Outdoor Ethernet cable: what to check before you buy
Check four things: the conductor, how the jacket is built, whether the plugs are already fitted, and the length your route really needs. The Mr. Tronic Cat 6 Outdoor cable has a CCA conductor and a double jacket, and comes with RJ45 plugs fitted in lengths from 10 to 100 m, or on a 50 or 100 m reel without plugs.
1. The conductor
Network cable uses one of two conductors: copper, or CCA (copper-clad aluminium). They are different products at different prices, and you should know which one you are buying. The conductor of our outdoor range is stated in the product title, on the unit label and in the product details.
Cat 6 construction: 4 twisted pairs, 24 AWG, cross separator. Conductor: CCA (copper-clad aluminium). Supports Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps).
2. The jacket
The outdoor range has a double jacket over the four pairs: a grey inner layer and a black outer layer.
3. Plugs fitted, or a reel
Terminated cable arrives with RJ45 plugs fitted at both ends, ready to plug in. The outdoor range comes in 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50 and 100 m, all in black.
Bulk cable comes on a reel of 50 or 100 m, in black, without connectors. You cut it to the length you need and fit your own RJ45 plugs, using the same wiring scheme, T568A or T568B, at both ends. Pull it by hand only and do not bend it tighter than a 50 mm radius. The steps are in the Installation Guide.
4. The length
Measure the route the cable will really take, not the straight line, and add a margin at each end. A cable pulled tight pulls on its connectors. If no fixed length fits the route, a reel gives you the exact length.
After you buy
To check the wiring scheme of a fitted plug, hold it with the clip facing down and the gold contacts facing up. Pin 1 is on the left. If pin 1 is white-orange, the cable is wired T568B; if it is white-green, T568A.
Each length has its own instructions for use, published as a PDF on the Instructions for Use page.