Cat 6 S/UTP Cable for Braid-Screened Gigabit Ethernet Networks

Cat 6 S/UTP Cable provides braid-screened copper connectivity for Gigabit Ethernet, structured cabling, industrial networks, IP surveillance, building automation and other LAN applications where an overall metallic braid forms part of the electromagnetic-screening requirement. ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 6 S/UTP cables with solid copper conductors and PVC, LSOH or PE outer jackets.

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 S/UTP range uses 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, solid polyethylene insulation, four twisted pairs, a star-shaped separator and polyester wrapping. An overall tinned copper braid surrounds the complete four-pair cable core. The individual twisted pairs themselves remain unshielded.

This distinction defines S/UTP accurately: the cable has one overall braid screen, but no overall foil and no individual pair foils. ETK Kablo publishes Category 6 transmission performance through 250 MHz for the current S/UTP family.

What Is Cat 6 S/UTP Cable?

Cat 6 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

In the current ETK Kablo construction, the overall screen uses tinned copper braiding.

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

ETK Kablo Cat 6 S/UTP Cable Range

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

All three products share the same basic Category 6 S/UTP electrical architecture. The primary difference is the outer-jacket material.

Cat 6 S/UTP Cable Construction

Component	Current ETK Kablo Construction
Conductor	Electrolytic solid copper
Conductor Diameter	0.57 mm
Approximate AWG	Approximately 23 AWG
Insulation	Solid polyethylene
Pair Construction	Four twisted pairs
Pair Separator	Star-shaped separator
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 S/UTP Braid Screening Works

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

This metallic braid can help reduce electromagnetic coupling between the Ethernet cable and external electrical noise sources.

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

The overall braid therefore complements the twisted-pair architecture without creating individual pair screens.

Tinned Copper Braid in Cat 6 S/UTP

ETK Kablo uses tinned copper braiding as the overall screen in the current Cat 6 S/UTP range.

This is an electromagnetic-screening component rather than a mechanical armor layer.

The tinned copper braid used in S/UTP should therefore not be confused with the steel wire braid used in ETK Kablo SWB armored data cables.

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

S/UTP Is Not an Armored Cable

The word “braid” can create confusion during procurement.

A standard Cat 6 S/UTP cable contains a tinned copper electromagnetic braid, but it does not automatically contain steel mechanical armor.

Projects that require physical cable protection should evaluate the separate Cat 6 Armored Cable family.

0.57 mm Solid Copper Cat 6 S/UTP Cable

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 S/UTP products use 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, approximately corresponding to a 23 AWG construction.

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

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

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

Star-Shaped Separator

The current Cat 6 S/UTP construction uses a star-shaped separator between the four twisted pairs.

The separator helps maintain pair geometry and physical separation within the cable core.

This internal structure supports the stricter crosstalk requirements associated with Category 6 transmission performance.

The separator belongs to the electrical core and remains independent from the outer tinned copper braid.

250 MHz Cat 6 S/UTP Performance

ETK Kablo publishes Category 6 transmission characteristics through 250 MHz for the current S/UTP range.

Published 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 braid addresses electromagnetic-screening requirements. It does not change the standardized Category 6 frequency range.

Cat 6 S/UTP for Gigabit Ethernet

Cat 6 S/UTP can support 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet when the complete installed structured-cabling channel meets the applicable Category 6 requirements.

Typical applications include:

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

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

Cat 6 S/UTP Cable Length

Balanced copper Ethernet channels commonly use a maximum total channel length of 100 meters.

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

The tinned copper braid does not extend the standardized Ethernet distance. Its purpose is electromagnetic screening rather than signal amplification.

For substantially longer routes, project designers can evaluate active network equipment or fiber optic cabling.

When Should You Choose Cat 6 S/UTP?

Cat 6 S/UTP can be appropriate where a project requires Category 6 performance together with an overall metallic braid around the Ethernet core.

Typical selection factors include:

• 250 MHz Category 6 network requirement
• Gigabit Ethernet infrastructure
• Industrial or commercial environments with electromagnetic noise
• Projects specifically calling for an overall braid screen
• Screened IP surveillance networks
• Building automation infrastructure
• Technical areas with electrically active equipment

The screening requirement should follow the electromagnetic environment rather than an assumption that a more heavily screened cable is always necessary.

