AV Category Cable CAT5e Non-Plenum Cables

Summary: ProAV Category Cable CAT5e Non-Plenum Cables

ProAV Low‑Voltage Cabling for Commercial and Industrial Integration

Windy City Wire supplies ProAV cabling designed for the demands of commercial and industrial projects—where uptime, consistent performance, and clean installations matter. Our SmartWire cables support AV over IP distribution, control systems, PoE-powered devices, and networked audio with Category 5e performance. If your application calls for a different av cable type—such as a dedicated line level audio cable—our team can help you select the right product from our broader portfolio.

Why SmartWire for ProAV

• Manufactured in the United States, SmartWire is our brand of low-voltage cable built for professional installation environments and consistent pull-to-punch performance.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication is applied during manufacturing to reduce friction during pulls by up to 70%, helping crews move faster through conduit and pathways without additional mess or residue.
• Available in shielded and non-shielded constructions for flexibility across noisy electrical environments or standard office and campus runs.
• Custom jacket and stripe color options available to standardize identification across projects and simplify troubleshooting and service.

Built for Pro AV over IP and Control

• Category 5e, 350 MHz performance for AV transport platforms, control networks, and IP peripherals.
• 24 AWG, 4-pair bare copper conductors for stable terminations and reliable signal integrity.
• Choice of non-shielded for general use or shielded for areas with elevated EMI/RFI from motors, lighting, or broadcast equipment.
• Compatible with common RJ45 terminations and modular jacks used across pro av cable installations.

Key Details

• Performance: Category 5e, 350 MHz
• Conductor: 24 AWG, 4 Pair Bare Copper
• Shielding Options: Non-Shielded (UTP) and Shielded
• Lengths: 1000 FT and 500 FT
• Typical Pair Color Code: white/blue–blue, white/orange–orange, white/green–green, white/brown–brown
• Standard Jacket Color: Black (additional jacket/stripe colors available by request)
• Recommended Termination: Compatible with our MOD-88RL modular connectors and MOD-MCT68 crimp tool

Available Constructions

• 24 AWG 4 Pair Bare Copper Non-Plenum Low Voltage: Category 5e UTP designed for general ProAV data, control, and AV over IP runs up to 350 MHz. Select this construction for typical enterprise and commercial pathways where additional shielding is not required.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Shielded Bare Copper Non-Plenum Low Voltage: Category 5e STP for environments with higher electrical noise or long parallel runs near power. The shielded design helps preserve signal integrity for sensitive AV transport and timing-critical protocols.

Where this fits in your AV system

• AV over IP endpoints, encoders/decoders, and network switches supporting video distribution.
• Networked audio (e.g., DSPs, amplifiers, stage boxes), control processors, and touch panels.
• PoE-powered devices including cameras, occupancy sensors, and AV peripherals.
• Conference, classroom, hospitality, and venue infrastructure where dependable av cables are required for daily use.

How Windy City Wire adds value to your next project

• Single-source low-voltage product portfolio tailored for integrators—select the right pro av cable for each signal path without over-specifying.
• Consistent manufacturing and jacket performance that helps reduce re-terminations and callbacks.
• Options for shielding, jacket color, and stripe customization to match organizational standards and simplify lifecycle maintenance.
• Technical guidance from a ProAV focused team that understands ProAV timelines, change orders, and coordination with other trades.

Summary

SmartWire ProAV Category 5e cabling gives integrators a dependable foundation for AV over IP, control, and networked audio—built for commercial environments and offered in both non-shielded and shielded options. If your project requires a different av cable type, including a dedicated line level audio cable, we can help you choose the right construction for each signal path to keep systems stable, serviceable, and on schedule.

