AV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables

Summary: ProAV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables

ProAV Low-Voltage Cabling Built for Commercial Environments

For professional audiovisual systems, the cabling plant is the foundation of performance and reliability. Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire® low-voltage cable in the United States for AV customers who design, install, and maintain commercial AV and control networks. Whether you are pulling a pro av cable for AVoIP, distributing audio to DSPs and amplifiers, or tying together control processors and endpoints, our Category 5e constructions deliver consistent electrical performance and dependable installation results.

What to Expect from SmartWire® in ProAV

• Consistent performance for AV signal transport: Verified to ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 Category 5e with 350 MHz options for stable bandwidth, crosstalk control, and predictable runs across switches, encoders/decoders, extenders, and control interfaces.
• Low-friction pulling: SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication is applied during manufacturing to reduce pulling friction by up to 70%—supporting smoother pulls through conduits and trays, fewer snags, and faster terminations.
• Right construction for the space: Plenum (CMP), non-plenum (CM/CMR), shielded and non-shielded, outdoor flooded, and direct-burial options to align with code requirements and site conditions.
• Color clarity for field work: Standardized pair color coding aids fast terminations and reliable testing in the field.
• Lengths that match the job: Available in 1000, 500, 250, and 100 ft lengths to support projects from large backbone pulls to service work and adds/moves/changes.

Where SmartWire® Fits in Your AV System

• AV over IP networks, encoders/decoders, and switch uplinks
• HDBaseT and extenders within Category 5e specifications
• Control systems (touch panels, processors, I/O, sensors)
• Dante and other audio network endpoints
• POE/POE+ devices used in AV applications (within Category 5e limits)

Our plenum cat5e cables meet demanding commercial requirements in air-handling spaces, while outdoor and direct-burial constructions help protect signal integrity in harsh environments. If you are standardizing on a single av cable family across multiple facility types, SmartWire gives you consistent jacket feel, pair geometry, and electrical characteristics to simplify design and installation.

Shielding and Environments

• Non-shielded (U/UTP): Ideal for typical commercial pathways where EMI is controlled and Category 5e channel compliance is required.
• Shielded: Added protection in spaces with potential interference from lighting controls, motors, or wireless infrastructure—helpful for sensitive video and audio runs.
• Outdoor/flooded and direct burial: Moisture-resistant constructions for exterior conduit, underground pathways, and campus connections.

For integrators searching for dependable av cables with clean handling, clear color codes, and repeatable test results, SmartWire helps streamline the pull, termination, and certification process from rack to endpoint.

Summary: Why Choose Windy City Wire for Your Next ProAV Project

• Purpose-built for low-voltage AV: All SmartWire products are low-voltage cables engineered for commercial and industrial environments.
• Installation efficiency: SmartWire Glide lubrication supports smoother pulls, helping reduce labor time and rework.
• Coverage for every space: From plenum to non-plenum, indoors to direct burial outdoors, you can standardize on one brand across diverse job conditions.
• Code-aligned choices: Constructions align with common commercial code requirements while maintaining Category 5e performance targets.
• AV focused support: Our team helps match the right construction to your environment and application, from conference rooms to large-scale venues.

Whether you’re specifying a single av cable type for an enterprise standard or stocking for varied site conditions, Windy City Wire delivers a consistent, professional solution you can deploy with confidence.

Available Constructions

• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Plenum (CMP) Low-Voltage: Non-shielded Category 5e, 350 MHz for use in environmental air spaces. A dependable choice for control, AVoIP endpoints, and balanced audio within plenum-rated areas.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Plenum (CMP) with Overall Shield Low-Voltage: Shielded Category 5e for EMI-prone or RF-dense plenum spaces. Helps protect video, audio, and control signals where added noise immunity is needed.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Non-Plenum (CM/CMR) Low-Voltage: Non-shielded Category 5e, 350 MHz for general-purpose and riser spaces. A versatile workhorse for standard commercial pathways.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Non-Plenum (CM/CMR) with Overall Shield Low-Voltage: Shielded Category 5e for general-purpose or riser-rated spaces with elevated EMI. Suitable for sensitive video and audio signal paths.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Flooded Outdoor Non-Plenum Low-Voltage: Non-shielded Category 5e, 100 MHz, gel-flooded to resist moisture for exterior conduit or short outdoor transitions. Supports reliable links between buildings and outdoor devices.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Direct Burial Outdoor with Overall Shield Low-Voltage: Shielded construction rated under UL Subject 444 (CMX) for direct burial without conduit. Built for long-term outdoor installations where moisture and interference are concerns.

