atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Cat5e vs. Cat5e+ Question

I have been told by a few suppliers that all 5e is produced with the intent of meeting a 350 MHz standard but, only the more expensive stuff is tested to make sure it meets that spec. In the end, I doubt any of them actually test it. The 100 is probably as close to 350 as the 350 is, but that's just my cynical guess.

I would say your about right Mark.

Definitely go with the higher-end CAT-5E cable.

The mfgs do sweep test the cable to ensure compliance with the standards. They need to ensure that they are supplying a quality product in order to protect their name/reputation and also to minimize risk seeing as they are often warrantying this product for 25+ years into the future.

So to make sure I understand... Superior Essex is consider low end? What brands are the high end? ADC, Belden, CommScope?

They're certainly at the low end when it comes to price. As far as quality goes I've had a few contractors complain about it. But, that can be said of most cables out there. I'll go so far as saying that Essex is known for price, not performance. That doesn't mean it performs poorly, it just means that their selling point is that they are inexpensive when compared to other manufacturers.

Manufacturers that I would consider high-end would be:

* Belden
* Systimax
* Berk-Tek

Hmmmmmmmm-------RCDD?

Real Cool Data Dude ??????

:shrug:

High priced names not high priced performance.

The best cable produced is junk if not properly handled during installation. When cable is difficult to work with and terminate it becomes degraded very quickly.

So buy what you need and use the proper manpower and technics to install and terminate --- not a big name manufacturer.

My income tax return worth.

I just ran into someone who installed 750,000' of CAT-6 PLENUM cable because it was extremely inexpensive. It wasn't any brand that you probably have heard of. Anyways, they are now looking to purchase another 750,000' because the first 250 or so drops that they tested all FAILED. All of them. Now they have to reinstall all of the cable.

Cable quality does matter as this contractor learned the hard way.

I deal with Superior Essex every day and I never encounter problems with it.

Regarding installation workmanship... I always assume that it is installed properly. You have to make that assumption in any product comparison.

HJB,
Want to make sure all understand I was not trying to get you to dis Superior Essex and perhaps get yourself in trouble. I suppose that is possible. Few of us as individuals get to buy a box of every brand of cable out there for comparison. That would get expensive. So we sorta rely on each other to do the testing for us, thus part of the reason for a forum in the first place. All cable is not the same, just like all of most any product is not the same. Generally, and I think we would all agree, generally, we get what we pay for. I realize we have veered off topic just a bit but I think this needed to be said.

Is it ok to mention brand names and give our opinions about them, so long as it's done in a objective and respectful manner?

There's nothing wrong with giving your professional opinion of a product. Probably should start another post for that topic though.