Solutions: ProAV Category Cable CAT5e Non-Plenum Cables

AV Category Cable CAT5e Non‑Plenum Cables for Professional AV

Windy City Wire’s CAT5e non‑plenum category cable is built for commercial AV infrastructure where code allows general‑purpose cabling. With solid 24 AWG, 4‑pair bare copper conductors and Category 5e performance up to 350 MHz, this pro av cable is a dependable backbone for networked audio, video transport, device control, and power delivery in demanding enterprise environments. It supports Gigabit Ethernet, common PoE/PoE+ power requirements, and the low‑latency connectivity modern AV systems rely on—all in a durable black jacket well suited for equipment rooms, racks, furniture feeds, and conduit runs.

Where CAT5e Non‑Plenum Excels in ProAV

• Conference and Collaboration: Connect codecs, soft‑codec PCs, touch panels, DSPs, microphones with networked endpoints, cameras, occupancy sensors, and UC peripherals. Ideal for AV over IP endpoints, KVM over IP, and control processors communicating across meeting spaces and huddle rooms.
• Education: Power and connect lecture capture systems, networked amplifiers, paging interfaces, document cameras, wireless access points supporting AV workloads, and digital whiteboards across classrooms, lecture halls, and training labs.
• Digital Signage and Retail: Link media players to network switches, PoE‑powered signage controllers, interactive kiosks, and menu boards. Stable long‑run performance keeps content synchronized across multiple displays and zones.
• Hospitality and Event Spaces: Support ballroom and meeting‑room AV networks, matrix/control endpoints, PoE touch panels, and encoders/decoders that route content throughout venues.
• Houses of Worship: Tie together audio DSPs, AoIP stage boxes, intercom, streaming encoders, networked amplifiers, and control surfaces for reliable weekly operation.
• Healthcare (Non‑Critical Areas): Power and network signage, conference spaces, training rooms, and telemedicine carts that integrate AV collaboration tools.
• Industrial and Warehouse: Connect paging systems, PoE clocks, scanners, safety signage, and monitoring endpoints within IDF/MDF layouts where non‑plenum cable is appropriate.
• Entertainment and Live Production: Temporary or semi‑permanent networking for stage I/O, comms, encoders, and control networks used in theaters and touring environments.
• Security and Control Integration: Many AV deployments overlap with facility systems; use CAT5e for PoE cameras at entrances to event spaces, access control panels near AV racks, or BMS interfaces that share the network.

Shielded vs. Unshielded—Choose for the Environment

• Unshielded (UTP) CAT5e: A cost‑effective, widely used choice for typical commercial runs in offices, classrooms, and hospitality spaces with moderate EMI.
• Shielded (STP) CAT5e: Adds noise immunity in high‑interference locations—near dimmers, large motors, broadcast RF, LED walls, or dense power distribution. Helps maintain link quality for AV over IP, Dante/AoIP, and control signaling in electrically noisy areas.

Both options utilize solid bare copper conductors for stable performance and are suitable for RJ45 terminations using standard 8P8C modular connectors. Following best practices for grounding (with shielded variants), maintaining pair twists to the termination, and observing bend radius will help ensure clean signals for networked AV.

Key Use Cases by System Type

• AV over IP and Streaming: Network switches to encoders/decoders, NDI and similar workflows, content distribution across campuses and multi‑floor enterprises.
• Audio over IP (AoIP): Dante, AES67, and similar protocols connecting microphones, stage boxes, DSPs, and amplifiers. For analog tie‑lines, a dedicated line level audio cable remains the right choice; CAT5e is for the networked layer.
• Control and Automation: Lighting, shading, switching, and room scheduling over Ethernet; reliable connectivity for controllers, gateways, and PoE touch panels.
• Digital Signage Networks: Media players, content servers, and display controllers distributed over Gigabit links.
• Unified Communications: Soft‑codec PCs, room systems, SIP phones, and peripherals that converge on the AV network.
• KVM and Extension: Keyboard, video, and mouse distribution via IP for production rooms, broadcast suites, and control centers.

