How to choose Cat6 Plenum Cable
The Cat6 Plenum cable continues to be one of the most in-demand ethernet cords on the market due to its durability and superior performance. Because there are so many manufacturers on the market, you must have some basic knowledge about the different types of cables to make an informed decision when shopping for Cat6 Plenum 1000ft.
Our experts at New York Cables have identified four critical points to consider when purchasing Bulk Cat6 Plenum Cable.
Fundamentals of Cat6 Plenum Cable
The term "Plenum" is self-explanatory about the Cat6 Plenum Cable. The cable is designed so that it is ideal for plenum spaces, areas with airflow. Though the TIA/EIA standards specify a bandwidth capacity of 250MHz and a data transfer rate of 1Gbps for Bulk Cat6 Plenum Cable, several variants on the market offer a bandwidth capacity of 750MHz and a data transfer rate of 10Gbps (with distance/length restrictions).
Another distinguishing feature of the Cat6 Plenum 1000ft is the jacket's superior quality. Because these cables are installed in plenum spaces, the Cat6 Plenum 1000ft should be made of the highest quality flame-retardant jacket material available. Cat6 plenum cables have jackets made of FEP and flame-retardant Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), enabling them to perform better at higher temperatures. This material produces significantly less smoke and retards the spread of fire.
The Environment's Relationship
When purchasing Cat6 cable, you will encounter two types of environments: those with no EMI (electromagnetic interference) and those with EMI.
A UTP (unshielded twisted pair) plenum cat6 cable will suffice for areas free of electromagnetic interference. A UTP cable has an outer layer of protection but does not have an additional layer of protection on the inner four twisted pairs.
For areas with a high level of EMI, you should use STP cables; these are cables with an additional layer of protection on their four twisted pairs. It is because EMI interferes with signal transmissions, resulting in weak signal transmissions. STP cables have foil wrapped around each twisted pair inside the cable to protect against these uninvited interruptions. Hospitals, laboratories, offices, and factories, to name a few, typically have higher levels of EMI.
Cat6 Plenum Cable Types
Cat6 Plenum Cables, both shielded and unshielded, are available in gauges ranging from 22AWG to 26AWG. Our 23AWG and 26AWG cables are packaged in an easy-to-pull box at New York Cables.
Certifications for Cat6 Plenum Cables
When it comes to purchasing a Cat6 Plenum Cable, certification is critical. Two certifications are included with these cables. One is for copper-clad aluminum (CCA) cables, while the other is for pure copper cables.
The primary disadvantage of CCA cables is their relatively high attenuation, which results in increased data loss as packets are periodically retransmitted. One of the fundamental concepts you should understand is that your network performs slower when more data is retransmitted than usual. Add the length factor to this, and your misery is multiplied by three.
When it comes to DC resistance, copper-clad aluminum cables outperform pure copper cables by 55%. This 55% increase in DC resistance renders them unsuitable for PoE. (Power over Ethernet).
Moving on to the installation phase, CCA cables create a slew of complications. Due to the lower tensile strength of CCA cables, they are more prone to damage and breakage when pulled. In a nutshell, CCA cables are significantly more susceptible to failure than pure copper cables.
Our recommendation for all plenum spaces is to use pure copper cable because it is more fire retardant and offers more excellent resistance to fire progression.
Conclusion
When purchasing Cat6 plenum cable, always opt for pure copper cables that come with all necessary certifications. Plenum cables continue to be a critical component of networking.
Our Cat6 Pure Copper Plenum cable continues to be a best-seller at New York Cables, with thousands of positive customer reviews available on TrustPilot, our website, and Google's review section.
Topping it off, our Cat6 plenum cables come with a money-back guarantee and free shipping on orders over $99. Thus, now is the time to make significant savings!