Standards and Compliance

• Verified ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 Category 5e
• Typical pair color code: White-Blue/Blue, White-Orange/Orange, White-Green/Green, White-Brown/Brown
• Available shielding: Non-shielded and Shielded options
• Available lengths: 1000, 500, 250, and 100 ft

Ready to Specify or Stock

From conference rooms and classrooms to venues and enterprise networks, SmartWire Category 5e pro av cable options are designed to help you deliver clean installs and consistent results. Contact Windy City Wire to identify the right plenum cat5e cables and complementary constructions for your next rollout.

Solutions: ProAV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables

AV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables for Professional Audio-Visual Integration

Windy City Wire supplies Category 5e AV cabling designed for the demands of commercial and industrial audio-visual systems. Built with solid bare copper conductors and verified to ANSI/TIA 568-C.2 performance, these pro av cable options support reliable 10/100/1000 Ethernet, control signals, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) for a wide range of AV devices. With choices in plenum, non-plenum, shielded, and outdoor constructions, our CAT 5e portfolio helps integrators standardize on a proven, flexible infrastructure for everything from conference rooms to large venue deployments.

Where CAT 5e fits in Pro AV systems

• AV over IP and networked video: Transport compressed video streams between encoders, decoders, and network switches. CAT 5e supports Gigabit links commonly used in distributed video systems.
• HDBaseT and extender-based video: Many extenders for 1080p and select 4K workflows operate over CAT 5e at specified distances. Always confirm device requirements for cable category and shielding.
• Networked audio and DSP endpoints: Dante and similar audio-over-Ethernet solutions use standard CAT 5e for low-latency audio, control, and PoE to power ceiling microphones or speakers.
• Control systems and room automation: Connect touch panels, control processors, network bridges, occupancy sensors, and scheduling panels with reliable data and PoE on a single av cable.
• Video conferencing and collaboration: Support cameras, codecs, BYOD gateways, and networked peripherals across meeting spaces and training rooms.
• Digital signage and kiosks: Feed media players, displays, and content controllers; use shielded constructions in high-EMI areas or long parallel runs near power.
• Security and monitoring: Power and backhaul for IP cameras, intercoms, and network sensors integrated with AV systems in lobbies, arenas, and campuses.

Industry applications

• Corporate and enterprise: Boardrooms, divisible conference spaces, huddle rooms, and training centers. Plenum-rated CAT 5e is well-suited for runs through air-handling spaces, while shielded options mitigate interference in dense equipment areas.
• Education (K‑12 and higher ed): Classrooms, lecture halls, e-sports labs, and campus-wide signage. Use plenum cat5e cables in return-air spaces; ruggedized outdoor/direct-burial options interconnect buildings or outdoor displays.
• Healthcare: Conference and simulation rooms, patient education displays, and command centers. Shielded CAT 5e helps reduce EMI near imaging suites and equipment clusters.
• Hospitality and retail: Lobbies, ballrooms, restaurants, and digital signage networks. Non-plenum runs inside conduit; outdoor flooded or direct-burial for entry signage and exterior displays.
• Houses of worship: Video distribution to overflow areas, stage I/O, and intercom. Shielded CAT 5e can help in lighting-dense catwalks and near dimmer racks.
• Stadiums, arenas, and entertainment venues: Distributed video, sponsorship signage, IPTV, and back-of-house control. Mix of plenum and shielded constructions helps manage long runs and noisy electrical environments.
• Transportation and public sector: Wayfinding displays, public address endpoints, control rooms, and surveillance. Outdoor-rated CAT 5e supports platforms, shelters, and roadway signage.
• Industrial and manufacturing: Andon boards, operator HMI panels, and plant-floor cameras. Shielded CAT 5e combats EMI near motors and VFDs; direct-burial or flooded constructions serve yard assets.

