Cat6 Plenum 1000ft Industrial Cable: A Buyer’s Guide
The Cat6 plenum is one of the best bulk ethernet cables. It comes in a variety of iterations such as solid, stranded, shielded, and unshielded. However, the best feature of the cable is its affordable cost and high performance. Why is it that this cable is used in all sorts of LAN networks and how can you buy it too?
We shall discuss these two questions in this blog, be sure to read till the end. Now, let’s dive right in.
What is Cat6 Cable 1000ft?
Let's explain what this cable is in more detail.
It is the 6th category of bulk ethernet cables and it was introduced as an upgraded version of its predecessor - which is Cat5e. This cable was designed to be faster, easier to install, reliable, and long-lasting.
To achieve these ambitions, it had to undergo a few design modifications.
First, the Cat6 ethernet cable conductors. They are twisted tightly as compared to their previous counterparts. And tighter cable conductors mean the cable can fend off EMI and crosstalk better.
To add more efficiency to the cable’s capacity to fend off interference, another feature was also added. A spline, also known as a pair separator, is integrated between the cable conductors. It keeps the conductor pairs apart which results in even more reduction in interference.
Solid and Stranded
Solid and stranded refers to the type of conductor. Cat6 plenum 1000ft cable comes in both solid and stranded variants.
Solid means that the cable conductors are made from a single piece of metal. When the conductor is made from a single piece of metal, it results in better signal quality. Moreover, the connection suffers reduced latency and thus more efficient transfer of data.
Stranded Cat6 ethernet cables are on the other hand rather different. They have conductors that are made from multiple strands of thinner wires. A bunch of thin wires is twisted together to make single wires which are again twisted to minimize interference.
However, it is important to mention that solid bulk ethernet cables are more tricky to install whereas stranded cables are fairly easy. Stranded cables can be twisted and turned easily while pulling through tricky spaces.
Shielded and Unshielded
Unshielded and shielded refers to the additional layer of defense against EMI. Shielding is a wire mesh that is wrapped around the conductor bunch of bulk ethernet cables. It blocks EMI from interfering with the transmission of other cables. It also protects the Cat6 plenum from incoming interference from parallel cables including power lines.
The Cat6 ethernet cable that has this shielding is known as STP or shielded twisted pair Cat6. Whereas the one without it is known as UTP unshielded twisted pair cable.
Like solid and stranded bulk ethernet cables, shielding also impacts its ease of use. If the cable is STP, it is rather tricky to install. And if it is UTP, it is much easier to run. That is because the shielding makes the cable stiffer and without it, it's easier to install.
Furthermore, the shielded cable is more expensive. That is because installing the shielding adds additional cost - which is not the case with unshielded cables.
Factors to Consider When Buying
There are certain factors that you need to consider when buying Cat6 plenum 1000ft bulk ethernet cables. For instance, you need to figure out which one of its multiple variants you need. Then you need to decide the quantity of the cable. You will also need to design your LAN network in advance, with due consideration to the pros and cons of each.
Take a look at the below points and be sure to consider them before you buy bulk Cat6 cable.
Which One?
Yes, it is Cat6 Cable 1000ft that you need. But it is available in multiple variants. And you will need to decide which one you need beforehand. If you are unsure which one you need, read further.
For indoor runs, the UTP Cat6 plenum cable is most suitable. And for the outdoors, STP Cable is more suitable. Similarly, if you are running the cable on long distances, solid Cat6 is the best option. And for shorter runs, the stranded is much better. Especially indoors, unshielded and stranded bulk ethernet cables are the most ideal choices.
Cable Length
The bulk Cat6 plenum 1000ft cable is available in a multitude of lengths. For instance, you can get a 500ft roll as well as 5000ft roll. Figure out which one would be best for your use case.
But mostly, 1000ft ethernet cables are the best option. Because it is a length that is neither too long nor too short.
You don’t run the risk of overbuying the cable while also ensuring a smooth installation.
Pure Copper or Copper-Clad Aluminum
Pure copper and copper-clad aluminum (CCA) are two different types of conductor materials. Whether you choose pure copper or CCA will determine the quality of your network. It will also determine which applications you can use and which you cannot.
CCA Cat6 cable 1000ft does not support PoE applications whereas the pure copper ones are best suited for it.
In any case, we strongly recommend buying bare copper Cat6 plenum cables which are the best option. They are safer, easier to install because of their ductile nature, and highly efficient.
Buying pure copper Cat6 cable 1000ft also means you are going to have a long-lasting network. Because these cables can last up to a minimum of 10 years before you even notice any sign of wear and tear. However, regular maintenance is highly encouraged.
Keystone Jack
The bulk Cat6 cable is terminated into keystone jacks. These jacks are 8p8c modular female connectors. So when you are buying the bulk Cat6 cable 1000ft, make sure you are also considering the jacks you will be using.
Cat6 has a wire gauge of 23 AWG and you need to make sure the jacks you are using are compatible with this gauge.
Finally…
When buying a Cat6 plenum 1000ft cable, you need to consider which one of its many types you need. You also need to figure out your required length, cable conductor, and compatibility with other devices. This way, your bulk ethernet cables will be most useful to you and you will be able to reap the advantages of wired LAN networking.