Cat 5e F/UTP Cable for Shielded Gigabit Ethernet Networks

Cat 5e F/UTP Cable provides foil-screened copper connectivity for Gigabit Ethernet, structured cabling, IP surveillance, VoIP, Wi-Fi access points and general LAN infrastructure where additional protection against electromagnetic interference is required. ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 5e F/UTP cables with solid copper conductors and PVC, LSOH or PE outer jackets.

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e F/UTP range uses four individually unshielded twisted pairs with 0.51 mm solid copper conductors and solid polyethylene insulation. Polyester tape wraps the cable core, while an overall Al/PET foil and tinned copper earthing wire provide the screening system. The cables deliver Category 5e transmission performance through 100 MHz.

F/UTP adds one common foil screen around all four twisted pairs. The individual pairs themselves remain unshielded. This construction can provide additional electromagnetic protection compared with U/UTP while retaining the bandwidth and network characteristics associated with Category 5e.

What Is Cat 5e F/UTP Cable?

Cat 5e F/UTP is a four-pair balanced copper Ethernet cable with one overall foil screen around four individually unshielded twisted pairs.

The designation means:

• F – overall foil screen around the complete cable core
• UTP – individually unshielded twisted pairs

Commercial buyers sometimes use terms such as Cat 5e FTP cable or shielded Cat 5e cable. F/UTP is the more precise terminology because it identifies both the overall screen and the screening status of the individual pairs.

ETK Kablo Cat 5e F/UTP Cable Range

Product	Outer Jacket	Main Selection Direction
Cat 5e F/UTP PVC	PVC	General structured cabling where PVC materials are permitted
Cat 5e F/UTP LSOH	Halogen-free / low-smoke material	Projects requiring defined smoke and halogen characteristics
Cat 5e F/UTP PE	Polyethylene	Outdoor-oriented screened Ethernet routes

All three products share the same basic Category 5e F/UTP electrical architecture. The main variation is the outer-jacket material.

Cat 5e F/UTP Cable Construction

Component	Current ETK Kablo Construction
Conductor	Electrolytic solid copper
Conductor Diameter	0.51 mm
Approximate AWG Equivalent	Approximately 24 AWG
Insulation	Solid polyethylene
Pair Construction	Four twisted pairs
Wrapping	Polyester tape
Overall Screen	Al/PET foil
Earthing Wire	Tinned copper
Individual Pair Screens	None
Outer Jacket	PVC, LSOH or PE according to product

How F/UTP Foil Shielding Works

The Al/PET foil surrounds the complete four-pair Ethernet cable core.

This metallic layer helps reduce electromagnetic coupling between the data cable and external electrical noise sources. It can therefore provide additional protection compared with an unshielded U/UTP construction.

The foil does not surround the individual twisted pairs separately. Pair twisting still controls much of the internal crosstalk within the Category 5e cable.

This distinction separates F/UTP from cable architectures such as U/FTP or F/FTP, where foil surrounds the individual twisted pairs.

Cat 5e F/UTP Earthing Wire

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e F/UTP products include a tinned copper earthing wire together with the overall Al/PET foil screen.

The earthing wire supports continuity and practical termination of the screening system.

A screened Ethernet cable should form part of a compatible screened channel. Connectors, patch panels, bonding and field termination influence the effectiveness of the complete installation.

Installing foil-screened cable without suitable screened connectivity does not automatically provide the intended electromagnetic performance.

0.51 mm Solid Copper Cat 5e F/UTP Cable

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e F/UTP products use 0.51 mm solid copper conductors, corresponding closely to the commonly specified 24 AWG conductor size.

Solid copper provides predictable DC resistance and stable transmission characteristics for fixed structured-cabling installations.

The current product documentation specifies a maximum conductor resistance of 94 Ω/km at 20°C.

Professional buyers should distinguish solid-copper Ethernet cable from copper-clad conductor alternatives when network performance, Power over Ethernet and project requirements are important.

Polyester Tape in Cat 5e F/UTP Construction

ETK Kablo places polyester tape around the stranded four-pair cable core before the overall foil screen.

This wrapping helps maintain the cable assembly and separates the pair bundle from the metallic screening layer.

