Cat 6 F/UTP Cable for Shielded Gigabit Ethernet Networks

Cat 6 F/UTP Cable provides foil-screened copper connectivity for Gigabit Ethernet, structured cabling, IP surveillance, VoIP, commercial LAN networks and industrial Ethernet installations where additional protection against electromagnetic interference is required. ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 6 F/UTP cables with solid copper conductors and PVC, LSOH or PE outer jackets.

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 F/UTP range uses four unshielded twisted pairs, 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, a star-shaped separator, an overall Al/PET foil screen and a tinned copper earthing wire. The cables provide Category 6 transmission performance through 250 MHz and publish a nominal characteristic impedance of 100 ohms.

F/UTP adds one overall foil screen around the complete group of twisted pairs. The individual pairs themselves remain unshielded. This construction can provide additional electromagnetic protection while retaining a relatively compact cable architecture.

What Is Cat 6 F/UTP Cable?

Cat 6 F/UTP is a four-pair balanced Ethernet cable with one overall foil screen around four individually unshielded twisted pairs.

The designation can be read as:

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

Buyers sometimes use terms such as Cat 6 FTP cable or shielded Cat 6 cable. F/UTP is the more precise notation because it identifies both the overall screen and the screening status of the individual pairs.

ETK Kablo Cat 6 F/UTP Cable Range

Product	Outer Jacket	Main Selection Direction
Cat 6 F/UTP PVC	PVC	General structured cabling where PVC materials are permitted
Cat 6 F/UTP LSOH	Halogen-free / low-smoke material	Projects requiring defined smoke and halogen characteristics
Cat 6 F/UTP PE	Polyethylene	Outdoor-oriented Ethernet routes

The three products share the same basic Category 6 F/UTP electrical architecture while using different outer-jacket materials for different installation environments.

Cat 6 F/UTP Cable Construction

Component	Current ETK Kablo Construction
Conductor	Electrolytic solid copper
Conductor Diameter	0.57 mm
Insulation	Solid polyethylene
Pair Construction	Four twisted pairs
Separator	Star-shaped separator
Overall Screen	Al/PET foil
Earthing Wire	Tinned copper
Individual Pair Screen	None
Outer Jacket	PVC, LSOH or PE according to product

How F/UTP Foil Shielding Works

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

This metallic layer helps reduce electromagnetic coupling between the Ethernet cable and external electrical noise sources. It also provides additional isolation compared with an unshielded U/UTP construction.

The tinned copper earthing wire provides a practical conductive path for screen termination.

However, the foil does not surround each individual twisted pair. F/UTP should therefore not be confused with U/FTP or F/FTP architectures, where individual pairs receive foil screens.

Cat 6 F/UTP Earthing Wire

Current ETK Kablo Cat 6 F/UTP products include a tinned copper earthing wire together with the overall Al/PET foil screen.

The earthing wire supports electrical continuity and termination of the foil-screen system.

A screened Ethernet cable should form part of a correctly designed screened channel. Compatible connectors, patch panels, bonding and installation practices influence the effectiveness of the complete shielding system.

Installing a screened cable without appropriate termination does not automatically provide the intended EMC performance.

23 AWG Solid Copper Cat 6 F/UTP Cable

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 F/UTP products use 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, corresponding closely to the commonly specified 23 AWG size.

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

The current products publish a maximum conductor resistance of 94 Ω/km at 20°C.

Professional buyers should distinguish solid-copper Cat 6 cable from copper-clad conductor alternatives when evaluating network performance, Power over Ethernet and project requirements.

Why Cat 6 F/UTP Uses a Star Separator

ETK Kablo places a star-shaped separator between the four twisted pairs in its current Cat 6 F/UTP constructions.

The separator helps maintain physical spacing between the pairs and supports the crosstalk performance required by Category 6.

Pair twisting, spacing, conductor geometry and foil screening work together as part of the cable's electrical design.

The separator therefore contributes to transmission performance rather than serving only as a mechanical filler.

250 MHz Cat 6 F/UTP Performance

ETK Kablo publishes transmission characteristics for the current Cat 6 F/UTP products through 250 MHz.

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 current products publish a nominal characteristic impedance of 100 ohms across the Category 6 frequency range.

Cat 6 F/UTP Cable for Gigabit Ethernet

Cat 6 F/UTP provides a screened cabling platform for 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet when the complete installed structured-cabling channel meets the applicable requirements.

Typical applications include:

• Office LAN networks
• Commercial structured cabling
• IP surveillance
• VoIP systems
• Wi-Fi access points
• Building automation networks
• Industrial Ethernet
• Telecommunications infrastructure

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

When Should You Choose Cat 6 F/UTP?

Cat 6 F/UTP can be appropriate where the project requires Category 6 performance together with additional overall electromagnetic shielding.

