Category Cables CAT 5e

Summary: Category Cables CAT 5e

Category Cables CAT 5e

Windy City Wire manufactures commercial-grade, low-voltage Category Cable designed for professional network infrastructure. Our SmartWire brand cat5e wire is engineered for consistent performance in voice, data, controls, security, and building systems where dependable network cables are essential. We partner directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors to deliver products and solutions that align with demanding jobsite requirements and evolving networking technologies. We do not sell to end users or consumers.

Made in the United States, SmartWire CAT 5e is available in shielded and unshielded constructions for plenum, non-plenum, and outdoor environments, providing flexibility across new builds, upgrades, and maintenance work. All options use 24 AWG bare copper conductors and are verified to CAT 5e performance standards to support reliable connectivity and installation efficiency across your projects.

Why choose SmartWire CAT 5e for commercial and industrial projects

• Consistent CAT 5e performance to support common Ethernet applications and IP devices across a wide range of building systems.
• Construction choices for indoor plenum, riser/general purpose, outdoor flooded, and direct-burial needs, with shielded and non-shielded options.
• SmartWire Glide Technology lubrication applied during manufacturing to reduce pulling friction by up to 70%, helping improve pull lengths and minimize rework.
• U.S.-manufactured low-voltage cable with tight quality controls for uniform performance lot to lot.
• Optional jacket and stripe color customization to support standardized identification across your organization’s installations; contact us to configure your order.
• Available lengths: 1000 ft, 500 ft, 250 ft, and 100 ft to match project scale, testing needs, and service work.
• Direct partnership with integrators, contractors, and distributors ensures responsive support and product availability across your rollout schedule.

Available constructions

• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Plenum Low-Voltage: Non-shielded CAT 5e for use in air-handling spaces, verified to ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 with typical performance up to 350 MHz. A dependable choice for in-ceiling and return-air pathways where plenum compliance is required.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Plenum, Shielded Low-Voltage: Overall foil shield (FTP) with plenum rating for EMI-sensitive areas. Often selected near heavy electrical equipment or in RF-dense facilities while maintaining plenum compliance.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Non-Plenum Low-Voltage: Non-shielded CAT 5e for general-purpose indoor runs with performance up to 350 MHz. A cost-effective option for offices, classrooms, and common commercial spaces.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Non-Plenum, Shielded Low-Voltage: Overall foil shield for added noise rejection in general-purpose indoor pathways. Suitable for routes parallel to power or in electrically noisy environments.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Outdoor Flooded Low-Voltage: Non-shielded, water-blocking “flooded” CAT 5e designed for outdoor use, typically specified to 100 MHz. Helps protect pairs from moisture in conduit and exterior runs.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Direct Burial, Shielded Outdoor Low-Voltage: Shielded CAT 5e rated for direct burial applications per UL guidance (e.g., UL 444 types such as CMX). Built for long-term outdoor performance with added protection against moisture and interference.

Applications

• Commercial and industrial Ethernet drops for data, voice, and building automation.
• IP endpoints such as cameras, access control panels, intercoms, and controllers.
• Horizontal cabling in plenum and non-plenum pathways; outdoor transitions where specified.
• Installations requiring shielded network cables for EMI/RFI mitigation.

How SmartWire CAT 5e adds value to your next project

Choosing Windy City Wire means working with a U.S. manufacturer focused on the needs of professional installers. Our SmartWire CAT 5e line pairs consistent electrical performance with construction options that fit your environment—plenum, non-plenum, outdoor flooded, and direct burial—so you can standardize across facilities and job types. With SmartWire Glide lubrication to reduce pulling friction and availability in multiple lengths, you can streamline labor, reduce installation time, and simplify material planning. Combine that with direct support for integrators, contractors, and distributors, and you get a dependable CAT 5e category cable offering that helps keep projects on schedule and on budget.