The current Cat 5e F/UTP construction therefore follows a clear sequence:

• Solid copper conductors
• Solid PE insulation
• Twisted pairs
• Polyester wrapping
• Overall Al/PET foil and earthing wire
• Outer jacket

100 MHz Cat 5e F/UTP Performance

ETK Kablo publishes transmission characteristics for the current Cat 5e F/UTP products through 100 MHz.

Relevant parameters include:

• Insertion loss
• Near-end crosstalk (NEXT)
• Power-sum NEXT
• Equal-level far-end crosstalk
• Power-sum equal-level far-end crosstalk
• Return loss
• Characteristic impedance
• Propagation velocity

The current product documentation specifies a characteristic impedance of 100 Ω ±5% across the Category 5e frequency range.

Cat 5e F/UTP for Gigabit Ethernet

Cat 5e F/UTP can support 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet when the complete installed channel meets the applicable structured-cabling requirements.

Typical applications include:

• Office LAN networks
• Commercial structured cabling
• IP surveillance systems
• VoIP infrastructure
• Wi-Fi access points
• Building automation
• Industrial Ethernet with moderate EMI exposure
• General IP-based infrastructure

The complete channel includes the cable, connectors, patch panels, patch cords and field terminations. Each component contributes to the final network performance.

1000BASE-T Uses All Four Twisted Pairs

Gigabit Ethernet over Category 5e uses all four twisted pairs within the cable.

This makes conductor quality, pair geometry, field termination and channel continuity important throughout the installation.

The overall foil adds electromagnetic protection around the cable core, while the twisted-pair geometry continues to support balanced signal transmission.

Cat 5e F/UTP Cable Length

Balanced copper Ethernet installations commonly use a maximum structured-cabling channel length of 100 meters.

A typical channel includes up to 90 meters of permanent-link cable together with patch and equipment cords.

The foil screen does not increase this standardized transmission distance. It addresses electromagnetic behavior rather than Ethernet reach.

Longer network routes can require intermediate active equipment or fiber optic cabling.

When Should You Choose Cat 5e F/UTP?

Cat 5e F/UTP can be appropriate where the project requires Gigabit Ethernet together with additional overall electromagnetic screening.

Typical selection factors include:

• 1000BASE-T network requirement
• Commercial areas with electrical infrastructure
• Network routes with moderate electromagnetic interference
• Industrial areas where an overall foil screen is specified
• IP surveillance installations
• Building automation networks
• Screened structured-cabling systems

Normal cable-separation requirements should still be followed. An overall foil screen should not be treated as permission to ignore installation rules around power circuits.

Cat 5e U/UTP vs F/UTP Cable

Feature	Cat 5e U/UTP	Cat 5e F/UTP
Overall Metallic Screen	None	Al/PET foil
Individual Pair Screens	None	None
Earthing Wire	No data-cable screen to terminate	Tinned copper earthing wire
Category Frequency	100 MHz	100 MHz
Gigabit Ethernet	Yes	Yes
Main Difference	Unshielded architecture	Overall foil-screened architecture

U/UTP can suit controlled electromagnetic environments, while F/UTP adds an overall foil where the project benefits from additional electromagnetic screening.

Cat 5e F/UTP vs S/UTP Cable

F/UTP and S/UTP both use four individually unshielded twisted pairs, but their overall screens differ.

Feature	F/UTP	S/UTP
Overall Foil	Yes	No
Overall Braid	No	Yes
Individual Pair Screens	No	No

F/UTP uses an overall foil, while S/UTP uses an overall metallic braid. The correct construction should follow the project's electromagnetic and installation requirements.

Cat 5e F/UTP vs SF/UTP Cable

SF/UTP adds an overall metallic braid in addition to the overall foil found in F/UTP.

Feature	F/UTP	SF/UTP
Overall Foil	Yes	Yes
Overall Braid	No	Yes
Individual Pair Screens	No	No

SF/UTP provides a more extensive overall screening architecture. However, F/UTP can remain the appropriate construction where one overall foil satisfies the project requirement.

F/UTP Is Not the Same as U/FTP

F/UTP and U/FTP are often confused because both constructions use foil, but the foil appears in different locations.

