Cat 5e S/UTP Cable for Braid-Screened Gigabit Ethernet Networks

Cat 5e S/UTP Cable provides braid-screened copper connectivity for Gigabit Ethernet, structured cabling, IP surveillance, VoIP, Wi-Fi access points, building automation and other LAN applications where an overall metallic braid forms part of the electromagnetic-screening requirement. ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 5e S/UTP cables with 24 AWG solid copper conductors and PVC, LSOH or PE outer jackets.

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e S/UTP range uses 0.51 mm solid copper conductors, solid polyethylene insulation, four twisted pairs and polyester wrapping. An overall tinned copper braid surrounds the complete four-pair cable core. The individual twisted pairs remain unshielded.

This architecture defines S/UTP accurately: the cable uses one overall braid but no overall foil and no individual pair foils. ETK Kablo publishes Category 5e transmission performance through 100 MHz for the current S/UTP range.

What Is Cat 5e S/UTP Cable?

Cat 5e S/UTP is a four-pair balanced Ethernet cable with one overall metallic braid surrounding four individually unshielded twisted pairs.

The designation means:

• S – overall braided metallic screen
• UTP – individually unshielded twisted pairs

ETK Kablo uses tinned copper braiding as the overall screen in the current Cat 5e S/UTP products.

The braid provides electromagnetic screening around the complete Ethernet core while the twisted pairs themselves remain without individual metallic screens.

ETK Kablo Cat 5e S/UTP Cable Range

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

All three products share the same basic Category 5e S/UTP electrical and screening architecture. The primary variation is the outer-jacket material.

Cat 5e S/UTP Cable Construction

Component	Current ETK Kablo Construction
Conductor	Electrolytic solid copper
Conductor Diameter	0.51 mm
Conductor Size	24 AWG
Insulation	Solid polyethylene
Pair Construction	Four twisted pairs
Wrapping	Polyester tape
Overall Screen	Tinned copper braid
Overall Foil	None
Individual Pair Screens	None
Outer Jacket	PVC, LSOH or PE according to product

How Cat 5e S/UTP Braid Screening Works

The tinned copper braid surrounds the complete four-pair Ethernet core.

This conductive layer can help reduce electromagnetic coupling between the Ethernet cable and surrounding electrical equipment.

The individual twisted pairs remain unshielded. Their controlled twist geometry continues to support balanced transmission and crosstalk performance.

The braid therefore adds an overall electromagnetic screen without creating separate metallic screens around each pair.

Tinned Copper Braid in Cat 5e S/UTP

The current ETK Kablo S/UTP construction uses tinned copper braiding rather than an aluminum foil as its overall screen.

The braid belongs to the electromagnetic architecture of the Ethernet cable.

It should not be confused with steel wire braiding used as mechanical protection in SWB armored data cables.

Braid Type	Material	Main Function
S/UTP Screen	Tinned copper	Electromagnetic screening
SWB Mechanical Layer	Galvanized steel wire	Mechanical protection

S/UTP Is Not an Armored Cable

The presence of a metallic braid does not automatically make Cat 5e S/UTP an armored cable.

The standard Cat 5e S/UTP products use a tinned copper braid for electromagnetic screening.

Projects requiring mechanical cable protection should evaluate ETK Kablo's separate Cat 5e Armored Cable family with SWA or SWB constructions.

24 AWG Solid Copper Cat 5e S/UTP Cable

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e S/UTP datasheets specify 24 AWG solid copper conductors.

The conductor diameter is 0.51 mm across the PVC, LSOH and PE constructions.

Solid copper provides predictable conductor resistance and stable electrical characteristics for fixed structured-cabling installations.

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

Professional buyers should distinguish solid-copper Ethernet cable from copper-clad alternatives where network performance, PoE and project specifications are important.

100 MHz Cat 5e S/UTP Performance

ETK Kablo publishes Category 5e transmission characteristics through 100 MHz for the current S/UTP range.

Relevant electrical 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 overall copper braid addresses electromagnetic-screening requirements. It does not increase the standardized Category 5e frequency range.

Cat 5e S/UTP for Gigabit Ethernet

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

Potential applications include:

• Commercial LAN networks
• Structured cabling
• Industrial Ethernet
• IP surveillance
• VoIP systems
• Wi-Fi access points
• Building automation
• Technical facilities
• Screened Gigabit Ethernet networks

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

1000BASE-T Uses All Four Pairs

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

Consistent pair geometry, termination quality and conductor performance therefore remain important throughout the installed channel.

The overall braid adds electromagnetic screening around the cable core but does not replace correct pair termination or structured-cabling installation practices.

Cat 5e S/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 overall tinned copper braid does not extend the standardized Ethernet transmission distance. Its function is electromagnetic screening rather than signal amplification.

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

When Should You Choose Cat 5e S/UTP?

Cat 5e S/UTP can suit projects that require Gigabit Ethernet together with an overall braid-screened architecture.

Typical selection factors include:

• 1000BASE-T network requirement
• 100 MHz Category 5e performance
• Project specification calling for an overall braid
• Industrial or technical environments with electromagnetic noise
• Screened IP surveillance infrastructure
• Building automation networks
• Commercial structured cabling

The electromagnetic environment should determine whether a screened construction is required. A braid-screened cable should not be selected simply because it appears more robust than an unshielded cable.

Cat 5e U/UTP vs F/UTP vs S/UTP vs SF/UTP

Architecture	Overall Foil	Overall Copper Braid	Individual Pair Screens
U/UTP	No	No	No
F/UTP	Yes	No	No
S/UTP	No	Yes	No
SF/UTP	Yes	Yes	No

All four constructions can provide Category 5e transmission performance, but their electromagnetic-screening architectures differ.

S/UTP occupies a distinct position because it uses an overall braid without an overall foil.

Cat 5e U/UTP vs S/UTP

Feature	U/UTP	S/UTP
Overall Metallic Screen	No	Tinned copper braid
Individual Pair Screens	No	No
Category Frequency	100 MHz	100 MHz
Main Difference	Unshielded architecture	Overall braid-screened architecture

U/UTP can suit controlled electromagnetic environments. S/UTP adds an overall conductive braid where the project requires electromagnetic screening.

Cat 5e F/UTP vs S/UTP

F/UTP and S/UTP both add one overall metallic screen around four individually unshielded pairs.

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

F/UTP uses an Al/PET foil, while S/UTP uses a tinned copper braid.

The correct construction should follow the project specification and electromagnetic environment rather than a universal assumption that one screen type is preferable.

Cat 5e S/UTP vs SF/UTP

S/UTP and SF/UTP both use an overall tinned copper braid.

SF/UTP additionally uses an overall Al/PET foil around the four-pair core.

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

SF/UTP therefore uses a more extensive overall screening architecture, while S/UTP uses braid only.

S/UTP Is Not the Same as S/FTP

S/UTP and S/FTP are different cable architectures.

S/UTP uses one overall braid around individually unshielded twisted pairs.

S/FTP uses an overall braid while every twisted pair also receives an individual foil screen.

Feature	S/UTP	S/FTP
Overall Braid	Yes	Yes
Individual Pair Foils	No	Yes
Typical ETK Families	Cat 5e / Cat 6	Cat 6A / Cat 7 / Cat 7A

Procurement specifications should use the exact slash notation rather than treating S/UTP and S/FTP as interchangeable terms.

Cat 5e S/UTP vs Cat 6 S/UTP

Characteristic	Cat 5e S/UTP	Cat 6 S/UTP
Category Frequency	100 MHz	250 MHz
Primary Ethernet Positioning	Gigabit Ethernet	Higher-performance Gigabit Ethernet
Current ETK Conductor Diameter	0.51 mm	0.57 mm
Overall Screen	Tinned copper braid	Tinned copper braid

Both families use an overall tinned copper braid, but Cat 6 operates through a higher standardized frequency and uses a different internal cable design.

Cat 5e S/UTP vs Cat 6A S/FTP

Characteristic	Cat 5e S/UTP	Cat 6A S/FTP
Frequency	100 MHz	500 MHz
Overall Braid	Yes	Yes
Individual Pair Foils	No	Yes
Primary Ethernet Positioning	Gigabit Ethernet	10GBASE-T

Cat 6A S/FTP adds individual pair screening and substantially higher standardized bandwidth for 10 Gigabit Ethernet infrastructure.