Industries We Serve

• Corporate and Enterprise: Conference rooms, boardrooms, divisible spaces, and training centers.
• Education: Classrooms, labs, lecture halls, and campus‑wide signage networks.
• Government and Public Sector: Courtrooms, council chambers, briefing rooms, and operations centers.
• Hospitality and Entertainment: Hotels, convention centers, casinos, and theme attractions.
• Retail and QSR: Multi‑site menu boards, POS support, and promotional displays.
• Houses of Worship: Sanctuaries, youth centers, and overflow venues.
• Healthcare: Administrative, education, and collaboration areas (non‑patient critical spaces).
• Industrial and Logistics: Plant floor paging, monitoring, and communications networks.
• Stadiums and Arenas: Back‑of‑house AV networks, concourse signage, and operations rooms.

Performance and Build Details That Matter

• Solid 24 AWG, 4‑Pair Bare Copper for consistent electrical performance, better PoE/PoE+ current handling than CCA alternatives, and dependable terminations.
• Category 5e, 350 MHz performance supporting Gigabit Ethernet, suitable for the vast majority of AV control, AoIP, streaming, and signage use cases.
• Standardized Pair Color Coding aligns with industry termination practices, simplifying punch‑downs and RJ45 assembly across large projects.
• Non‑Plenum Jacket for use in general‑purpose spaces and pathway types permitted by local codes; ideal inside conduit, furniture systems, media cabinets, and equipment rooms.
• Black Jacket that blends in racks, theaters, and camera positions for a clean, professional look.

Lengths and Options

• Available Lengths: 1000 FT and 500 FT to match project scale, service loops, and pull strategies.
• Available Shielding: Non‑Shielded and Shielded versions to fit typical office environments or higher‑EMI AV spaces.

Integration Tips for AV Pros

1. Map AV over IP and AoIP traffic to properly provision switches, VLANs, and QoS; CAT5e links perform best with clean network design.
2. Select shielded cable when running parallel to power feeders, near LED processing racks, or under lighting dimmers to mitigate EMI.
3. Use certified terminations and test each drop to ensure bandwidth and PoE delivery meet device requirements.
4. For long video distribution runs and 4K‑intensive workflows, confirm the extender or transport system’s category cable requirements; CAT5e is ideal for many control, audio, and 1080p/streaming applications.
5. Combine with other av cables where appropriate—category cable for networked transport, and specialty analog or fiber where the application demands it.

When CAT5e Is the Right Choice

• You need cost‑effective, standards‑based cabling for Gigabit AV networks, control, AoIP, and signage with PoE/PoE+ power.
• The environment allows non‑plenum cable and run lengths fall within typical 100‑meter Ethernet limits.
• Devices and extenders specify Category 5e or “Cat5e or better.” If higher bandwidth or longer 4K distances are required, evaluate your transport method and category class accordingly.

Whether you’re building out a single conference room or a campus‑wide signage and audio network, our CAT5e non‑plenum offering provides the reliability integrators expect from a professional av cable—paired with the flexibility to serve as the common link between encoders, decoders, DSPs, controllers, and endpoints. For analog audio interconnects, a purpose‑built line level audio cable remains the better tool; for networked AV and control, CAT5e delivers the consistency and value that keeps projects on time and within budget.

Frequently Asked Questions: ProAV Category Cable CAT5e Non-Plenum Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT5e Non-Plenum Cables cable?

  24 AWG conductors.

• What other colors is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT5e Non-Plenum Cables cable available in?

  Available colors include White-Blue/Blue, White-Orange/Orange, Blue/White, and Orange/White. Custom SmartWire jacket and stripe colors can also be made—contact Windy City Wire for options.

• Is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT5e Non-Plenum Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  Solid bare copper, 4-pair conductors.

• What length is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT5e Non-Plenum Cables cable sold in?

  Standard length is 1,000 ft, with an additional 500 ft option available. At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in 1,000 ft length as our standard length.

• How is your SmartWire ProAV cable sold on spools or in boxes?

  Our SmartWire ProAV cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton to maximize jobsite efficiency. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
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