What are the Bare Copper Ethernet Cables

Ethernet cables in two types of conductors: solid copper and copper-clad aluminum. Those with solid copper are called bare copper cables whereas those with copper-clad aluminum are called CCA ethernet cables. In this article, we will walk you through types of bare copper cables, their features, and prices. So, stay with us.

Types of bare copper cables

Following are the types of bare copper cables:

Cat5e Bare Copper

The Cat5e Bare Copper cable supports data speeds of 1 Gbps and 100 Mbps up to a distance of 50 meters and 100 meters, respectively. As this is an enhanced category 5 cable, the bandwidth capacity for this variant stands at 350 MHz.

The number of bare copper conductors stands at 8 that are tightly bundled in 4 twisted pairs to ward off electromagnetic interference and crosstalk. The Cat5e bare copper cable is available in plenum and riser variants.

Cat6 Bare Copper

The Cat6 Bare Copper cable is a sixth-generation ethernet cable that is designed to accommodate lightning-fast data transfer rates of 10 Gbps and 1 Gbps up to a distance of 50 meters and 100 meters, respectively.

The cable, too, comes in 8 conductors that are tightly bundled in 4 twisted pairs. Remember, pure copper cable provides excellent protection against various elements such as crosstalk and electromagnetic interference.

The Cat6 Bare Copper cable is available in the riser, plenum, and direct burial jackets.

Cat6a Bare Copper

This is an augmented category 6th cable that is designed to accommodate 10 Gbps data transfer rate up to a distance of 100 meters. The Cat6a bare copper cable has an augmented bandwidth capacity of 750 MHz and it has as many as 8 pure copper conductors.

The cable comes in the riser, plenum, and direct burial jackets and has excellent crosstalk and EMI features.

Why are Bare Copper Cables better than CCA Cables?

Pure copper cables are better than copper-clad aluminum cables due to the following reasons:

Excellent crosstalk and EMI features

Two elements that mess with your signals most are crosstalk and electromagnetic interference. However, the good news is that bare copper cables provide top-notch protection against these two, thus keeping your signal quality intact throughout the cable run. The end result is that you enjoy optimum connectivity and get the best value for your money.

Less Attenuation

Attenuation is the loss of signal strength. The problem with CCA cables is that they suffer from high-rate or less attenuation that results in poor connectivity. However, bare copper cables have excellent attenuation features. Hence, you enjoy uninterrupted connectivity throughout the cable run.

DC Resistance

Another great feature of the bare copper cable is that they have far less DC resistance - as much as 55% less than the CCA cables. It means your Cat5e or Cat6 bare copper cables will convert more energy into data packets and less into heat.

Smartech Cables: Your One-Stop-Shop For Bare Copper Cables

Here at Smartech Cables, we make bare copper cables that surpass all industry standards by a wide margin. All of our ethernet cables are at market-competitive prices and with a 10-year warranty (terms and conditions applied). The cherry on the top? We offer free shipping on orders above $100. To get in touch with the sales team, drop us an email at [email protected].