Unraveling The Features Of Cat5E Riser Bulk Cable: A Networking Solution

With the evolution of the internet in the 1970s Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf through several researches. The research was named ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network). After the internet was discovered there was a need to transfer signals from one place to another. This need evolved the discovery of twisted pairs which we call “Ethernet”. 

At first, ethernet cable was used for Token Ring and Communication purposes but later with the development of gigabit speed of internet Category 5 cable was revamped with Cat5E showing gigabit speed. In Cat5E, the “E” defines Enhanced Category 5 cable. 

So what is Cat5e Riser Bulk Cable? What is the speed? Is it a suitable option to buy for residential or commercial networking? To know more in detail read thoroughly. 

What Is Cat5e Riser Bulk Cable?

The cat5e cable is the first ethernet cable with improved speed that goes up to 1000 Mbps at shorter lengths. The same twisted pair design but with improved characteristics and features become an apple of the eye for everyone. The copper cable cat5e caters to and exceeds the facilities and therefore was adopted by most users.

The internal structure of the cable has 8 straight copper wires which further emerge from one another to form a twisted pair cable design to streamline the electric current (Data Packets). This twisted pair is strong enough to stabilize electrical interference to avoid crosstalk and attenuation. Moreover, the cable has a fiber-like thread to peel the cable’s jacket to avoid damaging the conductors — ripcord. Furthermore, from here the remaining information will help you decide on the ethernet cable for your network and if it is ideal for your networking or not. 

Speed Of Cat5E Riser Bulk Cable

Yeah, the speed is the priority of every ethernet buyer to preserve continual fast speed for networking. There are two main reasons why you need a fast internet connection. Whether to conduct business works or to commence residential internet needs. Well, cat5e riser cable is a good option for both long and short-run installations. Where it deviates it speeds from high to low. At longer distances, the speed of the bulk cat5e riser cable is 100 Mbps over 100 meters (328ft). Whereas, at shorter distances like 50 meters (164ft) the speed of the cable is 1 Gbps or 1000 Mbps respectively. 

There are some suggested length requirements for installing ethernet cable within buildings or offices or at home. The ideal installation length is not more than 100 meters (328ft). The reason behind this is at longer runs the cable becomes more susceptible to crosstalk or distorted signal quality. So, it is recommended to install cables not more than 100 meters. 

So, this is about the speed of the Cat5e riser cable. Now let’s know about the STP and UTP cables and variants of Cat5e cable and which conductor is used in the Cat5e riser bulk cable.

Shielded Vs Unshielded Cables

Ethernet cables are mostly used for connecting to networking devices and there are some suitable applications for residential, commercial, and industrial. You might be thinking about a question about when to use STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) or UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair). 

To know briefly, in shielded twisted pair (STP) cables, there is an additional insulation layer (Mylar Tape) that encases the entire cable or sometimes twisted pairs to prevent the cable from EMI or RFI. The shielded cables are often used where there is already a complex wiring structure – Power cables. 

The internal design of the cable may restrict interference, but when the environment is enriched with another power cable, shielded cables are the most premium source to avoid data degradation. Moreover, there are two types of shields present in the ethernet cables – Foil and Braid. The acronyms for shielded cables are S/FTP, U/FTP, S/UTP, and F/UTP respectively. 

Where F = Foil and S = Braid. There is a minor drawback for shielded cables as they become more bulky and weighted and it is difficult to install cables in sharp bends as the bending radius reduces due to the shield present in the cable.

The benefits associated with shielded cables are as follows

• Performance
• High Data Transfer Speeds
• Less Interference – EMI/RFI
• Reliability – connectivity
• It can be used for longer runs
• Uncompromised bandwidth and conductivity
• Compliance with Industry-Standards
• Enhanced Security

Unshielded — UTP cables on the other hand are another type of ethernet cable lacking an additional insulation layer within the cable or over twisted pairs. These cables are mostly less weighted and can be installed easily at designated spaces of the building. 

UTP cables can be bent easily and also allow installation in complex structures — there is also a strain restriction that is limited to 110 N or 25 lbs. The conductor inside the cable can become fragile or break if maximum strain is applied during installation, which may lead to slow speed or no internet connection.

Just like STP cables, there are also drawbacks with UTP cables which are as follows.

