SmartCAT

Summary: SmartCAT

SmartCAT Category Cable

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage Category Cable to meet the demands of commercial and industrial projects. Our SmartCAT product line is built for integrators, contractors, and distributors who need dependable performance, streamlined installation, and clear jobsite organization—without unnecessary complexity. We partner directly with the trade; we do not sell to end users.

Why choose SmartCAT for your next low-voltage network

• Reliable transmission for commercial environments: Consistent electrical performance across long runs, engineered for voice, data, control, and building systems that depend on stable Category Cable.
• Standardized identification and colors: SmartWire supports clear pair identification and a wide range of jacket and stripe color options to help teams standardize installations and quickly identify their work. Ask us about custom jacket and stripe color combinations.
• Built for the application: Indoor plenum and outdoor direct-burial OSP constructions are available, both in non-shielded, solid 4-pair designs for straightforward termination and consistent performance.
• Trade-focused support: Work directly with a manufacturer that understands jobsite requirements, bid timelines, and contractor workflows, delivering products and solutions that fit how you install.

Available constructions

• 22 AWG 4 Pair Solid Unshielded Plenum (CMP) Low-Voltage: Plenum-rated Category Cable for air-handling spaces, supporting high-speed data applications with a 350 MHz bandwidth. Designed for consistent performance and efficient termination in commercial interiors.
• 22 AWG 4 Pair Solid Unshielded Direct-Burial OSP Low-Voltage: Outdoor-suited Category Cable for direct-burial or conduit runs. Durable jacket resists environmental exposure while maintaining stable electrical characteristics over distance.

Options at a glance

• Conductor size: 22 AWG (availability varies by construction)
• Shielding: Non-shielded
• Conductor count: 4 pair

How SmartCAT Category Cable delivers value

• Project-ready versatility: Choose plenum for interior air spaces or direct-burial OSP for outdoor pathways—both constructed for dependable Category Cable performance on enterprise, industrial, and campus jobs.
• Built for the trade: We supply products and solutions directly to integrators, contractors, and distributors, aligning manufacturing with real-world installation practices.

Summary
SmartCAT Category Cable from Windy City Wire combines proven electrical performance with installation features that save time and reduce waste. With constructions for plenum and direct-burial OSP environments, SmartCAT helps teams deliver consistent results across commercial and industrial projects. Contact Windy City Wire to discuss SmartCAT products and solutions for your next build.

Solutions: SmartCAT

SmartCAT Category Cable for Commercial and Industrial Projects
Windy City Wire’s SmartCAT line brings dependable, professional-grade Category Cable to integrators, contractors, and distributors serving commercial and industrial environments. Built around 4-pair, bare-copper conductors and engineered for consistent performance, SmartCAT helps teams standardize low-voltage infrastructure across a wide range of IP and control systems. We partner directly with the trade; Windy City Wire does not sell to end users.

Engineered Options for the Environment
SmartCAT is available in plenum and direct-burial constructions to match indoor and outdoor conditions while maintaining signal integrity and Power over Ethernet (PoE) performance.

• Plenum (Non-Shielded): A low-smoke, plenum-rated construction for air-handling spaces and other code-driven areas. The 22 AWG, 4-pair bare copper design with up to 350 MHz bandwidth supports today’s network edge devices and multi-application backbones in commercial buildings.
• Direct Burial (Unshielded Solid OSP): A rugged, outdoor-rated, 22 AWG 4-pair UTP cable designed for underground pathways and campus grounds. The OSP build and black jacket help protect against moisture and sunlight exposure, extending reliable network connectivity to parking lots, perimeters, and remote structures.

Where SmartCAT Excels

• Enterprise Networks: Horizontal cabling to work areas, conference rooms, and open-office layouts; switch-to-access point links; edge connectivity for printers, kiosks, and collaboration devices. The 4-pair UTP design supports Ethernet signaling while the larger conductor size helps manage PoE power delivery.
• PoE and High-Power PoE (af/at/bt): Efficient runs to devices that need both power and data, including IP cameras (PTZ and multi-sensor), wireless access points, VoIP phones, thin clients, and remote switches. Thicker conductors help reduce voltage drop and maintain device uptime within channel length guidelines.
• Security Systems: Unified cabling for video surveillance, access control panels, edge door controllers, intercoms, and emergency communication stations—indoors with plenum cable and outdoors with direct-burial OSP to parking lots, gates, and perimeter poles.
• Audio-Visual and Collaboration: AV-over-IP encoders/decoders, DSPs, control processors, scheduling panels, room controllers, and networked amplifiers—supporting reliable data paths for classrooms, boardrooms, training centers, and digital signage.
• Building Automation and IoT: Networked BAS/BMS controllers, environmental sensors, lighting control gateways, and PoE lighting nodes—leveraging consistent 4-pair construction for data plus DC power delivery to distributed endpoints.
• Industrial and Manufacturing: Connectivity for HMIs, IP-enabled PLC interfaces, vision systems, and IIoT gateways in light industrial zones. For campus yards, treatment facilities, and remote cabinets, direct-burial SmartCAT provides a continuous, grounded path back to core networks.
• Vertical Markets: Education, healthcare, hospitality, government, retail, transportation, and large venues—anywhere standardized Category Cable helps simplify design, speed installation, and streamline maintenance.

