Surface Mount Boxes

Summary: Surface Mount Boxes

Surface Mount Boxes for Category Cable

Windy City Wire supplies surface mount boxes designed for clean, secure terminations of low-voltage Category Cable where in‑wall outlets are not feasible. Built for commercial and industrial environments, these boxes provide a reliable endpoint for horizontal runs, support flexible network planning, and help maintain tidy, serviceable installations in offices, classrooms, manufacturing spaces, and retrofits.

• Jobsite ready: Create termination points quickly on walls, desks, workstations, or equipment surfaces without disrupting finished walls or specialized surfaces.
• Supports network optimization: Properly housed terminations enhance serviceability and contribute to network resilience by protecting connections from dust, strain, and accidental disconnection.
• Integrator focused: We partner directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors; Windy City Wire does not sell to end users. Our products are built to streamline installation and ongoing maintenance across diverse networking technologies.

How Surface Mount Boxes Fit Your Next Low-Voltage Project

Surface mount boxes are a practical solution when adding new drops, expanding coverage, or relocating endpoints. They help standardize work across multiple sites, simplify labeling and testing, and keep cable slack managed and protected. When paired with SmartWire Category Cable, crews benefit from consistent materials throughout the pathway and dependable terminations at the workstation—key components of effective network planning and long-term network resilience.

• SmartWire cable compatibility: SmartWire is the brand name of the low-voltage cable Windy City Wire manufactures in the United States. It is engineered for efficient pulls and consistent results on enterprise jobs.
• Pull performance: SmartWire Glide lubrication is applied during manufacturing and can reduce friction during cable pulling by up to 70%, supporting faster, cleaner runs to each surface mount location.

Available Constructions

• 1‑Port Surface Mount Box (Light Ivory): Single-port housing for one data or device connection; ideal for single workstation drops or specialized device terminations. Sold by the package; price is per package; order quantity of 1 equals one package of 10 units.
• 2‑Port Surface Mount Box: Two-port housing for dual data runs or combined data/voice terminations; useful for workstations and equipment clusters requiring multiple connections.

Where These Boxes Add Value

• Moves, adds, and changes: Speed up MAC work without opening walls or pulling new conduit.
• Retrofits and expansions: Extend Category Cable to desks, kiosks, security devices, and industrial equipment in finished spaces.
• Standardized rollouts: Maintain consistent installation practices across multi-site deployments for better network optimization and simpler troubleshooting.

Why Partner with Windy City Wire

• Built for low-voltage professionals: Products and solutions aligned with the needs of integrators, contractors, and distributors.
• Category Cable ecosystem: From the pull to the termination point, our offerings support clean installs and scalable performance across modern networking technologies.
• Project confidence: Consistent materials and practical accessories reduce rework and help keep timelines on track.

Summary

Windy City Wire’s surface mount boxes give commercial and industrial teams a straightforward way to finish Category Cable runs where flush mounting is not an option. Combined with SmartWire low-voltage cable and proven installation practices, they help deliver organized endpoints, predictable performance, and a foundation for future growth—supporting network planning, network optimization, and long-term network resilience on every project.

Solutions: Surface Mount Boxes

Surface Mount Boxes for Professional Category Cable Deployments

Windy City Wire surface mount boxes provide a clean, reliable termination point for Category Cable where in-wall boxes are impractical or where rapid deployment is required. Designed for professional integrators, contractors, and distributors, these compact enclosures support structured cabling best practices in renovations, open offices, modular furniture, and industrial spaces. Available in 1-port and 2-port configurations with a light ivory finish, they help deliver consistent endpoint terminations that support network optimization and simplify moves, adds, and changes.

