Category 1 cable? - 09/14/07 01:07 PM
What is the purpose of the category 1 cable sold by some cable manufacturers? General Cable has such a product sold as "switchboard cable", and ADC Krone has a similar product. See the catalog here:
https://www.adc.com/Library/Literature/102094AE_04.pdf
Is this basically a cheaper alternative to category 3 cable for voice-only applications? I notice that the category 1 cable weighs a little less than category 3 does, which probably makes it cheaper. ADC Krone's category 1 cable says it has a minimum of 2 twists per foot, and they specify it as being suitable for 4 megabit token-ring, which means it probably meets category 2 specifications. (Anyone still make category 2 cable?)
Incidentally, I first saw category 1 cable at my mom's house, which was built in 1995. It was made by Superior Essex and says "Cat 1" right on the jacket. Superior Essex apparently no longer makes such a product. I'm fairly certain the builder found a roll of this in a dumpster somewhere..
Finally, what of the FCC mandate that telephone wiring be done with category 3 cable? I know this isn't being enforced and you can still go to Lowe's and buy a 500' roll of quad cable made by "Bellsouth". I haven't bought any to strip it back and see if it's at least twisted pair but it doesn't appear to be nor does it say it is on the jacket.
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Is this basically a cheaper alternative to category 3 cable for voice-only applications? I notice that the category 1 cable weighs a little less than category 3 does, which probably makes it cheaper. ADC Krone's category 1 cable says it has a minimum of 2 twists per foot, and they specify it as being suitable for 4 megabit token-ring, which means it probably meets category 2 specifications. (Anyone still make category 2 cable?)
Incidentally, I first saw category 1 cable at my mom's house, which was built in 1995. It was made by Superior Essex and says "Cat 1" right on the jacket. Superior Essex apparently no longer makes such a product. I'm fairly certain the builder found a roll of this in a dumpster somewhere..
Finally, what of the FCC mandate that telephone wiring be done with category 3 cable? I know this isn't being enforced and you can still go to Lowe's and buy a 500' roll of quad cable made by "Bellsouth". I haven't bought any to strip it back and see if it's at least twisted pair but it doesn't appear to be nor does it say it is on the jacket.