• Speed issues
• Not suitable for longer transmissions
• Crosstalk and interference
• Only for stationary spaces in the building
• Security concerns

Benefits of Using UTP Cable

• Cost-effective
• Easy installation
• Simple Termination process
• Common Standard
• Versatility
• Ease of availability
• Sufficient for many applications
• Suitable for residential and small office environments

These are the major pros and cons of STP and UTP cables and they will give you a clear idea of which cable is more accurate for your installation. If you are unaware of the environment then you should always choose STP cables for safety.

Cat5e Ethernet Cable Jackets Ratings

In the ethernet category, each cable outer jacket is different and used to cater to different installation needs. Just like horizontal and vertical runs. Physically, all networking cables look the same and the major difference is to identify the ethernet jacket and the purpose. 

There are three types of jackets – Plenum, Riser, and Direct Burial often donated as CMP, CMR, and CMX. The installation location of the cable is decided with jacket standards. When installing ethernet cables you might need to install them vertically or horizontally throughout the building or sometimes there is a need to install cables outdoors (Connecting different buildings). 

1000ft Cat5e riser cable is a fire-resistant material jacket made up of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). The jacket is only for indoor use and the locations to install the riser cable are Riser-Shafts, Inside walls, and elevator shafts. This jacket emits less toxic smoke if exposed to fire. At vertical spaces, the cable shows maximum lifetime. It is denoted as CMR (Communication Multipurpose Riser). 

For the Plenum jacket, the material used to manufacture this jacket is FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Polymers). A highly flame-resistant material that restricts the fire progression. This is also an indoor jacket and helps in maintaining and protecting the internal conductor of the cable from damage. The jacket is UV-resistant and bears a maximum temperature range but cannot be installed outside the building as it is not waterproof or moisture-resistant. There is another benefit of the plenum jacket: its LSZH material limits the toxic smoke and emits non-toxic smoke if, by chance, it catches fire. 

You can install this plenum jacket in horizontal spaces of the building — air ducts, ventilation, HVAC system, above the raised floor, attics, and drop ceilings of the building. These spaces are enriched with maximum air and oxygen so the chances of fire incidents are quite high.

For outdoor installation, there is a specific jacket direct burial which lacks fire-resistive properties but can be used to install cable underground without any conduit. The cable has PE tape inside the cable to resist water entry. It provides maximum protection when installed underground. The maximum depth of CMX cable is 24 Inches.

Copper Or CCA: Which Is Better?

There are two types of copper conductors — solid and stranded, besides, there is another type of conductor CCA – Copper-Clad Aluminum. The data transmission of signals is through electric current. So, copper is the best conductor to use. It has low electrical resistance and anti-corrosion properties and can be used for longer runs. 

The copper conductor shows the best transmission rates providing gigabit speed without any distortion or lag. It also has less insertion loss which makes copper cable a viable option for your installation. 

Contrary to copper cables, CCA conductor is the copper conductor cladded over aluminum in 30:70 — 30% copper and 70% aluminum. The conductor has high electrical resistance and can be eroded if contact with water or moisture. The CCA conductor is a good choice when there is a need for short installation. 

Cat5e Riser Cable Applications

Ethernet cables like cat5e CMR can only be used for vertical spaces of the building. Therefore, it is essential to know what applications can cat5e riser cable can be installed. The cable can be deployed in residential and commercial setups. However, for industry applications, there is a high demand for the plenum or shielded cables due to the high interference present in the field. 

Also, the speed is a matter of concern in industrial applications as there is a lot of data traveled from one place to another cat5e CMR cable can provide 100 Mbps over longer runs when there is a need to transfer huge files the cat5e might lack the required speed. So it cannot be used for longer runs in industrial setups but for shorter distances, you can use Cat5e riser cable but be careful to choose between UTP and STP cables because if the speed of the cable is authentic the outer noise may fluctuate the signal quality that may cause you extra investment of ethernet cable.

Final Thought

Cat5e riser cable is the best ethernet cable for your daily needs of networking. The cost-effective cable can deal with the best major fast ethernet applications. While choosing the cable make sure to know the following factors – speed, location, environment, predictions of speed in future, the nature of your business or usage, quality, and the required length for installation. I hope this blog will help you decide the best cable quality for your needs. Best wishes for your purchase.