By Eileen Harvey
When it comes to selecting the right industrial Ethernet cable for your application, the spec sheet is your most powerful tool. Yet, for many buyers, installers and engineers, spec sheets can feel like a wall of jargon and numbers. Understanding these details is essential to ensure optimal performance, safety and compliance—especially in demanding industrial environments.
Why Industrial Ethernet Cable Spec Sheets Matter
A spec sheet is essentially a technical passport for your cable. It tells you what the cable is made of, how it performs electrically, how it will stand up to environmental stress and whether it meets required standards. Misreading or skipping this step can lead to network downtime, safety hazards and wasted money on incompatible cables.
Key Sections of an Industrial Ethernet Cable Spec Sheet
A. Cable Type and Category
Ethernet cable categories define speed, bandwidth and construction standards. Understanding category is crucial because it determines network speed, distance capability and EMI resistance. Let’s look at three popular categories.
- Cat5e supports up to 1 Gbps at 100 MHz. An example of this is L-com’s Industrial Category 5e Double Shielded UV-Resistant PVC Jacket – 100ft.
- Cat6 supports up to 10 Gbps at 250 MHz, an example being our Industrial Category 6 Double Shielded UV-Resistant PVC Jacket – 100ft.
- Cat6a supports up to 10 Gbps at 500 MHz. It is well represented by L-com’s Industrial Category 6a Shielded High-Flex PUR Jacket – 100ft.
B. Shielding Type
Industrial environments are often noisy, electrically speaking. Shielding minimizes electromagnetic interference (EMI). Let’s examine three levels of shielding.
U/UTP, or unshielded twisted pair, has the lowest EMI protection, with twisted pairs but no shielding.
F/UTP, or foiled unshielded twisted pair, has a single foil shield around all four pairs together. It provides better protection against external EMI compared to U/UTP.
SF/UTP stands for shielded foil plus unshielded twisted pair. It has a braided shield plus foil around all four pairs together. Compared to F/UTP, it has stronger protection against both low- and high-frequency interference. An example of this is L-com’s Cat5e High-Flex PUR Jacket with Shielding – 100ft.
C. Electrical Performance
Let’s examine four key electrical specifications that spec sheets list. First is bandwidth, which is measured in MHz and affects speed capacity. Second is impedance, which is usually 100 ohms; consistency prevents signal reflection. The third spec is NEXT/return loss, which measures signal interference within the cable. And fourth is PoE capability, which indicates whether it supports Power over Ethernet.
D. Conductor Details
We will examine three key descriptors of cable conductors. Gauge (AWG) describes the thickness of the individual wires, with the lower the AWG number, the thicker the conductor. Lower gauges are best for long cable runs. A second descriptor is materialꟷbare copper is ideal, while copper-clad aluminum is cheaper but less efficient. A third conductor feature is solid vs. stranded. Solid is used most for fixed runs, while stranded has more flexibility to accommodate moving equipment. An example of stranded wire is L-com’s Cat6 High-Flex Stranded Shielded PUR Jacket – 100ft.
E. Jacket Material and Environmental Resistance
The jacket protects the cable from UV rays, chemicals, oil and mechanical stress. A PVC jacket is cost-effective and good for general purposes. A PUR jacket is flexible, oil-resistant and great for robotics or drag chains. For fire safety, an LSZH jacket, when exposed to high heat, gives off low smoke and zero-halogens.
Outdoor-rated cables like the Cat5e UV-Resistant PVC are designed for long-term sun exposure.
Cross-Checking with Your Application Needs
Before ordering, match the cable’s mechanical, electrical and environmental specs with your real-world conditions. Make at least three determinations. First, if it will be installed outdoors, choose UV-resistant jackets. Second, if it will be located near heavy machinery, select double-shielded cables. And third, if you need flexibility, pick high-flex PUR jackets.
Common Misinterpretations
- Confusing nominal values with guaranteed performance.
- Overlooking installation guidelines like bend radius.
- Assuming all Cat6 cables perform the same—shielding and jacket make a huge difference in industrial environments.
FAQs – Industrial Ethernet Cable Spec Sheets
Q1: Why does shielding matter in industrial Ethernet cables?
A: Shielding protects against electromagnetic interference from machinery, ensuring reliable data transmission.
Q2: What’s the difference between PVC and PUR jackets?
A: PVC is cost-effective and suitable for many environments. PUR offers superior flexibility and chemical resistance.
Q3: Can I use a regular office Cat6 cable in an industrial setting?
A: Not recommended—industrial cables have better shielding, tougher jackets and higher durability.
Understanding industrial Ethernet cable spec sheets helps you align cable capabilities with your installation environment and network requirements, ensuring reliable, long-term performance.
