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Network & Data Cable

Network and data cable carries Ethernet, CCTV and PoE links between switches, cameras, access points and outlets. This page covers bulk Cat5e, Cat6, Cat7A and Cat 8 cable, including colour-coded LSZH reels for internal structured cabling, PE-sheathed cable for outdoor and duct runs, steel wire armoured cable for buried or exposed runs, and shotgun Cat5e with two power cores. Supply formats include cut-to-length cable, 100m and 305m reels and a 1000m drum.

Choosing Network & Data Cable

Choose the category for the speed you need, then the jacket and armour for where the cable will run. SFX Cables makes most of the cable on this page.

Category: Cat5e, Cat6, Cat7A or Cat 8

The SFX/C5-UTP-LSZH-D-WHT-305 Cat5e reel is designed for up to 100 MHz / 1 Gbps (Class D) installations and is HDBaseT certified. Cat6 cables such as the SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-BLU-305 are rated to 250 MHz; that reel supports 1 Gbps to about 90 m and 10 Gbps over shorter distances. The SFX/C7A-S-FTP-LSZH-ORG-100 is Category 7A S/FTP cable with an LSZH sheath on a 100m reel.

Jacket: LSZH inside, PE outside

Low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) jackets suit internal and public spaces, and several SFX reels, including the pink SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-PNK-305 and red SFX/C5-UTP-LSZH-D-RED-305, have a CPR class of Dca-s2,a1,d2. For outdoor runs, the Mercury 808.010UK Cat5e and 808.040UK Cat6 have UV-resistant LDPE sheaths and are marked at 1m intervals. The Rhino Guard Cat6 U/UTP PE is duct-grade cable with a cross-skeleton pair separator.

Armoured and shotgun cable

Steel wire armour (SWA) adds mechanical protection where a run is buried or exposed. The SFX/C5-UTP-SWA-PE-BLK is armoured Cat5e with a black UV-resistant PE jacket on 100m drums or cut to length. The SFX/C6-UTP-SWA-PE-BLK is armoured Cat6 UTP on a 290 m roll for direct burial or exposed runs, and the SFX/C6-F-UTP-SWA-LSZH-BLK-1000 adds an overall foil screen and LSZH jackets on a 1000 m drum. The SFX/C5-UTP-2C-0.5-PE-BLK-100 shotgun cable carries Cat5e and two 0.5mm power cores under one black PE jacket.

CableTypeJacket and format
SFX/C5-UTP-LSZH-D-RED-305Cat5e U/UTPLSZH red, 305 m reel
SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-ORG-305Cat6 U/UTPLSZH orange, 305 m reel
808.027UKEconomy Cat6 U/UTP, solid CCAOutdoor PE, 305m
SFX/C7A-S-FTP-LSZH-ORG-100Cat7A S/FTPLSZH orange, 100 m
SFX/C6-F-UTP-SWA-LSZH-BLK-1000Cat6 F/UTP, armouredLSZH, 1000 m drum
SFX/C5-UTP-2C-0.5-PE-BLK-100Cat5e + 2 power coresBlack PE, 100m

Related categories

For patch leads see Ethernet cables; for plugs, tools and outlets browse network cables and accessories, and test finished runs with cable testers and fault finders. The wider data and networking range covers the rest of the install.

Brands we stock in Network & Data Cable

Mercury, Rhino Guard, Securi-Flex and SFX Cables.

Frequently asked questions

What types of network cable are there?

Network cable is usually grouped by category, screening and construction. Categories such as Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat7A support rising bandwidth, while U/UTP cable is unscreened and F/UTP or S/FTP cable adds foil or braid screening against interference. Steel wire armoured cable adds mechanical protection for buried or exposed runs. The range here includes LSZH, PE and armoured cable on reels and drums.

How do you wire a house for Ethernet?

Plan a star layout: individual cable runs leave a central point, such as a cupboard near the router, and end at wall outlets in the rooms you want connected. Use solid-core installation cable, terminate it on a patch panel and outlets, and test the runs before decorating. Keep data cable clear of mains wiring where possible. The range here includes bulk Cat6 cable on reels.

What does AWG mean on Ethernet cable?

AWG stands for American Wire Gauge, a measure of conductor thickness where a higher number means a thinner wire. Thin patch leads often use a higher gauge for flexibility, while solid installation cable typically uses a lower gauge for longer runs. Thicker conductors usually lose less signal and carry PoE power more efficiently over distance. The range here includes solid-core installation cable.

What is Cat7 network cable?

Cat7 is a fully screened twisted-pair cable, usually S/FTP, with foil around the individual pairs and an overall braid. It is designed for higher frequencies than Cat6, and Cat7A extends that further. The screening helps in electrically noisy sites, but it needs screened connectors and correct earthing to work as intended. The range here includes Cat7A S/FTP cable with an LSZH sheath.

  • Established 1975
  • Birmingham trade counter
  • UK-only supply

Written by the West Midlands Electrics technical team

Updated

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