Typical selection factors include:

• Ethernet routes in electrically active buildings
• Commercial areas with dense electrical infrastructure
• Industrial environments with moderate EMI exposure
• Network pathways where an overall foil screen is specified
• Projects requiring screened structured cabling
• Gigabit Ethernet applications using compatible screened hardware

Normal cable-separation and installation rules still apply. Foil screening should not be treated as permission to ignore required separation from high-voltage or power circuits.

Cat 6 U/UTP vs F/UTP Cable

Feature	Cat 6 U/UTP	Cat 6 F/UTP
Overall Screen	None	Foil
Individual Pair Screens	None	None
Earthing Wire	Not required for a data-cable screen	Included in current ETK construction
EMI Protection	Relies on balanced twisted-pair architecture	Adds overall metallic screening
Termination	Simpler unshielded channel	Requires compatible screened installation practice
Category Bandwidth	250 MHz	250 MHz

F/UTP is not automatically required for every Cat 6 installation. U/UTP can remain appropriate where electromagnetic conditions are controlled, while F/UTP adds an overall foil screen where the project benefits from additional protection.

Cat 6 F/UTP vs S/UTP Cable

F/UTP and S/UTP both use four individually unshielded twisted pairs, but the overall screen differs.

Feature	F/UTP	S/UTP
Overall Screen	Foil	Metallic braid
Individual Pair Screens	None	None
Main Screening Concept	Overall foil coverage	Overall braid coverage

The correct construction depends on the project EMC requirements, cable dimensions, termination system and installation environment.

Cat 6 F/UTP vs SF/UTP Cable

Cat 6 SF/UTP adds a second overall screening layer compared with F/UTP.

Feature	F/UTP	SF/UTP
Overall Foil	Yes	Yes
Overall Braid	No	Yes
Individual Pair Screens	None	None
Screen Architecture	Single overall foil	Combined overall foil + braid

SF/UTP provides a more extensive overall screen architecture, but that does not mean every network requires it. F/UTP can provide a simpler screened solution where one overall foil satisfies the project requirements.

F/UTP Is Not the Same as F/FTP

The difference between F/UTP and F/FTP is important in technical specifications.

F/UTP uses one overall foil around four unshielded twisted pairs.

F/FTP uses an overall foil and additional individual foil screens around each twisted pair.

ETK Kablo uses F/UTP within its Cat 6 range, while F/FTP also appears within higher-performance Cat 6A product families.

Procurement documents should use the full screening notation to avoid supplying the wrong architecture.

Cat 6 F/UTP PVC Cable

Cat 6 F/UTP PVC Cable combines the standard foil-screened Cat 6 architecture with a UV-resistant PVC outer jacket.

The current ETK Kablo product uses 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, solid PE insulation, a star-shaped separator, Al/PET foil, a tinned copper earthing wire and PVC outer jacket.

The published approximate cable diameter is 6.6 mm.

PVC can provide a practical construction for fixed structured-cabling projects where conventional PVC materials meet the project specification.

Cat 6 F/UTP LSOH Cable

Cat 6 F/UTP LSOH Cable combines the same Category 6 foil-screen architecture with a halogen-free outer jacket.

The current product documentation publishes applicable testing for:

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

LSOH or LSZH does not mean fire resistant. These terms describe cable-material behavior during combustion and should not be confused with FE180, PH120 or other circuit-integrity requirements.

Cat 6 F/UTP PE Outdoor Cable

Cat 6 F/UTP PE Cable combines foil-screened Category 6 transmission with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

The current construction retains the 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, star separator, overall Al/PET foil and tinned copper earthing wire used across the F/UTP family.

Potential applications include:

• Building-to-building Ethernet links
• Outdoor IP surveillance
• Campus networks
• External Wi-Fi access points
• Outdoor industrial Ethernet
• External automation infrastructure

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

PVC vs LSOH vs PE Cat 6 F/UTP

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

Changing the outer jacket does not change the fundamental Cat 6 F/UTP screening architecture or 250 MHz category performance.

Cat 6 F/UTP for IP CCTV

Cat 6 F/UTP can support IP cameras that communicate through Ethernet networks.

The overall foil can provide useful additional electromagnetic protection where surveillance routes operate in electrically active environments.

Indoor projects can select appropriate PVC or LSOH constructions, while external camera routes can require a PE-jacketed product.

Where cameras use Power over Ethernet, conductor resistance, route length, cable bundling and PoE requirements should also form part of the design.

Cat 6 F/UTP for Wi-Fi Access Points

Wi-Fi access points rely on wired Ethernet infrastructure for network backhaul.

Cat 6 F/UTP can provide Gigabit Ethernet connectivity where the project also requires overall foil screening.

The cable can form part of PoE-powered access-point installations when the complete channel meets the required electrical and network specifications.

