Cat5E Cable Overview:

Short for Category 5E, CAT5E cable is network Ethernet cabling that consists of four twisted pairs of copper wire terminated by RJ45 connectors. While the base standard set by TIA/EIA for CAT5E is 100 MHz, our CAT5E cable supports frequencies up to 350 MHz and for 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet. Additionally, CAT5E Ethernet cable can be used for voice, video, data, ATM, token ring, and direct networking. CAT5E cable runs should be limited to a maximum length of 328 feet (100 meters)

Currently, CAT5E is the standard for data cabling communication with CAT6, CAT6A, and CAT7 being faster. Computers hooked up to a LAN are connected using CAT5E cables, so if you are on a LAN, most likely the cable running out of the back of your PC is Category 5E.

CAT5E Ethernet cable has 4 twisted pairs and comes in a variety of options that will enhance your network installation.

Solid CAT5E Cable supports long cable runs and is designed for fixed cabling situations like homes, offices, and buildings. We carry a few options (view below), including Fire-safety rated and outdoor/direct burial cat5E.

Stranded CAT5E cable is more pliable and better suited for shorter-distances. It features six small diameter wires surrounding a center conductor wire inside each of the twisted pairs. By having multiple small wires instead of a single solid conductor, stranded cable is more flexible, making it preferable for short distance cable runs. Stranded cat5E cable is commonly used for patch cables or crossover cables.

CAT5E Plenum Cable - CMP

CAT5E Ethernet Cable is based on the EIA/TIA 568 Commercial Building Telecommunications Wiring Standard developed by the Electronics Industries Association as requested by the Computer Communications Industry Association in 1985.

CAT5E Plenum, a type of inside cable intended for use in plenums. While plenums are convenient places to run cables, they also are conducive to the spreading of fires within buildings, as they are primarily intended to support airflow. Therefore, the National Electrical Code (NEC) specifies that the insulation on plenum cables must be fire retardant, low smoke, and low-toxicity.

Solid Bare Copper CAT5E Plenum Cable, CMP – High performance data cable that meets and exceeds industry standards. Our cat5E plenum provides you with 100-350Mhz of connectivity with low attenuation and excellent cross-talk characteristics. UL listed and ETL verified cable.

CAT5E Riser Cable - CMR

CAT5E Ethernet Cable for floor to floor installation is manufactured in adherence to strict industry standards to prevent the spread of smoke and flames. CMR riser rated Ethernet cable is jacketed to resist burning and avoid spreading fumes. We stock both unshielded and shielded solid conductor riser cable.

The 1000FT CAT5E Bulk Ethernet Cable, Riser Rated CMR, UL Listed is CMR rated for floor to floor riser applications. It is commonly used for 350MHz. voice, data, video, and security networking. The 24AWG solid copper conductors are arranged into four color coded pairs for easy identification.

For a shielded alternative, the 1000FT Bulk CAT5E Riser Cable is manufactured in compliance with high industry standards for data networking including RoHS and UL. When you invest in our bulk CAT5E riser Ethernet cable you can rest assured of reliable, quality product. It is available in up to nine different colors and sold in pull boxes of 1,000 feet.

CAT5E Outdoor Cable - CMX

With thin plastic jackets, ordinary Ethernet cable deteriorates rapidly when exposed to the elements. Extreme temperatures and moisture will shorten the networking cable’s lifespan. We are a leading supplier of outdoor and direct burial cable.

Some cables are "UV rated" meaning they can be exposed to outdoor UV radiation without significant destruction. The materials used for the mantle are usually PVC. Any cable which contains air spaces can breathe in moisture, especially if the cable runs between indoor and outdoor spaces. Warm moist air can cause condensation inside the colder parts of the cable outdoors. It may be necessary to take precautions such as sealing the ends of the cables. Some cables are suitable for outdoor and/or direct burial (for more info, view Outdoor Info Page, but this usually requires that the cable is gel filled in order to hinder moisture migration into the cable.

CAT5E Outdoor Cable – This cable is an Ultraviolet Polyvinyl Chloride (UV PVC) jacketed Ethernet cable that is designed to withstand sun and rain. PVC is a thermoplastic material, meaning that it can be melted repeatedly without losing structural integrity and is designed to withstand harsh temperatures.

CAT5E Direct Burial – Our direct burial cable is made with a UV rated jacket made to withstand extreme heat and cold weather. We carry many options, including gel-filled, waterproof tape, aerial wire, and PE-jackets.

Shielded CAT5E Ethernet Cable

Shielding is the best way to prevent interference and signal loss. CAT5E Shielded Cables are useful for environments where proximity to power cables, RF equipment, or high power equipment may introduce crosstalk, and it is great for areas where electromagnetic interference may occur. We offer both riser and plenum jacketed shielded CAT5E Ethernet cable.

Additional CAT5E Products

CAT5E Patch Panels – Its performance level exceeds ANSI/TIA-568 Category 5E standards, and comes configured for T568A/B wiring. CAT5E patch panels are available in both horizontal and vertical orientation. We have CAT5E patch panels offering from 12 ports to as many as 96 ports, for a large enterprise.

CAT5E Keystone Jacks – CAT5E keystone jacks, or RJ45 connector is a standardized unit for terminating and connecting Ethernet cable. The RJ45 connector is commonly used for twisted pair and multi-conductor flat cable. CAT5E jacks are an integral part of any reliable, high speed network. We carry different styles of CAT5E keystone jacks including: H-style jacks, U-style jacks, MIG+ jacks, tool-less jacks, inline couplers, component rated jacks, and shielded keystone jacks.

Modular Plug/RJ45 – Modular plugs are designed to terminate cable in order to connect your cable to keystone jacks, patch panels, and other RJ45 inserts. Our line of plugs offers a variety of constructions, such as our shielded CAT5E plugs and our EZ-RJ45® CAT5E Connector.

How to Make a CAT5E Patch Cable

We have received many requests from our customers for information on how to make a Category 5E patch cable. So below we will discuss the basic instructions for creating your own CAT5 cable. We hope you find the instructions informative

• Strip the cables Jacket back one full inch.
• Untwist the wires back to within 1/8" of the jacket.
• Arrange the wires in the order in which you want to crimp them. You can choose from either the 568-A or 568-B wiring methods, however the 568-B is the most commonly used.
• Grasp the wires firmly, between your thumb and forefinger, flatten them, and even wiggle them a bit, to take out the curliness, (concentrate your efforts on the bottom 1/2") the wires must lay flat and together, aligned as close as possible.
• While holding the wires firmly, cut off the the wires 1/2" from the cables jacket (Cut the wires with some sharp wire strippers or even high quality scissors, avoid wire cutters that flatten the ends of the wires insulating material, this makes stuffing the wires very difficult.)
• Stuff the wires into the connector, making sure the wires stay lined up. Push moderately hard to assure that all of the wires have reached the end of the connector. Be sure that the cable jacket goes into the back of the connector by about 3/16".
• Place the connector into a crimp tool, and squeeze hard so that the handle reaches it's full swing.
• Repeat the process on the other end. For a straight through cable, use the same wiring.
• Use a cable tester to test for proper continuity

How to wire a CAT5E (EIA 568-B*) Cable.

How to Wire a CAT5E (EIA 568-A*) Cable.

The only real difference between 568A and 568B is that the White/Orange-Orange/White and White/Green-Green/White pairs are swapped.

How to Wire a "Crossover" Cable. (EIA 568-B*)

 

USOC crossover cables are like this: