Network ***** ********
***** ** *** *****, Windy **** ****'* ***** and * ****** ******** the **** ******* *****, while *********'* *** **** copper **** ******** ***** failed ************* ** *** distances ******, **** ******** usability ******.
****: ***** ** ****** feedback ********* *** ** and *** * ***** were *********, ******, *** the ******* **** **** added ** *** ******** report. ********* ********* ** the *** **** ** the ****** ******, ************* Hikvision, *********, *** ******* CCA ******* ** ****** below ***** **** **** and ******. *** ******** made ***** ****** ************* with ****** ********, ******* the *** ****** ******** and ***** ** * premium *****.
** ****** *** *********** differences ******* **** *** worst ** **** *****:
Ranking *******
***** **** **** ******* offered *** **** ***-****** combination ** ************* **** performance, **** *******, *********, and ***********, ** **** as *****-*** ******** *** found ** ******, ***** priced ** *** ***-*****, comparable ** ***** ********** options.
****** ***** ***** ** performance, ******/********* ************, *** ease ** *******, *** does *** ******* *** the ******* ********* **** Windy **** (******** ***** labels, ****** ********, ***.) Close ****** ****** *** Commscope **** ***** ************* results *** ******* **** other ********.
** *** ****** ** the ********, ******* ****** clad ******** ****** ***** sold ** ***-**** ****** retailers ********* ***** ** nearly ***** ****, **** importantly ******* ** **** Cat ** *** * certification ***** ** *** distances *** *********** *****, with ***** *** ************, hard ** ***** *******, and ***** ********* *** seen ** ***** ****** tested.
***** *** *** ******* for *** *** * cable ******:
***** *** *** ******* for *** *** ** cable ******:
Cat **/* ************* *****
** ****** *** ****** using ******** ********** *** at ******** ********* ** order ** ******* ******** various **** ***** ********. We ****** ***** *********:
- **', ******* ** ******** such ** ***** ****** or *********** ******
- ***', ***** ** ***"*******" ****** ** **** cable ****
- ***', *** ******** ******** UTP ***** *** ** run ***** ***** ******* certification ********* ** *********
************, ** ****** ***** multiple *********** *******:
- ****/****
- ****/***** *****
- ******* ****/***** *****
***** *** ****** ** 300' ** ****** ******** the ***** *******, *******, and ***** ********* ** real ***** *****, **** tested ****** ******* **** to ***' *** ******* 50' ******* *** *********.
Copper **** ******** ***** *** *****
*** ****** **** ******** cable *** *** **** any *** ** ** 6 ************* ***** ** any ***** ***** *** combination ** ************ (***** panel, ****, ******* ****). Efforts **** **** ** reterminate *** ****** ** correct ***** ******, *** the ****** ****** *** not ****.
*** ***** ****** ****** certification ******* *****. *******, there *** ******* *********** in *********** ******/********, ********* below.
Headroom **********
***** *** **** ***** manufacturers ****** **/* ************* the ****** ******** ****** results ** ********.
*** *******, ******* ** headroom ** ******** * cables, ********* *** ********* performed ********* ** *** Belden *** ***** **** ~150' *** ~***' *******. Honeywell ****** ************* **** several ** ********, ****** notably ***** **** ******.
** ********, *** ****** clad ******** ***** ***** testing ** * *********** margin, *********** ** ******** headroom.
***** **** ********* ********* well ** ** *****, as ****, ***** *** Belden *****'* ******** ********* somewhat. *******, *********'* ********* headroom ** ******* ******* than ** *** * testing, ***** ********* ********* significantly, ********** **** ********* to ******/***.
*****, *** ****** **** cables ****, **** **** due ** ********* ****/****** Loss ******, *** *********. Because ** ****, ***** headroom ******** ******* ****** than *********'* ** *****, which *** *** ****** from ***** **** ******.
Download ***** **** *******
*** ***** **********, ** have ******** **** ** test ******* **** **** test, ********* ****** *.* ** .*** file. ***** ******* ******** detailed ******** ** *********, attenuation, ****** ****, *** more ********** ******** ** cable *****.
Cable ******* ***********
***** **** ********** *********** in *** **** ** difficult ****** **** ** pull, ******** ** ******* issues, **** ** *** flat ***** ****, ******* it ****** ** **** up, ****, ** *****, how **** ** *** marked, *** ******* ********.
Cable ***** **. ****** ****
***** *** ********, ***** were ********** *********** ** how **** ****** ****** to **** ** *** "bounce ****" ****** *** box **** ******. **** issue ********* *** ******* of ******* *** ***** which *** *** **** increase ******* **** *** damage *** ***** *** reduce ***********.
