.733UK at 3m, have a low-profile flat design, pure copper 30AWG conductors and FTP shielding, and carry 10Gbps. Most are white, and lengths run from 1.5m to 10m.