Q: What does S/FTP mean?
A: S/FTP stands for Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair. Each twisted pair is individually wrapped in foil, and an overall tinned copper braid surrounds all four pairs to provide strong protection against electromagnetic interference and crosstalk.
Q: What is the difference between Cat7A and Cat6A cable?
A: Both cable categories can support 10 Gigabit Ethernet, but Cat7A provides additional shielding and supports bandwidth up to 1000 MHz. It is well suited for demanding installations where signal protection and higher frequency performance are important.
Q: What do the CMX Outdoor and CMR ratings mean?
A: CMX Outdoor indicates that the jacket is designed for sunlight and outdoor exposure, while CMR allows the cable to be installed in vertical in wall riser spaces. The dual rating allows one cable to transition between compatible indoor and outdoor environments.
Q: Can this cable be buried directly underground?
A: No. This cable is designed for exposed outdoor and indoor riser installations, but it is not rated for direct burial. Underground installations require a cable specifically marked for direct burial use.
Q: What is the maximum distance this cable can be run?
A: When properly installed and terminated, this cable can support 10 Gigabit Ethernet channel lengths up to 328 feet or 100 meters with compatible networking equipment.
Q: Why are 23 AWG solid bare copper conductors important?
A: Solid bare copper conductors provide lower electrical resistance, dependable signal transmission, and improved Power over Ethernet performance compared with copper clad aluminum conductors.
Q: Does this cable require shielded connectivity?
A: Yes. Shielded compatible connectors, keystone jacks, patch panels, and grounding practices should be used to maintain the shielding system and achieve the best possible performance.
Q: Can this cable be used with PoE devices?
A: Yes. This cable is suitable for PoE, PoE+, and PoE++ applications, including IP cameras, wireless access points, VoIP phones, access control equipment, and other powered network devices.
Q: Why does shielded cable need to be grounded?
A: Proper grounding gives electrical noise collected by the shielding a controlled path to ground. Without proper termination and grounding, the shielding may not provide its intended interference protection.
Q: What applications is this cable commonly used for?
A: This cable is commonly used for data centers, server rooms, industrial networks, commercial buildings, outdoor network links, IP security cameras, wireless access points, high performance workstations, and other structured cabling applications.
Q: Can this cable be installed inside conduit?
A: Yes. This cable may be installed inside conduit when additional mechanical protection is desired or required by local building codes.
Q: Is this cable suitable for professional installations?
A: Yes. This Cat7A indoor and outdoor cable is designed for network installers, electrical contractors, IT professionals, and system integrators completing high performance residential, commercial, and industrial projects.