*** ********, ** *** video *****, *********'* ****** clad ******** ***** *** be **** ** **** back ** **** ****** from *** ***. ** contrast, ***** **** ****'* reel ** * *** cable ******* ****** ******* flat/straight ** *** *****.
**** ** ** **** greater ********** **** ******* multiple ****** ** * time, ** ******** ****** coiling *** **** ****** become *******. ************, *** flatter ****** ****, *** easier **** *** ** dress **** ***** *****, racks, *** ***** ******, reducing ******* ****.
Footage ********
*** ****** ****** **** marked **** ***** ********* in *** ***, ******** down **** ****', ***** below. *******, ***** **** wire ******** ** ********** marking ******* *** **** footage *** **** ****. This ** * ****** minor ********, *** ********** mental **** ***** **** be ********* ** ****** check *** **** * cable ** **** ********* two ********, ***** *** reduce ******** ** *** field.
Outside ******** ***********
** *** *******, ** saw ** *********** ******* cable ******** *** ***********, with ******* ****** ***** the **** ***** ********** as ******* (** *** Cat */** *** *** 5e). ** *** ***** count ************ **** ** many ** ****** *******, cable ******** ** *** likely ** ** * significant *****, ****** ****** density ******* ******* ******** where ******* ****** *** more ******* **** ****** and ***** *****.
** ** ****** *******, it *** ** **** difficult ** ***** ****** diameter ****** ******* ******* conduits ** **** ****** housings, *** ** *** testing ** *** ** issues ***** ****** *** cable ** **** *************, exceed **** ******, ** be ********* ******* ** normal ***.
Internal ********* ***********
******* ** ***** ********, some ****** **** **** separators ***** *** ******** to **** ******** ********** in *** ***** ******** spaced. ** ****** ******, Belden *** ***** **** both **** * ****** flat ********* ***** *** located ******* *** ******/***** pairs *** ****/*****. ********* and ********* **** ** X ****** ********* ***** kept *** **** ***** apart.
**** ***** ********, ** saw ** *********** ******* these ******** *** ***** performance ** *********. **** may ** ****** ******* off **** *********** *** do *** ****** ***** down.
Conductor ***** ****** ******* ** *** ******
** *** *****, *** cables' ******** ********* ****** were **** ** ********, even ** *** ********. Members **** ******* *** (and *** ********** ******) that **** ****** *** use **** ************ ****** with **** *** ***** or ****** *** ***** difficult ** *******, ** solid ******* ********** *****, making **** ********* ** distinguish **** *******.
*******, **** ** *** cables ** **** **** suffered **** **** *****, shown *****:
Jacket *******
* *****'* ****** *** huge ****** ** *** ease ** ************. ****** quality ****** ******, **** those ***** **** ****** strippable *** ******** **** as ******, ***** ****, and *********'* *** ** to *** *** **** CCA ***** ***** *** difficult ** ***** *** easily ********* ****** *****.
Jacket ********* ***********
*******, **** ********* *** cable *** ****** ******* instead ** ****** *******, making ** **** ********* to ******.
Box *******
*** ******* ** *** cable *** ** *** in ***** ************. **** box ****** *** ***** tangles *** *****, **** from *** ****** **** pulling, *** ********* ***** frustration. * **** ******** box ******* ** ***** paying *** ******** *** flat, *** *** ******* additional *******, **** ** pull ******* ****** (****** when ******* ******** ** into * *******/***** ****).
****, *** ****** ***** and * **** ********* boxes, **** *** * cable ***** * **** in ***, *** ** using * ******* ***-**** box. ***** **** **** offers **** ** ***.
** *** ***** *****, we ****** *** ******** which ************* *****:
Windy **** *****-*** ********
***** **** **** ******** several ******** *** ***** on ****, ** ***, competitors.
- **** ******* ******:***** **** ***** ******* three ***** *******, **** top *** ****** ******* in ******** ** *** single ***** ****** ***** on **** *****. **** allows ***** ** ** stacked ** *** ** each ***** *** ****** through ********** ******** ** **** a *******.
- ******** ***** ******:***** **** ************ ****** ***** ******** ***** ***. ** default, ***** ****** *** blank *** ****** *********, but **** *** **** be ***-******* ** *** factory. **** ****** ***** to ****** *** *** tag * ***** ***** pulling ******* ** ******* on *** *****, ***** is ***** ******* ** difficult ** ****.
