Mercury Cat6 U/UTP Network Cable Grey 100m - Solid OFC

The Mercury Cat6 U/UTP cable is a 100m grey network cable built around eight solid oxygen-free copper conductors arranged in four twisted pairs, each insulated with HDPE and enclosed in a PVC outer sheath. The cable meets TIA/EIA-568 Cat6 standard and passes fluke testing at 250MHz across the full 100m length, supporting Gigabit Ethernet data transmission and HDBaseT AV-over-IP applications.

Designed for permanent installation in commercial, residential and light industrial network infrastructure, the cable is supplied in a dispensing box with 1m interval markings along the sheath, allowing accurate measurement during cable runs without pre-cutting. The solid copper construction (rather than stranded) makes the cable suitable for termination into punch-down blocks, keystone jacks and patch panels, though it is less flexible than stranded alternatives and not recommended for frequent flexing or patch lead use.

The U/UTP designation indicates an unshielded twisted pair configuration with no overall foil or braid screen, making the cable lighter and easier to terminate than shielded variants but more susceptible to electromagnetic interference in electrically noisy environments. The 5.8mm diameter and grey PVC sheath allow the cable to be run through standard containment, trunking and conduit without special preparation. At 4.3kg per 100m the cable can be handled by a single installer during typical ceiling and floor runs.

Each twisted pair maintains a nominal 100-ohm impedance across the 100-250MHz frequency range, with DC resistance held below 9.5 ohms per 100m. The HDPE insulation thickness of 0.195mm and PVC sheath thickness of 0.55mm provide mechanical protection during installation while keeping the overall cable diameter compact enough for high-density patch panel terminations.

Is this cable suitable for outdoor use?

No. The PVC sheath is rated for indoor installation only. For outdoor or direct-burial runs you need a cable with UV-resistant and waterproof jacketing, typically PE or LSZH rated for external conditions.

Can I use this cable for patch leads?

Not recommended. The solid copper conductors are designed for fixed installation and termination into punch-down blocks or keystones. Patch leads require stranded copper cable to withstand repeated flexing without conductor fatigue.

What's the difference between U/UTP and F/UTP?

U/UTP is unshielded twisted pair with no foil or braid screen around the cable core. F/UTP adds an overall foil shield around all four pairs, providing better protection against electromagnetic interference but requiring earthed terminations and slightly more complex installation.

Does the cable support Power over Ethernet?

Yes. The solid OFC conductors and 0.229mm² cross-sectional area per conductor support PoE and PoE+ applications (IEEE 802.3af/at) within standard temperature and bundle size limits. For PoE++ (802.3bt) verify that the DC resistance and heat dissipation suit your specific installation conditions.