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Lindy Network Cables
Cat.5e to Cat.8.1
Which category your
network actually needs
The category printed on the jacket decides how much of the data rate actually arrives — and whether the cabling will still keep up with the next generation of switches. Between Cat.5e and Cat.8.1 there is a factor of 40 in bandwidth, clear differences in shielding and reach, and a jacket material that tenders regularly prescribe. This page sorts the classes out — and shows which Lindy cable suits which job.
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Available in many colours!
For a patch panel that explains itself.
The cable sets the ceiling
Switch and network card state what would be possible — the link in between decides how much of it arrives. One category too low, one shielding level too few, or a conductor material that does not match the run length, and 10 Gigabit turns into packet loss, renegotiation down to 1 Gbit/s and a fault pattern that is hard to pin down.
Cabling also stays in the building far longer than the active equipment. Whoever installs today sets the limit for the next two generations of switches. That makes a short look at category, shielding and jacket material worthwhile before ordering. Once the cable sits in a wall, ceiling or cable tray, replacing it is rarely possible without construction work.
- Five categories from Cat.5e to Cat.8.1 — from the desk to the 40-Gigabit link in the rack
- Patch cables with flexible stranded conductors, bulk cable with solid copper conductors
- Shielding variants U/UTP, U/FTP and S/FTP for every interference environment
- Solid copper versions for long runs and PoE — S/FTP articles individually Fluke tested
- Many articles with a halogen-free LSZH jacket for public buildings and tenders
- Up to seven colours for port identification at the patch panel, lengths from 0.3m to 100m
Where network cabling goes wrong in practice
Three mistakes regularly cost more than the cables themselves — because they only show up in operation, or during the review of a tender.
The bandwidth does not arrive
The switch can do 10 Gigabit, the link is Cat.6 and 70m long — and the interface negotiates down to 1 Gbit/s. Cat.6 manages 10GBASE-T only over short distances; beyond 55m, Cat.6A is the prerequisite. Which category your run will carry is shown in the comparison table.
Conductor material does not match the run
Conductor cross-section and material determine how much power arrives over long distances and under Power over Ethernet. Where both are demanded, solid copper belongs in the bill of quantities — for short patch links in the rack, other criteria apply. We will work that out for your run.
The tender requires halogen-free
Public clients, data centre operators and hospitals regularly specify halogen-free cabling. Without a matching article, the item fails the review. A large part of the Lindy range is available in an LSZH version.
The Cat classes compared
All categories are backwards compatible and use the same RJ45 connector. What differs is bandwidth, frequency and the distance over which the data rate is guaranteed.
| Category | Data rate | Frequency | Reach | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat.5e | 1 Gbit/s | 100MHz | 100m | Existing networks, basic workstations, telephony and IP cameras |
| Cat.6 | 1 Gbit/s 10 Gbit/s up to 55m |
250MHz | 100m | Standard at the desk, access points, short uplinks |
| Cat.6A | 10 Gbit/s | 500MHz | 100m | Structured cabling, data centre, PoE++, HDBaseT and AV over IP |
| Cat.7 | 10 Gbit/s | 600MHz | 100m | Electrically noisy environments, industry, proximity to power lines |
| Cat.8.1 | 40 Gbit/s | 2000MHz | 30m | Switch-to-server in the rack, short high-load links |
Figures according to category specification; achievable values depend on installation, connectors and patch panels. At Lindy, Cat.7 cable is terminated with Cat.6A-compliant RJ45 connectors. Our sales team reviews the technical design on request.
Shielding: U/UTP, U/FTP or S/FTP?
The designation describes two aspects of the shielding: the overall screen of the cable and the screening of the four twisted pairs. The higher the electromagnetic load at the installation site, the more shielding makes sense.
U/UTP — unshielded
No overall screen, no pair screening. Thin, flexible and economical — suitable for low-interference environments such as office workstations and short patch links in the server cabinet.
U/FTP — foil-screened pairs
Each twisted pair sits in its own foil. This cuts crosstalk between the pairs considerably while keeping the cable slim — the popular choice for densely populated patch panels.
S/FTP — braid plus foil
Overall braid screen and foil-screened pairs (PiMF). The best shielding in the range and the recommendation for professional installations, industrial environments and trays running parallel to the power supply.
Patch cable or bulk cable?
Patch cables have flexible stranded conductors and strain relief at the connector — they link end device, outlet and patch panel. Bulk cable with solid conductors is permanently installed and punched down, not plugged in.
Which network cable is right for your project?
Five questions, one clear recommendation – and your answers go straight into your quote request.
The network cable range at a glance
Sorted by category — from the short patch link in the rack to the 100m run through the building.
