Mercury Cat5e U/UTP Outdoor Cable Black 305m - Oxygen Free Copper

The Mercury Cat5e U/UTP outdoor cable is a 305m reel of unshielded twisted pair data cable built around solid oxygen free copper conductors with an LDPE (low-density polyethylene) outer sheath. The cable carries four twisted pairs of AWG 24 copper wire, each pair colour-coded and individually insulated with HDPE (high-density polyethylene), giving a total of eight conductors arranged to meet the TIA/EIA-568-C.2 Cat5e standard for structured cabling.

Designed for outdoor and external installation where standard PVC-sheathed Cat5e would degrade under UV exposure, the LDPE sheath resists ultraviolet light and moisture ingress without requiring additional conduit in most residential and light commercial applications. The cable supports Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) over runs up to 100m, as well as 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Ethernet. Typical applications include connecting outbuildings to a main network, running CCTV camera feeds, linking wireless access points mounted on external walls, and extending network drops to outdoor workshop or studio spaces.

The 305m length arrives in a pull-dispensing box with the cable marked at 1m intervals along its length, simplifying measurement during installation and reducing waste when cutting to exact lengths. The 5.2mm cable diameter threads through standard 20mm conduit with clearance for multiple cable runs where needed. The solid copper construction (as opposed to stranded) provides lower DC resistance and better long-term signal stability for fixed installations, though the cable is less flexible than stranded equivalents and not suited to frequent flexing or patch lead applications.

Can this cable be buried directly in the ground?

The LDPE sheath provides UV and moisture resistance for above-ground outdoor use, but direct burial applications typically require armoured cable or additional protective conduit. For garden runs or areas where the cable may be disturbed, install inside 25mm or larger ducting.

What's the maximum run length for Gigabit Ethernet?

The cable supports Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) over runs up to 100m when terminated correctly with Cat5e or Cat6 connectors. Beyond 100m, data rates drop or signal integrity degrades depending on the specific application and interference levels.

Is this cable suitable for Power over Ethernet (PoE)?

Yes. The solid copper conductors and 0.196mm² cross-sectional area per conductor support standard PoE (IEEE 802.3af, up to 15.4W) and PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at, up to 25.5W) over typical installation lengths. For higher-power PoE++ applications, check voltage drop calculations against your specific run length.

What does U/UTP mean?

U/UTP stands for Unshielded/Unshielded Twisted Pair. The cable has no overall foil or braid shield around the four pairs, and each individual pair is also unshielded. This construction is standard for most residential and light commercial Ethernet installations where electromagnetic interference is low.