Cat 5e S/UTP PVC Cable

Cat 5e S/UTP PVC Cable combines braid-screened Category 5e transmission with a UV-resistant PVC outer jacket.

The current ETK Kablo construction uses 0.51 mm / 24 AWG solid copper conductors, solid PE insulation, four twisted pairs, polyester wrapping and an overall tinned copper braid.

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

Cat 5e S/UTP LSOH Cable

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

The current product uses 0.51 mm / 24 AWG solid copper conductors and an overall tinned copper braid around the four-pair core.

The current product documentation publishes applicable testing for:

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

LSOH or LSZH describes material and reaction-to-fire characteristics. It does not establish defined fire-resistant circuit integrity.

Cat 5e S/UTP PE Outdoor Cable

Cat 5e S/UTP PE Cable combines braid-screened Category 5e performance with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

The current construction retains 0.51 mm / 24 AWG solid copper conductors, polyester wrapping and an overall tinned copper braid.

Potential applications include:

• Outdoor LAN extensions
• External IP surveillance
• Campus Ethernet infrastructure
• Outdoor Wi-Fi connectivity
• Building automation networks
• Industrial outdoor network routes

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

PVC vs LSOH vs PE Cat 5e S/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

The jacket material changes environmental and reaction-to-fire characteristics. It does not change the underlying S/UTP screening architecture or 100 MHz Category 5e performance.

Cat 5e S/UTP for Industrial Ethernet

Industrial environments can contain motors, drives, switching equipment and power infrastructure that create electromagnetic noise.

Cat 5e S/UTP adds an overall tinned copper braid around the Ethernet core and can be relevant where the project requires braid-based electromagnetic screening.

Correct route separation, bonding, termination and compatible screened connectivity remain important parts of the installation.

Cat 5e S/UTP for IP CCTV

IP surveillance systems can use Cat 5e S/UTP for Gigabit-capable communication and compatible Power over Ethernet applications.

The overall braid can provide additional electromagnetic screening where camera routes pass through electrically active environments.

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

Camera bandwidth, PoE loading, channel length and switch capacity should form part of the complete network design.

Cat 5e S/UTP for VoIP

Voice over IP systems use Ethernet infrastructure to connect compatible telephones, switches and other network devices.

Cat 5e S/UTP can provide screened Gigabit-capable connectivity where the project requires an overall braid around the Ethernet core.

The screening requirement should follow the actual electromagnetic environment of the route.

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

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

Cat 5e S/UTP can provide Gigabit connectivity for compatible access points where braid-screened cabling forms part of the installation specification.

Projects using multi-gigabit wireless infrastructure should also evaluate Cat 6 or Cat 6A according to the access-point and switch requirements.

Cat 5e S/UTP for Building Automation

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

Cat 5e S/UTP can provide screened connectivity where technical infrastructure creates electromagnetic exposure that justifies an overall braid.

The network designer should choose the screening level according to the route conditions rather than assuming that every building-automation installation requires screened Ethernet.

Cat 5e S/UTP and Power over Ethernet

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

The tinned copper braid addresses electromagnetic behavior. PoE capability depends primarily on the electrical and thermal characteristics of the copper pairs.

Relevant design factors include:

• 24 AWG solid copper conductor construction
• Conductor resistance
• Resistance unbalance
• Network distance
• Cable bundle size
• Ambient temperature
• Installation pathway
• Required PoE power level

The overall braid should not be treated as a substitute for correct PoE electrical and thermal design.

Cat 5e S/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	Nominal 100 Ω
Operating Voltage	250 V DC
Test Voltage	1200 V DC for 1 minute

Cat 5e S/UTP Mechanical Characteristics

The current product documentation publishes:

• Four twisted pairs
• 0.51 mm solid copper conductors
• Overall tinned copper braid
• 8xD minimum bending radius
• -20°C to +60°C operating temperature

Final dimensions and packing requirements should be confirmed from the approved product documentation during quotation.

Cat 5e S/UTP Cable Standards

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e S/UTP technical documentation references:

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

The published transmission tables extend through 100 MHz.