- ****** *******:**** *** ** ***** City **** *** ** custom ******* **** ********/********* information *** **** *****'* specific *******, ****** ** easy ** ******** ***** project, ********, *** *** specific ****** ** ** for. *** *******, ** green *** * ** used *** ** *******, instead ** *********** ******* to ******** **** ***** code, *** *** *** simply ** ******* "** Cameras" ** ****** *********.
** ****** ***** *** other ******** ** **** video:
** ******** ** ***** features, ***** **** ***** are ******** ***** ***** "RackStak" ******, ********* ******** carts ***** ***** ******** boxes ** ** ******* and *********** *** ****** pull *****, ******* ****** ******* ********** **** ** ********** installations, *** ******** ** WCW's *****. ******* ***** may ********* ** *********** via **** ***** ** cart, *** *** *** secured ** **** ***** and *** **** ** in *** ******** ******. Additionally, ******** *** ************ here, ***** **** **** includes *** ******* ** track ***** *** * unique ** **** ** each ***, ** **** as ****** ***** *** assembly *******, **** ** to **** ****** ** separate ****** ** *** box, ******* ** ***** are ****** ***** *********** cable *******.
Pricing **********
*** ******* ***** ** 1,000' ** *** ** CMR ***** *** **** under $***, **** *********, Honeywell, *** *** *** near **** *****. *******, Belden *** ************* **** expensive, **** $*** *** 1,000', ***** *** ****** clad ***** *** **** inexpensive, **** **** **** the ******* ***** ** others, **** ~$**.
*** ******* ***** ** Cat * *** ***** was ~$*** *** ******** feet. *****, ****** ****** drastically, **** ****** $*** for ****** ** **** $60 *** ******* *** cable.
Test *** *******
******, *********, *********, *** Windy **** **** ****** were *** ** ***/** ETL ******. *******, *** low-cost ****** **** ******** cable *** ** ******* from *** ******. **** may ******* ** **** bid **** **** ** from **** ********* *** users.
Country ** ******
*** * ********* **** split ****** * *********. The ******, ***** **** Wire, ** **** ** the ***, ** *** Commscope; *** ****** **, Belden, **** ** ******; Finally, ********* *** **** in ******* *** ********* and ********* *** *** made ** *****:
[****: *** *** ******** report **** *********, *** was *** ******** ** the ******** ******** ******.]
Comments (80)
John Honovich
John S, Ethan, Rob, great job on this!
A few things:
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Undisclosed #1
Odd that the longer cables showed MORE headroom than the shorter ones, I would have expected the opposite.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
One feature of Belden that should be noted is the field team responsible for specifications written requiring Belden or Belden/Belden equivalent. There is a cost to that and a benefit to dealers.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Why no comparison with specification cable like Belden, Hubble, Commscope etc?
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Jon Dillabaugh
11/05/18 03:22pm
I prefer the old style WCW boxes. The new 1000’ put ups are the double wide boxes, which are considerably heavier and take up much more room in the truck. You can ask your rep to provide the smaller/original style box when you order.
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Fabian Muyawa
IPVMU Certified | 11/05/18 03:32pm
A cable is a medium through which data is Transmitted and indeed a good quality cable is key. However, it might have not been given much attention by average installers and replacing poor quality cable with a good quality is quite painful, costly and time consuming.
This article is informative and a workup call for our industry.
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Armando Perez
Not sure where youre getting that WCW Cat6 price from... (the top most summary image)
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Clint Hays
I've used Windy City for a while and I preferred their wire at a higher cost per box than some cheaper options we had available because my guys weren't fighting the boxes all day.
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Abaas Mahroos
IPVMU Certified | 11/06/18 04:15am
Can you please clarify this part? I didn't understand it but it sounds interesting:
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Abaas Mahroos
IPVMU Certified | 11/06/18 07:13am
Awesome report, especially with all the performance tests. Not everyone has test equipment so I wanted to add some tips and tricks for ensuring you're getting a good quality cable:
For Cat 6 at least, Hikvision cable is actually CMX according the datasheet you linked, unless I've missed something. The Belden and Windy City are CMR.
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Abdelhamid Metwally
Could you do tests with some of the other traditional network cabling brands? A couple of major brands to look at:
1. Commscope.
2. 3M (now part of Corning)
3. Leviton
4. R&M (a Swiss brand that is quite popular in the Middle East).
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Undisclosed #4
Is the cable on the right the uncertifiable clad cable?
Seems like one problem might be the lack of diversity in “twisty-ness” between pairs, amiright?