Cat 6 F/UTP for Industrial Ethernet

Industrial facilities can contain motors, variable-frequency drives, power distribution equipment and switching devices that generate electromagnetic noise.

Cat 6 F/UTP adds one overall foil screen compared with U/UTP and can provide a useful architecture where moderate EMI protection is required.

More demanding electromagnetic environments can justify evaluation of S/UTP or SF/UTP constructions depending on the project specification.

Cat 6 F/UTP for Power over Ethernet

Cat 6 F/UTP can form part of compatible Power over Ethernet systems.

The screen architecture primarily addresses electromagnetic behavior, while PoE performance also depends on conductor resistance and thermal conditions.

Important design factors include:

• Solid copper conductor construction
• Conductor diameter
• DC resistance
• Resistance unbalance
• Cable bundle size
• Ambient temperature
• Installation pathway
• Required PoE level

The foil screen should not be treated as a substitute for proper PoE electrical and thermal design.

Cat 6 F/UTP Cable Length

Balanced copper Ethernet installations commonly use a maximum structured-cabling channel length of 100 meters, typically including up to 90 meters of permanent-link cable together with patch and equipment cords.

Network designers should follow the applicable channel architecture rather than extending the copper route solely because electrical continuity remains present.

Fiber optic cabling or intermediate active equipment can serve routes that exceed the applicable balanced-copper distance.

Cat 6 F/UTP Electrical Characteristics

Parameter	Current 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 6 F/UTP Mechanical Characteristics

The current Cat 6 F/UTP PVC, LSOH and PE products use 0.57 mm solid copper conductors and publish an approximate overall cable diameter of 6.6 mm.

Current product documentation publishes:

• 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 6 F/UTP Standards

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 F/UTP product documentation references:

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

Project specifications can require a different edition or additional approval. Buyers should verify the required standard against the current documentation for the exact supplied product.

How to Specify Cat 6 F/UTP Cable

A complete RFQ should define both the Ethernet performance and the installation requirements.

Specification Item	Information to Provide
Category	Cat 6
Screening	F/UTP – overall foil, unshielded pairs
Conductor	Solid copper / required conductor diameter
Jacket	PVC, LSOH or PE
Network Application	LAN, CCTV, VoIP, Wi-Fi, industrial Ethernet or other application
EMI Environment	Required screening conditions
PoE Requirement	Required PoE application where applicable
Installation Environment	Indoor or outdoor-oriented route
Fire Requirement	Required flame, smoke, halogen and CPR classification where applicable
Packing Length	100 m, 500 m, 1000 m or project requirement where available
Documentation	Datasheet, DoP where applicable and project documentation

Why Choose ETK Kablo for Cat 6 F/UTP Cable?

ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 6 F/UTP cable in PVC, LSOH and PE constructions while maintaining the same core foil-screened Ethernet architecture.

The current range uses 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, four twisted pairs, a star-shaped separator, an overall Al/PET foil screen and a tinned copper earthing wire.

This gives distributors, network contractors, CCTV integrators and industrial projects a screened Category 6 option for indoor and outdoor-oriented network routes.

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cat 6 F/UTP Cable

What is Cat 6 F/UTP cable?

Cat 6 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 that 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, but F/UTP is the more precise structured-cabling notation.

What speed does Cat 6 F/UTP support?

Cat 6 F/UTP supports 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet over standard structured-cabling distances when the complete installed channel meets the applicable requirements.

What frequency is Cat 6 F/UTP?

Category 6 transmission requirements extend through 250 MHz.

Is ETK Kablo Cat 6 F/UTP 23 AWG?

The current products use 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, corresponding closely to the commonly specified 23 AWG size.

Does Cat 6 F/UTP have individual pair screens?

No. F/UTP uses one overall foil around the complete 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 an 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 screen, while S/UTP uses an overall metallic braid. In both architectures, the individual twisted pairs remain 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 metallic braid.

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

F/UTP has an overall foil around unshielded pairs. F/FTP adds individual foil screens around each pair as well as an overall foil.

Can Cat 6 F/UTP be used outdoors?

Yes, when the exact construction is intended for outdoor exposure. ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 6 F/UTP PE cable with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

Does ETK Kablo manufacture LSZH Cat 6 F/UTP cable?

Yes. The current portfolio includes a Cat 6 F/UTP LSOH construction with a halogen-free outer jacket.

Can Cat 6 F/UTP support PoE?

Cat 6 F/UTP can form part of compatible PoE networks. Conductor resistance, route length, bundle size, ambient temperature and the required PoE level should form part of the network design.

What packing lengths are available?

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 F/UTP PVC, LSOH and PE products publish 100 m, 500 m and 1000 m packing options.

What information should I provide when requesting a quotation?

Provide the Cat 6 F/UTP requirement, PVC/LSOH/PE jacket, required packing length, application, EMI conditions, PoE requirement where applicable, quantity and required project documentation.