Solutions: Category Cables CAT 5e

Windy City Wire Category Cables – CAT 5e

Windy City Wire partners directly with professional integrators, electrical contractors, and distributors to deliver dependable CAT 5e Category Cable for commercial and industrial networks. Built with 24 AWG solid bare copper and verified to ANSI/TIA 568-C.2 performance, our cat5e wire supports Gigabit Ethernet and power delivery for a wide range of building systems. Whether you are deploying new network cables, refreshing legacy drops, or extending campus infrastructure, our CAT 5e portfolio gives you consistent, code-appropriate options that install cleanly and perform reliably.

What’s in the CAT 5e family

• Plenum (CMP) – Unshielded: A go-to choice for return-air spaces. Supports Gigabit Ethernet, VoIP, wireless access points, and typical PoE devices. Ideal for office floors, education, healthcare, and hospitality where clean air-handling compliance is required.
• Plenum (CMP) – Shielded (FTP): Adds an overall foil shield to mitigate EMI/RFI. Recommended near mechanical rooms, dense lighting control, elevators, or manufacturing equipment where interference can challenge networking technologies.
• Non‑Plenum – Unshielded: For general purpose spaces and vertical runs where plenum ratings are not required. Common in commercial tenant build-outs, retail, and warehouse environments.
• Non‑Plenum – Shielded: For electrically noisy areas that do not need plenum ratings. Helps maintain link stability for IP cameras, access control, and industrial endpoints placed near motors or VFDs.
• Outdoor Flooded (Water‑Resistant): Gel-filled for moisture defense in outdoor or wet conduit applications. Suitable for building-to-building runs, roof-mounted devices, or exterior cameras and sensors.
• Direct Burial – Shielded Outdoor: Designed for underground pathways without conduit. The shield improves noise immunity over long exterior spans to security stations, perimeter gates, and parking systems.

Lengths

Available in multiple put-up options to match project scope: 100 ft, 250 ft, 500 ft, and 1000 ft.

Core performance highlights

• Signal integrity: 24 AWG, 4-pair bare copper conductors maintain consistent electrical performance across typical 100-meter channels for Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE‑T).
• Standards compliance: Verified to ANSI/TIA 568‑C.2 CAT 5e for dependable performance with modern network cables and devices.
• PoE support: Optimized for common PoE and PoE+ applications when installed within code and device power budgets.
• Shielding options: Choose unshielded for standard office and education environments; select shielded where EMI is present or where longer device uptime is critical.

Systems and applications well-suited for CAT 5e

• Enterprise LAN and Wi‑Fi: Horizontal cabling to desks, VoIP phones, conference spaces, and wireless access points. A dependable Category Cable choice for Gigabit access layers.
• Video Surveillance (IP Cameras): Stable links for fixed and PTZ cameras, including PoE-powered endpoints. Shielded versions help mitigate interference around elevators, generators, or heavy machinery.
• Access Control and Intrusion: Door controllers, readers, REX devices, and security panels over Ethernet or controller networks. CAT 5e simplifies standardized terminations and future upgrades.
• Building Automation (BAS/BMS): Supports IP-enabled controllers, BACnet/IP devices, and gateways across HVAC, lighting control, and energy management systems.
• Unified Communications and Paging: VoIP handsets, SIP intercoms, clocks, and notification systems benefit from consistent copper and clear labeling for quicker service calls.
• Pro AV and Digital Signage: Point-to-point extenders, control processors, and media players over structured network cables for conference rooms, classrooms, and public displays.
• Retail and POS: Registers, kiosks, self-checkout, and back-of-house network drops within storefronts and distribution centers.
• Industrial and Warehouse Networking: IP-enabled PLCs, sensors, and workstations on the plant floor; shielded or outdoor options are recommended for high-noise areas and exterior devices.
• Outdoor and Campus Connectivity: Exterior cameras, gate controls, parking systems, and building-to-building runs with outdoor flooded or direct burial constructions as required by the pathway.

