Mercury Cat6 U/UTP Outdoor Network Cable - Black (305m)

The Mercury Cat6 U/UTP outdoor network cable is a 305m reel of black unshielded twisted pair cable built around solid oxygen-free copper conductors, rated for Gigabit Ethernet at bandwidths up to 250MHz. The outer sheath is LDPE (low-density polyethylene) chosen specifically for UV resistance and durability in exposed outdoor installations where standard indoor PVC-jacketed cable would degrade. The cable diameter is 6mm and the overall weight of the 305m box is 12.7kg.

Designed for outdoor CCTV camera runs, IP camera networks, exterior office buildings, and outdoor data networking between structures, the cable ships in a dispensing box with 1m interval markings printed on the sheath to simplify measurement during installation. The U/UTP construction (unshielded twisted pair) keeps the cable lighter and more flexible than shielded variants, which matters when routing through conduit or pulling through external wall penetrations. The cable meets TIA/EIA-568 Cat6 standards for impedance, attenuation, and crosstalk performance.

Each of the eight conductors is 0.53mm diameter solid copper insulated with HDPE (high-density polyethylene) at 0.93mm thickness, twisted into four pairs and enclosed in the 0.55mm LDPE outer jacket. The black sheath minimises visual impact on building exteriors and resists UV breakdown in direct sunlight, which is the primary failure mode for cables installed above ground outdoors in the UK. DC resistance at 20°C is below 9.38 ohms per 100m, and the cable maintains 100±15 ohm impedance across the full 100-250MHz frequency range.

Can this cable be buried directly in the ground?

The LDPE sheath provides UV and weather resistance for above-ground outdoor use. For direct burial the cable should be run through protective conduit or ducting, as the sheath is not armoured and could be damaged by ground movement or rodents.

What's the maximum run length before signal degradation?

Cat6 cable is rated for runs up to 100m between active network devices (switch to endpoint) before signal attenuation requires a repeater or switch. The 305m box allows for three full-length runs with cable to spare for routing and termination.

Is this suitable for Power over Ethernet (PoE)?

Yes. The solid OFC conductors and DC resistance below 9.38 ohms per 100m make this cable compatible with PoE, PoE+ and PoE++ standards for powering IP cameras, access points and other networked devices over the data cable.

What connectors are needed to terminate this cable?

The cable uses standard Cat6 RJ45 plugs or keystone jacks. Because the conductors are solid rather than stranded, use connectors designed for solid-core cable — stranded-core connectors will not make reliable contact with solid wire.