Project specifications can require different standard editions, CPR classifications or additional documentation, so procurement teams should verify the requirements for the exact supplied construction.

LSOH Cat 5e S/UTP Fire and Material Tests

The current Cat 5e S/UTP LSOH documentation publishes:

• IEC 61034-2 for smoke-density characteristics
• IEC 60332-1-2 for flame retardancy
• IEC 60754-2 for corrosive-gas characteristics
• IEC 60754-1 for halogen content

These tests describe reaction-to-fire and material behavior. They do not establish defined circuit integrity during fire.

Therefore, Cat 5e S/UTP LSOH is not equivalent to ETK Kablo's FE180 or PH-rated fire-resistant cable families.

How to Specify Cat 5e S/UTP Cable

A complete RFQ should define network performance, screening, jacket material and installation requirements.

Specification Item	Information to Provide
Category	Cat 5e
Screening	S/UTP – overall tinned copper braid around individually unshielded pairs
Bandwidth	100 MHz
Network Requirement	1000BASE-T or applicable Ethernet application
Conductor	0.51 mm / 24 AWG solid copper
Jacket	PVC, LSOH or PE
Installation Environment	Indoor or outdoor-oriented route according to jacket selection
EMI Environment	Define the requirement for an overall braid screen
PoE Requirement	Required PoE application where applicable
Fire Requirement	Required smoke, flame, halogen and CPR documentation where applicable
Packing Length	Confirm according to selected product and approved documentation
Documentation	Approved datasheet, DoP where applicable and project documentation

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

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

The current range uses 0.51 mm / 24 AWG solid copper conductors, solid polyethylene insulation, polyester wrapping and an overall tinned copper braid with transmission performance through 100 MHz.

This provides distributors, network contractors, system integrators, CCTV installers and industrial projects with a braid-screened Category 5e option for applications where Gigabit Ethernet and additional electromagnetic protection are required.

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cat 5e S/UTP Cable

What is Cat 5e S/UTP cable?

Cat 5e S/UTP is a four-pair Category 5e Ethernet cable with one overall tinned copper braid around four individually unshielded twisted pairs.

What does S/UTP mean?

S/UTP means the complete cable core has an overall braid screen while the individual twisted pairs remain unshielded.

What material is the ETK Kablo Cat 5e S/UTP screen?

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e S/UTP products use an overall tinned copper braid.

Does Cat 5e S/UTP have foil shielding?

No. The standard current S/UTP construction uses an overall copper braid without an overall foil or individual pair foils.

What frequency does Cat 5e S/UTP support?

The current ETK Kablo Cat 5e S/UTP products publish transmission characteristics through 100 MHz.

Does Cat 5e S/UTP support Gigabit Ethernet?

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

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

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

What is the difference between Cat 5e F/UTP and S/UTP?

F/UTP uses one overall Al/PET foil around four unshielded pairs. S/UTP uses an overall tinned copper braid instead.

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

S/UTP uses an overall braid only. SF/UTP combines an overall foil with an overall braid.

Is S/UTP the same as S/FTP?

No. S/UTP has individually unshielded pairs. S/FTP adds a foil screen around each individual twisted pair together with an overall braid.

Is Cat 5e S/UTP armored?

Not automatically. The standard S/UTP braid is a tinned copper electromagnetic screen. Steel Wire Armor or Steel Wire Braid belongs to separate armored cable constructions.

Can Cat 5e S/UTP support PoE?

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

Does ETK Kablo manufacture PVC Cat 5e S/UTP?

Yes. The current range includes a Cat 5e S/UTP PVC construction.

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

Yes. The current range includes a Cat 5e S/UTP LSOH construction with smoke, flame and halogen-related test references.

Does ETK Kablo manufacture PE Cat 5e S/UTP?

Yes. The current range includes a Cat 5e S/UTP PE construction with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

Can Cat 5e S/UTP PE be used outdoors?

The PE construction provides an outdoor-oriented jacket material. Direct-burial, water-exposed or other demanding routes should still be evaluated separately.

Is Cat 5e S/UTP LSOH fire resistant?

Not automatically. LSOH and flame-retardancy characteristics describe reaction-to-fire and material behavior rather than defined circuit integrity during fire.

What information should I provide when requesting a quotation?

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