CAT6 Cables Selection Guide
The U/UTP, F/UTP and SF/UTP shield codes on CAT6 cables are ISO/IEC 11801 notation; shield construction and conductor gauge are decisive in selection.
This guide explains what to look at when choosing products in the CAT6 Cables category.
How to read the shield code
The abbreviations U/UTP, F/UTP and SF/UTP in product names are ISO/IEC 11801 notation. The letters before the slash indicate the shield around the whole cable, the letter after it indicates whether the pairs are individually shielded, and TP indicates twisted pair. U means unshielded, F foil and S braided shield.
- U/UTP: has neither an overall shield nor pair shields. Known on the market as UTP.
- F/UTP: has a common foil shield over the four pairs. Known on the market as FTP.
- SF/UTP: the common shield consists of foil and braid. Known on the market as SFTP.
The spellings "UTP" and "U/UTP" seen in the Cable Type filter describe the same unshielded construction. A shield works when it runs continuously along the cable and is connected to ground through the socket or connector at the ends; a shielded cable terminated with unshielded end components does not give the expected protection. Also check whether the data sockets and the patch panel on which you will terminate the line are shielded.
What the conductor gauge tells you
The notation "4x2x23 AWG" indicates four pairs, two cores per pair and a 23 AWG conductor. As the AWG number gets smaller the conductor gets thicker; you can look up the mm² equivalent of the gauge with the AWG – mm² conversion calculation tool.
A thick conductor has lower resistance; this difference stands out on long lines and with devices powered by PoE, such as IP cameras or access points. In fixed installations a reel cable with a solid conductor is used, and between a device and the socket a flexible patch cable with a stranded conductor. The 26 AWG products in the category are ready-made cables with RJ45 plugs.
Sheath material and place of installation
- PVC: general installation inside buildings.
- LSZH or HF (halogen free): buildings where smoke and corrosive gas emission in a fire is to be limited. A halogen free sheath does not mean the cable keeps working during a fire; the distinction is covered in the article Is halogen-free cable fire-resistant?
- PE: outdoor installation. The gel-filled type is made to prevent water from traveling inside the sheath.
- Steel armored type: routes that need mechanical protection.
The European Construction Products Regulation, known as CPR, divides cables permanently installed in structures into seven reaction to fire classes between Aca and Fca according to flame spread and heat release. Cca and B2ca, which appear in some product names, are declarations of these classes; compare them with the class required in the project.
Line length and speed limit
A copper Ethernet channel is 100 meters in total: a 90-meter fixed link and a total of 10 meters of patch cables at the two ends. Reel cable is for the fixed link; CAT6 patch cables for the connections at the ends are a separate category.
The distance given for 10GBASE-T on CAT6 cable is at most 55 meters. If 10 Gbps is wanted over the whole channel, CAT6a cables are considered; if the speed target is limited to 1 Gbps, CAT5e cables, which are specified up to 100 MHz, are considered. For lines over 100 meters and between buildings, fiber optic cables are used.
Brands in this category
- Mekas Kablo: U/UTP, F/UTP and SF/UTP constructions; PVC, halogen free and PE sheaths, 23 and 24 AWG conductors. Ready-made CAT6 cables with RJ45 plugs are also from this brand.
- Reçber Kablo: U/UTP, F/UTP and SF/UTP in the SL400 series; types with LSZH, LSZH-Cca, LSZH-B2ca and PE sheaths, gel-filled and steel armored types, and a hybrid cable with fiber optic cores.
- Birtaş Kablo: U/UTP cables with HF and PE sheaths and SF/UTP cables with an HF sheath; 23 and 24 AWG.
- Erse Kablo: U/UTP and F/UTP in the ERLINE CAT-6 series; types with LSZH, LSZH (Cca) and PE sheaths.
- 2M Kablo: U/UTP with an LSZH sheath and black P-UTP cable.
Order notes
- Reel cables are sold by the meter, and ready-made cables with RJ45 plugs by the piece. The length of ready-made cables is selected from the Cable Length Type filter.
- For made-to-order products, confirmation of the lead time is obtained before ordering.
Comparison and selection table
| Selection Criterion | CAT6 U/UTP (Unshielded) | CAT6 F/UTP (Foiled / Shielded) | CAT6 Outdoor (PE) / LSZH Halogen-Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth & Speed | 250 MHz, 1 Gbps (10GBASE-T up to 37–55 m) | 250 MHz, EMI-shielded 1 Gbps transmission | 250 MHz with environment-specific outer jacket |
| Shielding & Spline | Unshielded 4 twisted pairs + central cross spline | Overall aluminum-foil screen + drain wire | U/UTP or F/UTP + UV/waterproof PE or LSZH sheath |
| Conductor Gauge | 23 AWG (0.57 mm) solid bare copper | 23 AWG solid copper, grounded RJ45/patch panel | 23 AWG solid copper (PoE / PoE+ CCTV ready) |
| Typical Application | Office horizontal LAN drops & patch panels | Data runs routed near power cables & trays | Outdoor IP cameras (PE) or public buildings (LSZH) |
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum length a CAT6 cable can be run?
A copper Ethernet channel is 100 meters in total. This length consists of the 90-meter fixed link between the socket and the patch panel plus a total of 10 meters of patch cables at the two ends. For longer distances, an active device such as a switch is placed in between, or a fiber optic cable is used. For devices powered by PoE, a cable with a thick conductor reduces voltage loss on a long line.
Does CAT6 cable support 10 Gbps?
On short links, yes: the distance given for 10GBASE-T on CAT6 cable is at most 55 meters. Connections inside a cabinet and in an equipment room mostly stay within this limit. If 10 Gbps is targeted up to 100 meters, CAT6a cable, which is specified up to 500 MHz, is used with sockets and a patch panel of the same class; the class of the channel is determined by the lowest-class component.
What is the difference between UTP and FTP CAT6 cable?
The U/UTP cable, called UTP on the market, has no shield; the F/UTP cable, called FTP, has a common foil shield over the four pairs. The shield reduces the effect of external electromagnetic interference on the cable. On lines that share the same route as power cables or pass close to motor drives, a shielded type is considered; for the shield to work, the end components must also be shielded and the shield must be grounded.
What is the difference between 23 AWG and 24 AWG CAT6 cable?
As the AWG number gets smaller the conductor gets thicker; a 23 AWG conductor is thicker than a 24 AWG one. Because a thick conductor has lower resistance, voltage loss is reduced on long lines and on connections powering devices with PoE. As the conductor gets thicker the outer diameter of the cable also grows; the socket and connector to be used must be compatible with this conductor gauge.
Can CAT6 cable be used outdoors?
Types with PE sheaths are made for outdoor use; in this category, gel-filled and steel armored types are listed besides PE-sheathed cables. Types with PVC and halogen free sheaths are for installation inside buildings. For installation methods such as underground or between poles, verify the suitability of the cable from the manufacturer's datasheet; for lines between buildings, fiber optic cable is also considered.
What is the difference between CAT5e and CAT6 cable?
CAT5e is specified up to 100 MHz and CAT6 up to 250 MHz. Both carry 1 Gbps Ethernet over a 100-meter channel; in addition, CAT6 can be used for 10 Gbps over short distances. In newly installed structured cabling, this difference leaves room for a speed upgrade later. When extending an existing line, the class of the socket and patch panel is chosen together with the cable.