Selecting the right CAT 5e construction

• Plenum: For air-handling spaces and code-driven environments. These plenum cat5e cables provide a compliant path for AV over IP, control, and PoE while simplifying pathway approvals with facility teams.
• Non-plenum: For standard open areas, within conduit, or equipment racks where plenum rating is not required. A cost-effective backbone for room-to-room av cables.
• Shielded (F/UTP): Recommended near high-voltage power, lighting dimmers, large motors, or broadcast gear. Added noise immunity improves link stability for longer parallel runs and dense rack rooms.
• Unshielded (UTP): The most common choice for balanced performance, flexibility, and ease of termination in typical office, education, and hospitality builds.
• Outdoor/flooded and direct-burial: Gel-filled or moisture-resistant constructions for exterior conduit, signage, and interbuilding runs. Direct-burial shielded types add both environmental and EMI protection.

Performance and design considerations

• Standards compliance: Verified to ANSI/TIA 568-C.2 for CAT 5e performance, supporting 10/100/1000BASE‑T links used across modern AV networks.
• PoE readiness: Solid bare copper conductors deliver stable power for PoE/PoE+ devices such as cameras, encoders, DSP endpoints, and touch panels.
• Channel length: Design for up to 100 meters per standard Ethernet channel, including patching. Check device-specific limits for extenders and AV transports.
• Termination and installation: Maintain twist integrity to the termination, follow T568A or T568B consistently, respect bend radius, and separate from AC power to reduce crosstalk and noise.
• EMI environment: Choose shielded constructions for electrically noisy spaces and for long parallel runs with power or lighting control conductors.

Typical system topologies enabled by CAT 5e

1. Conference suite: Network switches connect UC codecs, cameras, table microphones, control touch panels, and room schedulers over a unified av cable infrastructure with PoE.
2. Classroom/lecture hall: AV over IP encoders at instructor stations feed displays and projectors across the network; PoE powers ceiling mics and IP speakers.
3. Digital signage network: Media players in IDFs stream to endpoints building-wide; shielded CAT 5e serves noisy electrical rooms, while outdoor-rated links drive exterior kiosks.
4. Worship center: HDBaseT or IP video from FOH to IMAG displays, with Dante endpoints for stage I/O and intercom on the same structured cabling plant.

Length options to match project scope

To support rollouts from single rooms to campus-wide deployments, CAT 5e cables in this category are available in 1000 FT, with additional options in 100, 250, and 500 FT on select items. This helps contractors align pulls and waste factors with project phases and change orders.

Why Windy City Wire for Pro AV CAT 5e

• Consistency: Solid bare copper, category-verified performance for dependable links across AV networks.
• Choice: Plenum, non-plenum, shielded, and outdoor variants support a unified spec across diverse spaces and code requirements.
• Scalability: From small retrofit rooms to large campus or venue builds, the same structured cabling approach scales with your standards and documentation.
• Support: Our team assists with specification reviews, takeoffs, and selection guidance to match cable construction with environment and device requirements.

Whether you are building a new collaboration floor, upgrading a lecture complex, expanding venue signage, or consolidating control systems, Windy City Wire’s CAT 5e portfolio delivers a practical, proven backbone for professional AV. If your design calls for pro av cable that balances performance, code compliance, and installation efficiency, our Category 5e av cables provide the right mix for modern integration workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions: ProAV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables cable? 24 AWG.
• What other colors is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables cable available in? White-Blue/Blue, White-Orange/Orange, Blue/White, Orange/White, White-Green/Green, White-Brown/Brown.
• Is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors? Solid bare copper conductors.
• What length is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 5e Cables cable sold in? At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in 1,000 ft lengths as our standard length. Additional lengths available: 100 ft, 250 ft, and 500 ft.
• How is your SmartWire ProAV cable sold on spools or in boxes? Our SmartWire ProAV Wire is packaged in our patented RackPack carton. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
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