Mercury Cat5e F/UTP Shielded Network Cable Grey 305m

The Mercury Cat5e F/UTP is a 305m reel of shielded network cable with eight solid oxygen-free copper conductors arranged as four twisted pairs, protected by an overall aluminium foil screen with a drain wire. The cable is housed in a grey PVC outer sheath with metre markings printed along its length, supplied in a dispensing box that allows the cable to be pulled without tangling.

Designed for structured cabling installations in commercial, residential and industrial premises, the cable supports Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) and earlier standards when terminated correctly. The foil screen reduces electromagnetic interference from adjacent cables and electrical equipment, making the cable suitable for runs through commercial environments with high electrical noise. The solid copper conductors maintain consistent impedance across the full 305m length, and the cable passes Cat5e Fluke testing at 100MHz when installed within the 100m channel limit specified by TIA/EIA-568.

Each of the eight conductors is insulated with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at 0.225mm thickness, twisted into four pairs to minimise crosstalk. The aluminium-backed Mylar foil screen wraps around all four pairs before the outer PVC sheath, which measures 5.8mm in diameter. The cable weighs 11.8kg per 305m reel, giving approximately 38.7g per metre. The DC resistance is rated below 9.5 ohms per 100m at 20°C, and the impedance holds at 100±15 ohms across the 1-100MHz frequency range.

The grey PVC sheath provides a neutral finish for visible cable runs in office fit-outs, server rooms and commercial installations where cabling cannot be fully concealed. The dispensing box design means the reel can sit on a floor or shelf during installation without requiring a separate spindle, and the 1m interval markings allow accurate measurement during planning and termination without additional measuring tools.

What is F/UTP and why does it matter?

F/UTP means foiled/unshielded twisted pair. The cable has an overall aluminium foil screen around all four pairs (the F), but the individual pairs themselves are not shielded (UTP). This construction reduces electromagnetic interference from external sources while keeping the cable diameter and cost lower than fully shielded S/FTP cable. It is suitable for most commercial and residential installations where electrical noise is moderate.

What network speeds does Cat5e support?

Cat5e supports Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) and Gigabit Ethernet (1000Mbps) up to 100m channel length when correctly terminated. It does not support 10 Gigabit Ethernet over the full 100m distance, though short runs under 45m may function at 10Gbit depending on environmental factors.

Can this cable be used outdoors?

The PVC sheath is not UV-stabilised or rated for direct outdoor exposure. If outdoor use is required, run the cable inside conduit or trunking that protects it from sunlight and moisture ingress. For permanent outdoor installations, consider outdoor-rated cable with a UV-stabilised polyethylene sheath.

How should the foil screen be terminated?

The drain wire inside the foil screen should be connected to earth at one end of the cable run (typically at the patch panel or switch end) to provide effective screening. Connecting both ends can create earth loops and introduce noise. Use shielded RJ45 connectors or keystone modules that make contact with the foil screen when terminating the cable.