Industry segments we support

• Commercial offices and multi-tenant facilities
• Education (K‑12, higher education, and campus networks)
• Healthcare (clinical, outpatient, and administrative spaces)
• Hospitality and entertainment venues
• Manufacturing, logistics, and distribution centers
• Retail, grocery, and mixed-use developments
• Municipal, public safety, and transportation infrastructure

Selecting the right CAT 5e cable

1. Space type: Use plenum for air-handling spaces; non-plenum for general purpose areas where code allows.
2. EMI exposure: Choose shielded where electrical noise is present (elevators, mechanical rooms, production lines); unshielded for standard office environments.
3. Environment: Use outdoor flooded for wet pathways or exposed runs; direct burial shielded for underground installations without conduit.
4. Run length and power: Verify distance and device power budgets for PoE/PoE+ loads and adhere to installation best practices for bundle sizes and ambient temperatures.
5. Project logistics: Choose put-up lengths that reduce waste and keep your crew moving efficiently.

Installation efficiencies for project teams

• RackPack helps streamline multi-pull jobs and reduces rework by improving organization and handling on site—especially valuable for large camera, access control, or WAP deployments.
• SmartWire labeling and circuit identification can accelerate testing, turnover, and future service for high-density drops across floors and IDF closets.

Why integrators, contractors, and distributors choose Windy City Wire

• Consistent performance from solid bare copper conductors and verified CAT 5e specifications
• Complete selection across plenum, non-plenum, shielded, outdoor flooded, and direct burial constructions
• Multiple length options to align with job size and reduce waste
• Support from a team focused on commercial and industrial requirements—not consumer retail

Get started

Partner with Windy City Wire for reliable cat5e wire that keeps your projects on schedule and within specification. Discuss your environment, code requirements, and device mix with our team to choose the right Category Cable for your application, or coordinate through your preferred distributor. When your network cables are designed for real jobsite conditions, everything downstream works better.

Frequently Asked Questions: Category Cables CAT 5e

• What AWG conductors are available with these SmartWire Category Cables CAT 5e?

  These cat5e wire products use 24 AWG solid bare copper conductors and are available in both shielded and non-shielded constructions.

• What other colors are these SmartWire Category Cables CAT 5e available in?

  Available color options include: White-Blue/Blue; White-Orange/Orange; Blue/White; Orange/White; White-Green/Green; White-Brown/Brown.

• Are these SmartWire Category Cables CAT 5e made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  They are manufactured with solid 24 AWG bare copper conductors for permanent in‑wall runs of network cables.

• What lengths are these SmartWire Category Cables CAT 5e cable sold in?

  At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire Category Cable in 1,000 ft as our standard length. Additional lengths available include 100 ft, 250 ft, and 500 ft. All stock SmartWire cables include SmartWire Glide lubrication to reduce pull friction by up to 70%.

• How is your SmartWire low-voltage Category Cable cables sold on spools or in boxes?

  Our SmartWire Category Cable is boxed in our patented RackPack carton to maximize labor savings and jobsite efficiency. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

• What are the main differences between CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6A, and CAT7 cables?

  - CAT5e: Typically supports up to 1 Gbps and 100–350 MHz depending on the cable; our SmartWire CAT5e is rated up to 350 MHz. Ideal for most everyday networking technologies and small business networks.
  - CAT6: Higher performance than CAT5e (up to 250 MHz); 1 Gbps to 100 m, and 10 Gbps up to about 37–55 m with proper installation.
  - CAT6A: Augmented CAT6 with improved alien crosstalk control; up to 500 MHz and 10 Gbps to 100 m—great for high‑density PoE and backbone runs.
  - CAT7: Typically shielded, up to ~600 MHz and 10 Gbps to 100 m using ISO/IEC‑specified connectors; not part of ANSI/TIA cabling categories in the U.S. but used in certain specialized environments.

• What are some popular Category Cable colors and what do they stand for?

  Color conventions vary by organization, but common uses include:
  - Blue: General data drops/user workstations
  - White: General office/ceiling runs or neutral identification
  - Red: Critical systems, uplinks, or security networks
  - Yellow: PoE devices, VoIP phones, or cameras
  - Green: Management networks or legacy crossover identification
  - Orange: Demarcation, ISP circuits, or special services
  - Purple: DMZ or segmented networks
  - Gray: Standard patching or default data
  - Black: AV systems or security devices
  - Brown: Building automation/BMS
  Always follow your site or customer color standards for Category Cable labeling.

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you