Installed base
Cat.5e
- 1 Gigabit over the full 100m
- U/UTP and F/UTP, grey and black
- Also as a pack of 50 for larger rollouts
- The right choice when extending existing links
24 items · View products »
Desktop standard
Cat.6
- The largest group in the range
- U/UTP, F/UTP and S/FTP in seven colours
- Lengths from 0.3m to 100m
- S/FTP versions with LSZH jacket, Fluke tested
382 items · View products »
10 Gigabit
Cat.6A
- 10GBASE-T over the full 100m, 500MHz
- S/FTP, U/FTP Solid Core and Ultra Slim
- Headroom for PoE++, access points and AV over IP
- Colour coding for VLANs, floors and security zones
197 items · View products »
Interference immunity
Cat.7
- 600MHz, fully S/FTP screened
- Cat.7 cable with Cat.6A-compliant RJ45 connectors
- 0.3m to 30m, in up to eight colours
- Also as a pack of ten for fitting out racks
89 items · View products »
40 Gigabit
Cat.8.1
- 40GBASE-T at 2000MHz over short distances
- S/FTP in grey, 0.3m to 5m
- Designed for the switch-to-server link in the rack
- Halogen-free LSZH jacket
7 items · View products »
Project quantities
Packs &
adapters
- Cat.6A U/UTP in packs of ten for fitting out racks
- Keystone modules, couplers and field termination
- Extending and repairing existing links
- Custom lengths and volume pricing on request
Where each category belongs
Six environments in which the choice of category makes a measurable difference.
Data centres
Cat.6A as the standard for structured cabling, Cat.8.1 for the short switch-to-server link in the rack. Ultra Slim versions relieve densely populated patch panels and the airflow behind them.
Office & workplace
Cat.6 covers the classic workstation. Where access points, video conferencing and docking share the same port, Cat.6A pays off straight away — not least because of the PoE headroom.
Public authorities & government
Here it is often not the category that decides but the jacket: halogen-free LSZH versions are the rule in tenders. Lindy carries a large part of the range accordingly.
Education
Many ports, high mechanical stress, tight budgets. Colour-coded Cat.6 and Cat.6A patch cables make assignment at the patch panel easier and keep the documentation current.
Industry
Frequency converters, motors and power lines running in parallel speak for fully screened S/FTP cables in Cat.6A or Cat.7 — the best protection against interference.
Media technology & AV
HDBaseT and AV over IP build on the Cat cabling. Screened Cat.6A is the safe basis for extender links, Dante audio and SDVoE installations.
Not sure which category
your project needs?
Send us the requirement from your bill of quantities or the key figures of the run — you will receive a specific article recommendation including availability, usually within one working day.
Get free advice Find products
Your direct line to our team
Technical questions, partner inquiries, requests for quotes, and more - we're here for you on weekdays until 6 p.m.
T: +34 930 46 50 92 / E: eusales@lindy.com
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between Cat.6 and Cat.6A?
Both use the same RJ45 connector, but they differ in frequency and guaranteed distance. Cat.6 works at 250MHz and reaches 10 Gigabit only over short distances of around 55m. Cat.6A is specified at 500MHz and delivers 10GBASE-T over the full 100m. For new installations, Cat.6A is therefore the safer choice.
Is Cat.7 better than Cat.6A?
Not automatically. Cat.7 is specified at 600MHz and fully screened, but in practice it uses RJ45 connectors to Cat.6A — which keeps the transmission class of the complete link at Cat.6A. The advantage of Cat.7 lies in interference immunity, not in a higher data rate.
Do I already need Cat.8.1?
Only where 40 Gigabit is required over a short distance — typically between switch and server in the same rack. Cat.8.1 is specified up to 30m and does not replace building cabling. For floor and workstation links, Cat.6A remains the right standard.
What does „Fluke tested“ mean on your cables?
The articles concerned are not sample tested but measured individually on a Fluke tester and only then released. Among other things, attenuation, crosstalk and delay skew are checked against the limits of the respective category.
Solid copper or CCA — which do I need?
That depends on run length and power supply. Copper-clad aluminium (CCA) has a higher conductor resistance than solid copper; over short patch links without significant PoE load this hardly matters, over long runs or at high feed-in power it does. Some tenders and standards explicitly require solid copper. We carry both versions and will tell you which one suits your requirement.
Are the cables available halogen-free?
Yes. A large part of the range is available in an LSZH version (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) — in Cat.6, Cat.6A, Cat.7 and Cat.8.1. Electrically these cables behave exactly like the PVC version; the difference lies entirely in the jacket material and only shows in a fire.
Is colour coding available, and are there larger packs?
Depending on the category, the patch cables are available in up to eight colours — blue, red, black, grey, yellow, green and white. This allows VLANs, floors or security zones to be distinguished directly at the patch panel. Packs of ten are available for fitting out racks, and packs of 50 for Cat.5e.
Are custom lengths and project quantities possible?
Yes. The common lengths and colours are available ex stock. Custom lengths and special makes are possible on request; for larger quantities we prepare a project quotation and reserve the goods for your call-off period.
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