Integration Benefits for the Trade

• Consistent Performance: 4-pair, bare-copper UTP construction maintains stable impedance and crosstalk control for Ethernet-based systems.
• Reliable PoE Delivery: 22 AWG copper conductors provide low resistance to support power-hungry endpoints and minimize voltage drop across typical channel distances.
• Code-Ready Choices: Non-shielded plenum for indoor air spaces and unshielded direct-burial for outdoor pathways, helping teams meet environmental and safety requirements.

Connectivity, Termination, and Tooling
SmartCAT cables pair well with professional RJ45 termination hardware designed for larger-conductor builds. Options include RJ45 Cat6A shielded connectors with liners that accommodate cable diameters up to approximately 0.310" and conductor diameters in the 0.044–0.048" range. Eight-position modular plugs and matched crimp frames and dies help crews produce consistent terminations for high-speed applications. For teams standardizing on a single platform, compatible crimp tools such as EXO-style frames with dedicated dies and Tele-Titan style tools improve repeatability across sites and crews. Always follow device and connector guidelines (including use of load bars when specified) to maintain channel performance.

SmartCAT ToolsConnect for more information

Outdoor and Campus Considerations
For remote cameras, access points, and emergency stations, SmartCAT direct-burial UTP extends the network where conduit may be impractical. Its OSP-grade jacket and robust construction make it a practical choice for:

• Parking lots, garages, and gate controls
• Perimeter security poles and call boxes
• Stadiums, campuses, and park facilities

When transitioning from outdoor to indoor spaces, follow best practices for surge protection, grounding/bonding requirements for the installation environment, and adherence to local codes.

Design Tips for Successful Deployments

1. Match the cable to the environment: plenum for indoor air-handling spaces; direct-burial for underground pathways or exposed outdoor runs.
2. Select the gauge based on power budget and distance: 22 AWG helps mitigate voltage drop for PoE endpoints within channel length limits.
3. Confirm device speeds and power classes, then align connectors and tools to conductor size and overall cable diameter for consistent terminations.
4. Plan cable pathways and consolidation points to support future adds, moves, and changes across security, AV, wireless, and building systems.

Who We Serve
Windy City Wire works directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors. If you are specifying, installing, or supplying low-voltage infrastructure, our team can help you build a complete bill of materials—from SmartCAT Category Cable through matched connectivity and tools—to keep projects on schedule and within spec.

Get Started
Contact your Windy City Wire representative or authorized distributor to discuss SmartCAT options for your next commercial or industrial deployment. Whether you’re building out a new network core, expanding outdoor coverage, or standardizing PoE to edge devices, SmartCAT provides a dependable Category Cable foundation for scalable, low-voltage systems.

Frequently Asked Questions: SmartCAT

• What AWG conductors are available with these SmartWire SmartCAT?

  SmartWire SmartCAT Category Cable are available in 22 AWG 4-pair bare copper constructions, non-shielded.

• Are these SmartWire SmartCAT made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  These SmartWire SmartCAT Category Cable products use solid bare copper conductors.

• What lengths are these SmartWire SmartCAT cable sold in?

  At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire Category Cable in 1,000 ft lengths as our standard.

• How is your SmartWire low-voltage Category Cable sold—on spools or in boxes?

  Our SmartWire Category Cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton as part of the complete RackPack Field Systems Solution to maximize labor savings and efficiency. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

• What are the main differences between CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6A, and CAT7 cables?
  • CAT5e: Up to 1 Gbps at 100 m; typical bandwidth up to 100 MHz; suitable for basic data and voice.
  • CAT6: 1 Gbps at 100 m; supports 10 Gbps to about 37–55 m; typically 250 MHz bandwidth; tighter twists and better crosstalk control than CAT5e.
  • CAT6A: 10 Gbps at 100 m; up to 500 MHz bandwidth; improved alien crosstalk performance; ideal for high-density PoE and 10G backbones.
  • CAT7: Commonly specified to 10 Gbps at 100 m; ISO/IEC Class F up to 600 MHz (7A to 1000 MHz); typically uses individually shielded pairs with an overall shield and non-RJ45 connectors (e.g., GG45/TERA). Many North American installations standardize on CAT6A for broad device compatibility.

• What are some popular Category Cable colors and what do they stand for?

  Color conventions vary by organization, but common practices include:

  • Blue: Data/patch connections for general network drops.
  • White: General use or ceiling runs for clean identification.
  • Yellow: PoE devices, cameras, or wireless access points.
  • Green: Network management, crossover, or infrastructure services.
  • Red: Critical systems, security zones, or voice/VoIP priority lines.
  • Orange: Demarcation, interconnects, or uplinks.
  • Purple: A/V systems, broadcast, or guest networks.
  • Gray: Standard workstation drops or patching.
  • Black: Security/CCTV, theatrical, or low-visibility installations.
  • Brown: Backbone or building-to-building links.

  Always follow your organization’s documented labeling and color standards.

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you