Where Surface Mount Boxes Make Sense

• Retrofits and tenant improvements where cutting drywall or fishing conduit is difficult
• Modular furniture, labs, and manufacturing lines needing flexible Category Cable access
• Historic or specialty environments where preserving walls and finishes is a priority
• Temporary, event, and rapid-deployment networks that must be installed and removed quickly
• Areas with masonry, glass, or metal surfaces that cannot accommodate recessed boxes

Common Systems and Use Cases

• Data and voice: Workstation drops, VoIP phones, and printers
• Wireless: Convenient terminations for access points, bridges, and client devices
• Security: IP cameras, intercoms, access control readers, and intrusion endpoints
• Audio-Visual: Classroom displays, collaboration spaces, digital signage, and media extenders
• IoT and building systems: PoE sensors, environmental monitoring, and building automation devices
• Retail and hospitality: POS terminals, kiosks, guest services stations, and back-of-house areas

Industry Applications

• Commercial offices and coworking spaces requiring flexible workstation layouts
• Education campuses standardizing drops for classrooms, labs, and commons
• Healthcare facilities where non-invasive installs support hygiene and uptime
• Industrial and warehousing locations with exposed cable pathways and equipment moves
• Government and public safety sites seeking reliable, serviceable terminations
• Retail and quick-serve environments with frequent reconfigurations

How Surface Mount Boxes Support Network Planning and Performance

• Endpoint clarity: A defined termination point enhances documentation, labeling, and serviceability during network planning.
• MAC efficiency: Streamlines moves, adds, and changes without wall repairs or conduit work.
• Route flexibility: Facilitates clean transitions from surface raceway or modular furniture to Category Cable endpoints.
• Risk mitigation: Reduces strain on connectors and improves durability at device locations, aiding network resilience.
• Consistency: Standardized terminations support a broad range of networking technologies and PoE devices.

Selection Considerations

• Port count: Choose 1-port for single services or 2-port for combined data/voice, data/AV, or redundant paths.
• Location and mounting surface: Identify surfaces and pathways early to improve network optimization and aesthetics.
• Device requirements: Confirm jack type and device orientation to ensure proper bend radius and clearance.
• Service strategy: Plan for future growth, spare ports, and separation of critical services to enhance network resilience.

Why Partner with Windy City Wire

• Built for professionals: Solutions aligned to integrator, contractor, and distributor workflows.
• Systems approach: Surface mount boxes that complement Category Cable runs across voice, data, AV, security, and IoT.
• Project support: Assistance with scope definition, bill-of-materials development, and network planning best practices.

Product Snapshot

• Configurations: 1-Port Surface Mount Box; 2-Port Surface Mount Box
• Color: Light Ivory to blend with common interior finishes
• Intended use: Professional low-voltage Category Cable terminations across commercial and industrial environments

Whether you are building out new drops, expanding wireless coverage, or deploying security and AV endpoints, Windy City Wire surface mount boxes help deliver reliable, serviceable terminations that align with today’s networking technologies. Incorporate them into your next project to streamline installation, support network optimization, and improve long-term maintainability.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

  SmartWire® Category Cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton for fast, efficient pulls that support clean installs and network optimization. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

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

  CAT5e: Up to 1 Gbps to 100 m (100 MHz). Common for basic data networks; may support 2.5G/5G at shorter distances depending on conditions.
  CAT6: 1 Gbps to 100 m (250 MHz) and 10 Gbps up to ~55 m in favorable environments. Better crosstalk performance than CAT5e.
  CAT6A: 10 Gbps to 100 m (500 MHz). Improved alien crosstalk control and thermals, ideal for high-density PoE and long-term network resilience.
  CAT7: Typically 10 Gbps to 100 m (600+ MHz) with individually shielded pairs and an overall shield; specified by ISO/IEC (not TIA) and often used where EMI is a concern or for specialized networking technologies. Choose based on current needs and future-proofing goals.

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

  Blue: General data/lan drops
  Gray: Workstation/data patching
  White: Ceilings/clean areas or general use for easy labeling
  Yellow: PoE devices, cameras, or DMZ segments
  Red: Critical systems, uplinks, or security/restricted networks
  Green: Management networks or legacy crossover identification
  Orange: Demarc/ISP handoff or interconnects
  Purple: VoIP or surveillance (varies by site)
  Black: AV/CCTV or outdoor-rated pathways
  
  Color conventions vary by organization—standardize your scheme for clear network planning and faster troubleshooting across sites.

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