Direct answer: First pick the cable type you need — ① LAN uses twisted-pair (Cat5e/Cat6/Cat6A, driven by bandwidth and shielding); ② CCTV/broadcast uses coaxial (RG6/RG59, 75Ω impedance); ③ voice uses telephone wire (2/4 core). Then check five things: application match, shielded vs unshielded, conductor AWG, riser rating (CMR/CMP mandatory in buildings) and certification (UL/ETL/CCC). Don't run unshielded cable through a high-interference environment, and don't accept fake Cat6.
Further reading: General Cable Manufacturer 6-Point Checklist · Cable Manufacturer Directory · Power Cable Selection Guide (coming soon)
1. What Types of Communication / Low-Voltage Cables Are There?
| Type | Representative models | Main use | Key parameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network (twisted pair) | Cat5e / Cat6 / Cat6A | LAN, POE CCTV | Bandwidth (100/250/500 MHz), shielding |
| Coaxial | RG6 / RG59 | Broadcast, legacy CCTV | 75Ω impedance, attenuation |
| Telephone wire | 2-core / 4-core | Voice, low-voltage control | Conductor AWG |
| Low-voltage signal | RVV / control cable | Access, alarm, BMS | Cores, shielding |
2. Five Selection Points
1. Application match
Fix bandwidth and distance first: gigabit LAN → Cat6 (250 MHz); 10G → Cat6A; short voice runs are fine with 2-core telephone wire — don't over-specify for a small scene.
2. Shielded or not (set by interference)
Use shielded (FTP/SFTP) where power runs parallel, in server rooms and industrial sites; ordinary office surface runs are fine with unshielded (UTP). A shielded cable must be grounded end-to-end, or the shield becomes an antenna.
3. Conductor and AWG
Quality LAN conductors are typically 0.57 mm (23 AWG) pure copper; beware copper-clad aluminum or copper-clad steel — high resistance, high long-run attenuation, unstable POE.
4. Riser rating (mandatory in buildings)
North America uses CM/CMR/CMP; riser shafts in high-rises mandate CMR/CMP (riser/plenum low-smoke); China uses GB 31247 B1/B2. Plain CM cable is banned in risers.
5. Certification
North America needs UL/ETL listing; China needs CCC or TLR certification. Verify the number, factory name match and validity.
3. Five Acceptance Pitfalls
- Undersized AWG: marked 23 AWG but thinner — packet loss over distance.
- Fake Cat6: doesn't reach 250 MHz, no spline — can't sustain gigabit.
- Shield not grounded: only one end bonded on site, shield ineffective.
- Wrong riser rating: building requires CMR/CMP but plain CM was used — fails inspection.
- Copper-clad aluminum/steel: unstable POE camera power, frequent drops.
4. Dimensions to Evaluate the Manufacturer
- Full-category lines (LAN/coax/telephone from one factory, easier to kit a whole BOM);
- UL/ETL/CCC numbers verifiable online;
- Supports BOM-based kitting and small-batch availability;
- Per-batch test reports (attenuation, impedance, continuity) with each carton.
FAQ
Q1: Cat5e or Cat6 — which should I choose? A: For gigabit and below, Cat5e (100 MHz) is enough and cheaper; to reliably run gigabit or leave 10G headroom, choose Cat6 (250 MHz, with a spline to cut crosstalk). For long POE CCTV runs, start at Cat6.
Q2: When do I use shielded (STP) vs unshielded (UTP)? A: Use shielded (FTP/SFTP) where power runs parallel, in server rooms and industrial interference; ordinary office surface runs are fine with UTP. A shielded cable must be grounded at both ends, or the shield introduces noise.
Q3: How do I verify a communication cable manufacturer? A: Look the UL/ETL number up on the issuer's site, confirm the factory name and product scope match and the cert is in date; in China check CCC or TLR. No number or not found → treat as uncertified.
Q4: Do residential/commercial buildings require a riser rating? A: Yes, and usually it's mandatory. North American high-rise riser runs require CMR (riser) or CMP (plenum); China uses GB 31247 B1. Plain CM cable is banned in risers — fire inspection will fail.
Q5: Can I get a small batch of communication cable custom-made by a factory? A: Yes. Standard packing is a 305 m box, but small batches are sold by the meter or cut to length; non-standard core count, shielding and jacket color are usually customizable — just send the BOM when quoting.
Need a datasheet, sample or volume quote for LAN (Cat5e/Cat6/Cat6A), coaxial or telephone cable? Chat with the engineer directly on WhatsApp → WhatsApp Inquiry