Cat 6 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

These constructions share the same Category 6 transmission class but use different electromagnetic-screening architectures.

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

Cat 6 U/UTP vs S/UTP

Feature	U/UTP	S/UTP
Overall Metallic Screen	No	Tinned copper braid
Individual Pair Screens	No	No
Category Frequency	250 MHz	250 MHz
Primary 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 additional electromagnetic screening.

Cat 6 F/UTP vs S/UTP

F/UTP and S/UTP both screen the complete four-pair cable core, but they use different metallic structures.

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

F/UTP uses an overall foil. S/UTP uses an overall tinned copper braid.

The correct construction should follow the project specification and electromagnetic environment rather than a generic ranking of one screen type over another.

Cat 6 S/UTP vs SF/UTP

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

SF/UTP adds an overall foil beneath the braid.

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 screen architecture, while S/UTP uses braid only.

S/UTP Is Not the Same as S/FTP

S/UTP and S/FTP are fundamentally different screening architectures.

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

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

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

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

Cat 6 S/UTP vs Cat 5e 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
Overall Screen	Tinned copper braid	Tinned copper braid
Current ETK Conductor Diameter	0.51 mm	0.57 mm
Star Separator	Not part of the standard current Cat 5e S/UTP construction	Yes

Both cable families use an overall braid, but Cat 6 provides higher standardized frequency performance and a different internal construction.

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

Cat 6 S/UTP and Cat 6A S/FTP should not be treated as equivalent simply because both use an overall braid.

Characteristic	Cat 6 S/UTP	Cat 6A S/FTP
Frequency	250 MHz	500 MHz
Individual Pair Foils	No	Yes
Overall Braid	Yes	Yes
Primary Network Positioning	Gigabit Ethernet	10GBASE-T

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

Cat 6 S/UTP PVC Cable

Cat 6 S/UTP PVC Cable combines Category 6 braid-screened transmission with a UV-resistant PVC outer jacket.

The current ETK Kablo product uses 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, solid PE insulation, four twisted pairs, a star-shaped separator, 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 6 S/UTP LSOH Cable

Cat 6 S/UTP LSOH Cable combines the same braid-screened Category 6 architecture with a UV-resistant halogen-free outer jacket.

The current product uses 0.57 mm solid copper conductors and the same overall tinned copper braid around the four-pair cable core.

Current documentation publishes applicable testing for:

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

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

Cat 6 S/UTP PE Outdoor Cable

Cat 6 S/UTP PE Cable combines the braid-screened Category 6 core with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

The current construction retains 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, a star-shaped separator, polyester wrapping and overall tinned copper braiding.

Potential applications include:

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

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 6 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 outer-jacket material changes environmental and reaction-to-fire characteristics. It does not change the underlying S/UTP screening architecture or Category 6 frequency range.

Cat 6 S/UTP for Industrial Ethernet

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

Cat 6 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 connector selection remain important parts of the network installation.

Cat 6 S/UTP for IP CCTV

IP surveillance systems can use Cat 6 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 can suit applicable indoor installations, while PE provides an outdoor-oriented jacket option.

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

Cat 6 S/UTP for Building Automation

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

Cat 6 S/UTP can provide screened Gigabit-capable connectivity where the building infrastructure creates electromagnetic exposure that justifies an overall braid.

The screening level should follow the actual installation environment rather than a blanket assumption that every building network requires a metallic screen.

Cat 6 S/UTP for Wi-Fi Access Points

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

Cat 6 S/UTP can provide Gigabit Ethernet connectivity for compatible access points where braid-screened structured cabling forms part of the project requirement.

Projects requiring full-distance 10 Gigabit Ethernet should evaluate Cat 6A according to the network design.

Cat 6 S/UTP and Power over Ethernet

Cat 6 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.

