atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Commscope Changes to Systimax CAT3 Cable.

Used to be able to look at a bunch of cables running across a ceiling and say "there is a voice cable and there is a data cable." Now it's anyone's guess.

The old lead sheathed cable with paper insulation (all the conductors were paper white) was not twisted. Since the advent of PIC cable, all pairs are twisted....even though they may be "ever-so lightly" twisted. That is why you see a lot of tiny tie wraps in the wake of a splicer when they splice a large cable. That "light twist" can unravel in a blink of an eye if you don't secure the bundle before pulling out individual pairs. The colors are all solid, so all the tips are white, or red, black, yellow or violet and all the rings are all blue, orange, green, brown and slate. No bands or strips. So, if the cable "blooms" and opens up without securing the bundle, you have a little mess on your hands.

Rcaman

Yeah. They could be audio, video, thermostat, doorbell, security, lighting- CAT 5e and now CAT6 has become the universal low voltage cable that any hack can buy at Home Depot and every sparkie uses to make a mess everywhere.

-Hal

Twice I've had issues with Sparky thinking he was going to run his low voltage cables on my hangers. In their minds, it's all the same cable.

Try running your stuff through his holes and see if he thinks that's OK.

-Hal

Ouch! That sounds painful!

Rcaman

Today I installed a wireless router in my bedroom. To get from the basement up to the room, the cable runs through outside conduit secured to the house. A few years ago, I ran an extra 2-pair Beldin CAT3 in case I wanted to hook up a test extension to my Partner ACS.

I used some of the Systimax cable to go from one of the ports on the FiOS modem to an existing 66 block. From there I connect to the 2-pair going up to the bedroom. From there I terminate onto another 66 block. Lastly I ran another piece of Systimax from the block to the Linksys wireless router sitting on my desk.

Despite the Jerry rigged arrangement, my speed seems quite good:

Ping: 31mS
Download: 23.48 Meg
Upload: 26.20 Meg

My FiOS data service level is 25/25.

An update to this topic. A few weeks ago, I posted a comment on CommScope's Facebook page. The post mentioned how I have been generally pleased with my Systimax purchases (which I have been), except for this CAT3 cable.

Yesterday, CommScope contacted me advising that someone from their Customer Service department would be in touch today.

This morning, Jonathan call me to discuss the situation.

He confirmed much of what has been said here:

. It is common practice for CAT5 cable to be labeled and sold as CAT3.
. CAT3 cable doesn't sell as well as CAT5, CAT6 and CAT6A
. Teflon is used for insulating conductors in higher rated cable products while PVC is used for lower.
. Low pair count CAT3 will...at some point...go away
. High pair count CAT3 will continue to be sold and should look and behave like traditional CAT3 cable.

He did ask why I prefered CAT3 over CAT5 and I mentioned the lack of conductor twisting makes CAT3 ideal for 66 block termination. If you want to terminate CAT5 to a 66 for digital and analog voice applications, you have to untwist and smooth out 8 wires prior to punching down onto a 66 block.

All in all, it was a good conversation. I did not intend to make what happened into a major production/issue. I just want to get word out so that anyone who orders 4 pair CAT3 cable from CommScope is aware that they may find relabeled CAT5 inside the box.

Wouldn't it be nice if an equipment manufacturer made a 66 block with IDC connectors on the side made for Cat 5-6 cable? If you know what the Verizon ONT network voice connectors look like, I think some sort of 4 pair connector with a snap cover per cable could be made to make the termination of a Cat 5 or 6 cable really simple. Then, the IDC snap connectors would be connected to the traditional M1-50 single wire IDC so as to provide full block connectivity.

Rcaman

Jonathan just called me back. He said that Commscope 4 pair CAT3 cable will physically similar to CAT5 cable. There is no old style 4 pair CAT3 cable left in Commscope's inventory. 25 and higher pair count cables will remain unchanged.

Sad about the change, but, I'll learn to adapt. So far, my new style CAT3 cable has been well behaved.