Network & Data Cable

Cat6 is rated to a higher frequency than Cat5e: 250 MHz on Cat6 reels such as the SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-ORG-305, against 100 MHz on Cat5e such as the SFX/C5-UTP-LSZH-D-WHT-305. That Cat5e reel is designed for 1 Gbps installations, and the SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-BLU-305 Cat6 also supports 10 Gbps over shorter distances, so Cat6 leaves more headroom for faster equipment.

Use LSZH for internal runs and PE for outdoor or duct runs. LSZH jackets reduce smoke and halogen emissions in a fire, which suits public and enclosed spaces, and the SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-BLU-305 is for internal use only. PE jackets resist UV and moisture: the SFX CAT6/PE 305m is duct and external grade, and the Rhino Guard Cat6 PE cable is not intended for indoor riser installations where specific fire performance is required.

Use armoured (SWA) cable where a data run is buried or exposed and needs mechanical protection. The SFX/C6-UTP-SWA-PE-BLK Cat6 has galvanised steel wire armour and a black PE outer sheath for direct burial or exposed installations, and the SFX/C5-UTP-SWA-PE-BLK-1 Cat5e is sold per metre. The armour needs correct termination and bonding, with suitable cable glands where it enters a building or equipment.

Shotgun cable runs data and power conductors together under one jacket, so a single cable carries data and power. The SFX/C5-UTP-2C-0.5-PE-BLK-100 combines 4-pair Cat5e UTP with two 0.5mm power cores in a black PE jacket for outdoor use, on a 100m roll, with 24 AWG data conductors and 19 AWG power cores.

CCA (copper clad aluminium) uses an aluminium conductor with a copper coating and is found on economy cable, while a solid copper conductor has no aluminium core. The Mercury 808.027UK economy Cat6 is solid CCA and the 808.040UK Cat6 uses oxygen-free solid copper; both pass a Cat6 fluke test of 100m at 250MHz. The SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-ORG-305 reel uses solid bare copper conductors.

Plan permanent links to about 90 m for Gigabit performance. The SFX/C6-UTP-SWA-PE-BLK-1 has typical channel performance up to about 90 m, and the purple reel SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-PUR-305 is suitable for Gigabit Ethernet. For supply, most cables here come on 305 m reels, and other formats include 100m reels, a 290 m roll, a 1000 m drum and per-metre cable.

Choose a Cat5e or Cat6 cable that states PoE support and suits the route. The SFX/C5-UTP-SWA-PE-BLK armoured Cat5e supports Power over Ethernet within Cat5e power and signal limits, and the SFX/C6-F-UTP-SWA-LSZH-BLK-1000 armoured Cat6 is made for CCTV backbones, PoE camera runs and outdoor access point links. For internal routes, the SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-ORG-305 is designed for data, voice, CCTV and PoE devices.

They describe the screening. U/UTP has no overall screen and unscreened pairs, as on the SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-ORG-305, and should be kept away from high-voltage power cables. F/UTP adds an overall foil screen that reduces EMI, as on the SFX/C6-F-UTP-SWA-LSZH-BLK-1000. S/FTP, or shielded foiled twisted pair, is used on the SFX/C7A-S-FTP-LSZH-ORG-100 Cat7A cable.

Colour lets installers code different networks or services so they can be identified at a glance. The SFX LSZH reels here include Cat5e in red and white and Cat6 in pink, purple, blue and orange. Grey Cat6 is also offered for internal use in a 305 m box.

The CPR class is the cable's reaction-to-fire classification, so check it against your project specification. The internal SFX/C6-UTP-LSZH-D-ORG-305 reel is classed Dca-s2,a1,d2, while the external armoured SFX/C5-UTP-SWA-PE-BLK-1 is classed Fca, and that cable is not a low smoke zero halogen type.