F/UTP places one overall foil around all four individually unshielded twisted pairs.

U/FTP places an individual foil around each twisted pair and has no overall common screen.

Feature	F/UTP	U/FTP
Overall Foil	Yes	No
Individual Pair Foils	No	Yes

Procurement documents should use the complete screening notation instead of relying only on the generic term FTP.

Cat 5e F/UTP vs Cat 6 F/UTP

Characteristic	Cat 5e F/UTP	Cat 6 F/UTP
Category Frequency	100 MHz	250 MHz
Primary Ethernet Application	Gigabit Ethernet	Higher-performance Gigabit Ethernet
Current ETK Conductor Diameter	0.51 mm	0.57 mm
Overall Screen	Foil	Foil

Both families use an overall foil-screened architecture, but Cat 6 operates through a higher standardized frequency and uses a different internal construction to meet the tighter Category 6 transmission requirements.

Cat 5e F/UTP vs Cat 6A Screened Cable

Cat 5e F/UTP targets Gigabit Ethernet through 100 MHz.

Cat 6A operates through 500 MHz and targets full-distance 10GBASE-T structured cabling. Cat 6A also offers architectures such as U/FTP, F/FTP and S/FTP with individual pair screening.

Projects requiring long-term 10 Gigabit copper infrastructure should therefore evaluate Cat 6A rather than selecting Cat 5e solely because both cable families can include metallic screening.

Cat 5e F/UTP PVC Cable

Cat 5e F/UTP PVC Cable combines Category 5e transmission with an overall Al/PET foil screen and a UV-resistant PVC outer jacket.

The current ETK Kablo product uses 0.51 mm solid copper conductors, solid polyethylene insulation, polyester wrapping, a tinned copper earthing wire and overall Al/PET foil.

The published approximate cable diameter is 5.6 mm.

Current packing lengths include 100 m, 500 m and 1000 m.

PVC provides a conventional jacket option for fixed structured-cabling installations where PVC materials are permitted.

Cat 5e F/UTP LSOH Cable

Cat 5e F/UTP LSOH Cable combines the same foil-screened Category 5e architecture with a UV-resistant halogen-free outer jacket.

The current product uses 0.51 mm solid copper conductors, with a published approximate overall diameter of 5.6 mm.

Current technical documentation lists applicable testing for:

• Smoke density
• Single-cable flame retardancy
• Corrosive-gas characteristics
• Halogen content

LSOH or LSZH describes cable-material behavior during combustion. It does not mean that the cable provides defined fire-resistant circuit integrity.

Cat 5e F/UTP PE Outdoor Cable

Cat 5e F/UTP PE Cable combines foil-screened Category 5e transmission with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

The current product retains the same 0.51 mm solid copper conductors, solid PE insulation, polyester wrapping, tinned copper earthing wire and overall Al/PET foil.

The published approximate cable diameter is 5.6 mm.

Potential applications include:

• Outdoor LAN extensions
• Building-to-building network routes
• Outdoor IP surveillance
• External Wi-Fi access points
• Campus Ethernet infrastructure
• Outdoor automation networks

The PE jacket provides an outdoor-oriented material system. It should not automatically be interpreted as mechanical armor, water blocking or universal direct-burial qualification.

PVC vs LSOH vs PE Cat 5e F/UTP

Jacket	Main Selection Consideration
PVC	General fixed installations where PVC materials are permitted
LSOH / LSZH	Projects requiring defined low-smoke and halogen-related characteristics
PE	Outdoor-oriented routes requiring a polyethylene outer jacket

Changing the jacket material does not change the underlying F/UTP screening architecture or 100 MHz Category 5e performance.

Cat 5e F/UTP for Office and Commercial Networks

Office and commercial buildings can contain lighting systems, electrical services, building controls and other equipment that creates electromagnetic noise.

Cat 5e F/UTP adds an overall foil screen where the project requires additional electromagnetic protection compared with U/UTP.

The cable can support Gigabit Ethernet for workstations, network printers, IP telephones, Wi-Fi access points and other Ethernet devices.

Cat 5e F/UTP for IP CCTV

IP surveillance systems can use Cat 5e F/UTP for network communication and compatible Power over Ethernet applications.