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David Pilchick
11/07/18 01:11pm
Interesting article
let me point out that you tested
Honeywell’s better Cat 5e
but their low end cat 6
you should have either used both of their low end product or both of their high end product
5078 is their higher end Cat 5e
6360 is their lower end Cat 6
Also
I sell tons of cable
Interesting choice of manufacturer mix
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Undisclosed #5
Pretty cool guys. Now how about adding more typical data cable manufacturers to the mix, like Berk-tek, Superior Essex, etc. And UBNT makes a nifty exterior ruggedized STP cable that I like to use for cameras.
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Undisclosed Distributor #6
4 of the 5 cables you tested are very rarely purchased by the integrator in this industry because they are very expensive. These 4 vendors charge enough to make a very good cable so the results of quality are expected. There are numerous brands you did not test that make up the majority of cable purchased and these cables are many times not only poor quality but are not built to spec at all. For example, many of the lower cost cables claim to be CMR (riser rated) but the jacket is standard CM. They mark it CMR and it is a lie. Do the industry a favor and test the cables that are used mostly. Out the brands that are frauds and in some case dangerous because they are listed as CMR but when a flame is applied to them they burn vertical like a wooden match stick. Know what your industry uses and test those items. Show the best value as a combination of Price and quality by expanding your brands tested.
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Cliff Hennig
Curious to see how Liberty, Commscope, and ICE cable stack up against these.
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Tyler Graham
Interesting report! We use WCW for everything but cat6. We have a cabling division so we just use what's on the shelf. Typically Hitachi but some customers specify Systimax and Comscope. I'm going to look into WCW now. We also just got a box of Paige GameChanger cable to give it a try as well. We have also been using the Siemon Z-Plug, which is awesome. http://www.siemon.com/us/convergeit/z-plug/
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Greg Sachnewycz
I have to wonder why you chose those five particular manufacturers when there are other, better known brands available such as Mohawk, AWC, and Vertical Cable.
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Undisclosed #4
It must be quite a fragmented market out there for cable manufacturers, as evidenced by the last 5 post mentioning “better known” and “more typical” manufacturers, such as (in order of mention)
Berk-tek, Superior Essex, UBNT, Liberty, Commscope, ICE, WCW, Hitachi, Systimax, Paige, Simeon, Mohawk, AWC, Vertical Cable.
Edit: Adding 3M, Leviton, R&M
Still only one name* was mentioned more than once, Commscope.
*Very possibly some of the names mentioned actually refer to the same product.
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David McNeill
Is this a typo, on the paragraph above the Cat 6 Headroom graph.
with Hikvision slightly behind them at both
with Hikvision slightly ahead of them at both
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John Honovich
Due to member's request, we tested and have added Commscope to the report, it rated out average as shown below:
The overall report has been updated to include Commscope in each section.
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Tim Pickles
01/14/19 09:17am
I think it probably just illustrates the regionality of the product, but this side of the pond we would look for CE conformity (UL irrelevant) and the major differentiator apart from avoiding CCA, is always to use LSOH (LSZH/LSF) as best practice.
It's hard to correlate the UL & NFPA across to CE and BS, although a fire test carried out by BRE in the UK suggests that CMP is safer than CMX and LSOH?
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John Nino
Has anyone used Linked Cable? One of my vendors are offering their cables now.
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John Nino
Here is a link to the vendors page but I cannot find the manufacturers website.
Linked Cat6 Riser Cable White
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Undisclosed
Nice review. Now that you've admitted you are capable of using a cable tester (clearly none of you are integrators ;-) could you please test OSDP/RS-485? Perhaps over Wiegand cable and/or proper RS-485 4-conductor. Can you show the audience how you'd confirm the cable is ok for RS-485? Perhaps toss in 120Ohm resistors at one end or the other? People are scared of the 120 Ohm terminator boogieman. Perhaps you could help with that...
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Undisclosed Integrator #8
We've had good luck with the Vertical Cable brand. Would be interesting to see how it stacks up against the competition.
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Undisclosed Integrator #9
To confirm Tim - here in the UK, Excel would be the cable of choice. You also need to use their accessories to get the 25 year warranty.
Thanks
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Jason Brown
Glad you did this test. Thanks. Would love to see one with Outdoor/Wet/Burial rated cable as well.
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Jerome Miller
I cannot think of a single job speck that would allow CCA. Is it UL rated? Even though I have not done any large cable installs for 5 years or so most all of the bid specks spelled out the acceptable brands and specks. Most of the jobs were Cat6. I do not know if it is and issue but I have heard that while cat5e will carry the data loads with no problem the upside of cat6 is the 23 gauge wire may be able to handle higher POE requirements as opposed to 24 gauge typical cat5e. The article talks about cmr but it is prudent to know, either from the specks or your knowledge of the site whether plenum is required.
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