Re: CAT5e cable

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> writes:

I've been just picking up whatever (riser) cable is conveniently available,
in the usual 1000 ft boxes.  No real focus on manufacturer, etc.

What type of outer jacket did you buy?  CL, CM, CMG, CMR, CMP, CMX,
CMX2, CMX3, etc?

Are you dealing with any kind of fire or smoke related requirements?
Some jackets trade slow burning, so that a fire doesn't spread as
quickly, for generating toxic smoke. 

Last I heard, the EU forbid our plenum cable as when the fireproof
Teflon plenum cable is charred, the gas is quite toxic.

"Understanding Cable Jacket Ratings: CL, CM, CMR and CMP"
<https://www.cmple.com/learn/understanding-cable-jacket-ratings-cl-cm-cmr-and-cmp>

But, had to run some drops in EMT recently and noticed a marked difference
it the overall durability of the different cables that were being fed.

Worse, I saw some cable from One well-known discount vendor.
The insulation on the conductors was so thin and poorly applied
that there were ~~cm long bare sections within the jacket. The
problem was, two were bare in an adjacent location. What was
the last time you looked for a short IN the middle of newly
installed cable vs. at the end connectors????

Outdoor cable usually mean UV resistant. It can also be direct burial
cable where the space between the wires and outer jacket are filled
with silicon slime.  It does a good job of keeping the water out of
the cable, but does make a mess. 

Beware using filled cable indoors. That gel may well be flammable.
There's something in the Code re: that.

Lots of interpretations for "outdoor cable".

I live where there is lightning; to me "between buildings" means
fiber, period.

Any tips on what to look for in a *description* to select for the "nicer"?
cable?  (I could probably look at the markings on the jackets to identify
the different brands)

"Ethernet Cable Identification for Beginners: Reading Print Legends"
<https://www.truecable.com/blogs/cable-academy/ethernet-cable-id-for-beginners#>

Incidentally, watch out for CCA Ethernet cable.  CCA means copper clad
aluminum.  CCA is cheaper than 100% copper, but everything else about
it is horrible:

It's good for the doorbell and tying up the dog.

--
A host is a host from coast to coast...............wb8foz@panix.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close..........................
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433