With all the countless guides out there, buying ethernet cables in 2023 is quite easy. But buying Cat5e bare copper cable? Not so much. You can simply look up how to buy X ethernet cable and you will be presented with innumerable answers. But for Cat5e bare copper cable, you will need to dig a bit deeper.
The 1000ft Cat5e bare copper cable is relatively older compared to the Cat6 and Cat6a ethernet cables and that is why you will not find many guides on buying it. Nonetheless, this blog explores the question: how to buy Cat5e bare copper cable in 2023? We will be looking at everything you need to know about buying the 5th enhanced category of ethernet cables; their performance, EMI resistance, ease of installation, cost, different variants, and more. Let’s begin.
What is Cat5e Bare Copper Cable?
Before you buy the bare copper Cat5e cable, you need to know what it is and what it can do. The bare copper Cat5e cable is the enhanced version of the 5th category of ethernet cables. Like other twisted-pair ethernet cables, it features 8 conductors twisted tightly into 4 pairs. The conductors are either made from 24 AWG pure copper or copper-clad aluminum. More on the conductors later.
The Cat5e pure copper cable features three different types of jackets. Note that the jacket of the cable is one of its most important parts. So you will have to choose it very carefully. Plenum, Riser, and PVC are the three major types of Cat5 jackets.
Cat5e cable 1000ft has a data transfer rate of up to 100 MBit/s over 100 meters. And its bandwidth capacity is up to 350 MHz. In long-distance transmission and crowded networks, the cable delivers decent performance. Especially if it is integrated with bare copper conductors. Furthermore, the plenum and riser jackets of the cable are made from high-quality materials. These materials ensure that the cable jackets can be used in all kinds of weather conditions.
Start With the Conductor
When you are buying the Cat5e cable, you have to essentially choose every feature of the cable. The cable conductor is the first feature that you should choose. As mentioned earlier, it comes in two main types: bare copper and CCA.
Bare Copper Conductor
Bare copper conductors are also known as pure copper. They are made from 100% pure copper and are ideal for use in long-distance and high-performance networks. If you choose Cat5e cable with bare copper conductors, you can be sure of better signal integrity and longevity of the cable itself. Moreover, bare copper cables also support Power Over Ethernet Applications.
CCA Conductor
If you think the bare copper conductors are not suited to your requirement, you can choose the Cat5e cable with the CCA conductors. These are made from an aluminum base that is coated with copper. The copper coating helps the cable perform better. It is also important to note that these cables are more affordable as opposed to their bare copper counterparts. Additionally, it does not support PoE applications.
Choose the Cable Jacket
Once you have chosen the right conductor for your Cat5e cable, you will choose its jacket. The main factor which will determine the type of jacket you need is the type of space where you will install it. For instance, if you are going to install the cable outdoors, you will need the plenum jacket. You can also use the riser or PVC. Now, the type of jacket you need your Cat5e cable to have depends on you.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PVC jacket of the Cat5e cable is not up to par with good fire safety standards. Unless it is outdoors and for a temporary run, we do not recommend using it.
Cat5e Plenum
The plenum jacket of the Cat5e cable is the top-of-the-line solution. It is made from LSZH materials and is ideal for use in indoor horizontal runs as well as in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) ducts. At this stage, if you know that you need the cable for indoor horizontal or HVAC ducts, you should go for the Cat5e Plenum cable.
This will serve you well. In case of a fire event, it will not catch fire. If it catches fire, it wouldn’t emit toxic smoke.
Cat5e Riser
The riser jacket of the Cat5e cable is made from materials that are highly resistant to heat and humidity. This cable jacket is ideal for indoor use in enclosed spaces. Enclosed spaces such as inside walls, between floors, and inside elevator shafts.
The most important thing to remember about the Cat5e Riser is that it emits toxic smoke. It is resistant to fire and rarely catches flame, but it will emit toxic smoke if it does.
Buying Cat5e Cable 1000ft
So, have you chosen the conductor and jacket of the Cat5e cable you need?
If so, you will have no problem with buying the Cat5e cable 1000ft. In case you are still unsure which one to get, here is the answer:
For indoor use in open spaces such as ducts, get the Cat5e plenum cable. In case you will be using PoE applications, get the Cat5e pure copper cable with the plenum jacket.
For indoor use in enclosed spaces with no free air circulation, get the Cat5e riser cable. Again, bare copper conductor for PoE and CCA for small-scale use.
For outdoor use, we recommend buying the Cat5e bare copper cable with the plenum jacket. Bare copper will perform better in external noise and EMI while the plenum jacket will protect the cable from harsh outdoor weather conditions.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and that you are now able to buy the perfectly suitable Cat5e Cable 1000ft.