Important design factors include:

• Solid copper conductor construction
• Conductor resistance
• Resistance unbalance
• Channel length
• Cable bundle size
• Ambient temperature
• Installation pathway
• Required PoE power level

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

Cat 6 S/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	Nominal 100 Ω
Operating Voltage	250 V DC
Test Voltage	1200 V DC for 1 minute

Cat 6 S/UTP Mechanical Characteristics

The current product pages consistently publish:

• Four twisted pairs
• 0.57 mm solid copper conductors
• Star-shaped separator
• Tinned copper overall braid
• 8xD minimum bending radius
• -20°C to +60°C operating temperature
• 100 m, 500 m and 1000 m packing on current HTML product tables

Current HTML pages and downloadable PDFs show a difference in published outside diameter, so buyers should use the approved source document for final dimensional planning.

Cat 6 S/UTP Cable Standards

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 S/UTP documentation references:

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

The current transmission tables extend through 250 MHz.

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

LSOH Cat 6 S/UTP Fire and Material Tests

The current Cat 6 S/UTP LSOH product page 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 material and reaction-to-fire behavior. They do not establish defined circuit integrity during fire.

Therefore, Cat 6 S/UTP LSOH should not be described as equivalent to ETK Kablo's FE180 or PH-rated fire-resistant cable families.

How to Specify Cat 6 S/UTP Cable

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

Specification Item	Information to Provide
Category	Cat 6
Screening	S/UTP – overall tinned copper braid around individually unshielded pairs
Bandwidth	250 MHz
Network Requirement	1000BASE-T or applicable Ethernet application
Conductor	0.57 mm 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	According to selected product and project requirement
Documentation	Approved datasheet and project-specific documentation

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

ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 6 S/UTP Ethernet cable in PVC, LSOH and PE constructions for braid-screened structured-cabling systems.

The current range uses 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, a star-shaped separator and an overall tinned copper braid with Category 6 transmission performance through 250 MHz.

This provides distributors, network contractors, system integrators, CCTV installers and industrial projects with a braid-screened Category 6 option where Gigabit Ethernet and additional electromagnetic protection are required.

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cat 6 S/UTP Cable

What is Cat 6 S/UTP cable?

Cat 6 S/UTP is a four-pair Category 6 Ethernet cable with one overall metallic braid around four individually unshielded twisted pairs.

What does S/UTP mean?

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

What material is the ETK Kablo S/UTP screen?

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 S/UTP products use an overall tinned copper braid.

Does Cat 6 S/UTP have foil shielding?

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

What frequency does Cat 6 S/UTP support?

The current ETK Kablo Cat 6 S/UTP products publish transmission characteristics through 250 MHz.

Does Cat 6 S/UTP support Gigabit Ethernet?

Yes. Cat 6 S/UTP can support 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet when the complete installed structured-cabling channel meets the applicable Category 6 requirements.

What conductor size does ETK Kablo Cat 6 S/UTP use?

The current products use 0.57 mm solid copper conductors, approximately corresponding to 23 AWG.

What is the difference between Cat 6 F/UTP and S/UTP?

F/UTP uses one overall foil around the 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 unshielded individual pairs. S/FTP adds a foil screen around each individual twisted pair together with an overall braid.

Is Cat 6 S/UTP armored?

Not automatically. The standard S/UTP braid is a tinned copper electromagnetic screen. Steel armor or steel wire braid belongs to the separate armored cable construction.

Can Cat 6 S/UTP support PoE?

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

Does ETK Kablo manufacture PVC Cat 6 S/UTP?

Yes. The current range includes a Cat 6 S/UTP PVC construction.

Does ETK Kablo manufacture LSZH Cat 6 S/UTP?

Yes. The current range includes a Cat 6 S/UTP LSOH construction with smoke, flame and halogen-related test references.

Does ETK Kablo manufacture PE Cat 6 S/UTP?

Yes. The current range includes a Cat 6 S/UTP PE construction with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

Can Cat 6 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 6 S/UTP LSOH fire resistant?

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

What information should I provide when requesting a quotation?

Provide the Cat 6 S/UTP requirement, PVC/LSOH/PE jacket, network application, electromagnetic environment, PoE requirement where applicable, quantity, packing requirement and required project documentation.