The overall foil screen can provide additional electromagnetic protection where camera routes pass through electrically active areas.

PVC or LSOH constructions can serve applicable indoor routes, while PE provides an outdoor-oriented jacket option.

Camera bandwidth, switch capacity, network distance and PoE loading should all form part of the system design.

Cat 5e F/UTP for Wi-Fi Access Points

Wireless access points rely on wired Ethernet infrastructure for network backhaul.

Cat 5e F/UTP can provide Gigabit Ethernet connectivity for compatible access points where the required wired data rate remains within the Category 5e network design.

Projects using higher-speed multi-gigabit access points should also evaluate Cat 6 or Cat 6A according to the equipment requirements.

Cat 5e F/UTP for Building Automation

IP-based building systems can use Ethernet for monitoring, control and communication.

Cat 5e F/UTP can provide a screened copper platform where automation devices operate within electrically active commercial infrastructure.

The foil screen can help reduce external electromagnetic coupling, while normal separation from power circuits and correct grounding practices remain necessary.

Cat 5e F/UTP for Industrial Ethernet

Industrial facilities can contain motors, drives, switching equipment and power infrastructure that generate electromagnetic noise.

F/UTP adds one overall foil screen and can suit applications where moderate EMI protection forms part of the network specification.

More demanding environments can justify evaluation of S/UTP, SF/UTP or higher-category screened Ethernet constructions according to the project requirements.

Cat 5e F/UTP and Power over Ethernet

Cat 5e F/UTP can form part of compatible Power over Ethernet systems.

PoE can power devices such as:

• IP cameras
• VoIP telephones
• Wi-Fi access points
• Access-control devices
• Compatible building-network equipment

The foil screen primarily addresses electromagnetic behavior. PoE performance depends on conductor resistance, network distance, cable bundle size, ambient temperature and the required power level.

The current solid copper construction provides a useful basis for fixed PoE cabling, but the complete system should still follow the applicable electrical and thermal design requirements.

Cat 5e F/UTP Electrical Characteristics

Parameter	Published Value
Conductor Resistance at 20°C	Max. 94 Ω/km
Insulation Resistance at 20°C	5000 MΩ/km
Mutual Capacitance	Max. 56 nF/km
Resistance Unbalance	2%
Propagation Velocity	67–69%
Characteristic Impedance	100 Ω ±5%
Operating Voltage	250 V DC
Test Voltage	1200 V DC for 1 minute

Cat 5e F/UTP Mechanical Characteristics

The current Cat 5e F/UTP PVC, LSOH and PE products all use 0.51 mm solid copper conductors, with a published approximate overall cable diameter of 5.6 mm.

Current product documentation lists:

• Minimum bending radius: 8xD
• Operating temperature: -20°C to +60°C
• Packing lengths: 100 m, 500 m and 1000 m

The exact packing requirement should be confirmed during quotation.

Cat 5e F/UTP Standards

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e F/UTP product documentation references:

• ANSI/TIA-568-C.2
• IEC 61156-5
• IEC 11801

Current product documentation includes transmission-performance data through 100 MHz.

Project specifications can require different editions or additional documentation, so procurement teams should verify the required standards for the exact supplied product.

Flame, Smoke and Halogen Requirements

Reaction-to-fire and material characteristics depend on the selected jacket construction.

The current PVC product documentation includes flame-retardancy testing according to IEC 60332-1-2 and equivalent referenced methods.

The current LSOH product documentation additionally includes smoke-density, corrosive-gas and halogen-related tests.

These properties should not be confused with fire-resistant circuit integrity. A flame-retardant or LSOH Ethernet cable does not automatically provide FE180 or PH120 performance.

How to Specify Cat 5e F/UTP Cable

A complete RFQ should define the network, screening and installation requirements.

Specification Item	Information to Provide
Category	Cat 5e
Screening	F/UTP – overall foil around unshielded pairs
Bandwidth	100 MHz
Network Requirement	1000BASE-T or applicable Ethernet application
Conductor	0.51 mm solid copper
Jacket	PVC, LSOH or PE
Installation Environment	Indoor or outdoor-oriented route
EMI Environment	Required electromagnetic-screening conditions
PoE Requirement	Required PoE application where applicable
Fire Requirement	Required flame, smoke, halogen and CPR classification where applicable
Packing Length	100 m, 500 m, 1000 m or applicable project requirement
Documentation	Datasheet, DoP where applicable and project documentation

Why Choose ETK Kablo for Cat 5e F/UTP Cable?

ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 5e F/UTP cable in PVC, LSOH and PE constructions for screened Gigabit Ethernet infrastructure.

The current range uses 0.51 mm solid copper conductors, solid polyethylene insulation, polyester wrapping, an overall Al/PET foil and a tinned copper earthing wire with transmission performance through 100 MHz.

This provides network contractors, distributors, CCTV integrators, commercial projects and industrial users with a foil-screened Category 5e option for installations where Gigabit Ethernet and additional electromagnetic protection are required.

ETK Kablo can evaluate jacket material, electromagnetic environment, installation conditions, PoE requirements, packing length, CPR requirements and project documentation during the quotation process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cat 5e F/UTP Cable

What is Cat 5e F/UTP cable?

Cat 5e F/UTP is a four-pair Ethernet cable with one overall foil screen around four individually unshielded twisted pairs.

What does F/UTP mean?

F/UTP means the complete cable core has an overall foil screen, while the individual twisted pairs remain unshielded.

Is F/UTP the same as FTP?

FTP is commonly used as commercial shorthand for foil-screened Ethernet cable. F/UTP is the more precise structured-cabling notation.

What speed does Cat 5e F/UTP support?

Cat 5e F/UTP can support 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet over standard structured-cabling distances when the complete installed channel meets the applicable requirements.

What frequency is Cat 5e F/UTP?

Category 5e transmission performance extends through 100 MHz.

What conductor size does ETK Kablo Cat 5e F/UTP use?

The current PVC, LSOH and PE products use 0.51 mm solid copper conductors, approximately equivalent to 24 AWG.

Does Cat 5e F/UTP have individually shielded pairs?

No. F/UTP uses one overall foil around the complete four-pair cable core. The individual twisted pairs remain unshielded.

What is the difference between U/UTP and F/UTP?

U/UTP contains no metallic screening. F/UTP adds one overall foil screen around the four unshielded twisted pairs.

What is the difference between F/UTP and S/UTP?

F/UTP uses an overall foil, while S/UTP uses an overall metallic braid. Both constructions leave the individual twisted pairs unshielded.

What is the difference between F/UTP and SF/UTP?

F/UTP uses one overall foil. SF/UTP combines an overall foil with an additional overall metallic braid.

What is the difference between F/UTP and U/FTP?

F/UTP uses one overall foil around four unshielded pairs. U/FTP places a separate foil around each twisted pair and has no common overall screen.

Can Cat 5e F/UTP support Gigabit Ethernet?

Yes. Category 5e can support 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet when the complete installed channel meets the applicable structured-cabling requirements.

Can Cat 5e F/UTP support PoE?

Cat 5e F/UTP can form part of compatible PoE networks. Conductor resistance, network distance, bundle size, ambient temperature and the required PoE level should form part of the design.

Can Cat 5e F/UTP be used for IP cameras?

Yes. Cat 5e F/UTP can provide screened Ethernet connectivity for compatible IP cameras and surveillance networks.

Can Cat 5e F/UTP be used outdoors?

Yes, when the exact product has an appropriate outdoor-oriented construction. ETK Kablo currently manufactures a Cat 5e F/UTP PE cable with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

Does ETK Kablo manufacture LSZH Cat 5e F/UTP?

Yes. The current range includes a Cat 5e F/UTP LSOH construction with a halogen-free outer jacket.

Is Cat 5e F/UTP fire resistant?

Not automatically. Flame-retardant and LSOH characteristics describe reaction-to-fire and material behavior. They do not establish defined fire-resistant circuit integrity.

What packing lengths are available?

The current Cat 5e F/UTP product documentation lists 100 m, 500 m and 1000 m packing lengths.

What information should I provide when requesting a quotation?

Provide the Cat 5e F/UTP requirement, PVC/LSOH/PE jacket, application, electromagnetic environment, PoE requirement where applicable, packing length, quantity and required project documentation.