AV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables

Summary: ProAV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables

Pro AV Cabling Solutions from Windy City Wire
Deliver dependable networked audio, video, and control with SmartWire low-voltage cabling purpose-built for professional AV environments. Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire in the United States and supplies organizations that need consistent performance, clear specification control, and reliable availability across job sites and rollouts.

Why SmartWire for Pro AV
Pro AV systems depend on stable bandwidth, noise resistance, and clean terminations across long runs and dense pathways. Our Category 6 plenum constructions are designed for today’s AV-over-IP transport, control systems, and enterprise networks. Whether you’re running encoders/decoders, control processors, matrix endpoints, or audio networking platforms, SmartWire helps you standardize your pro av cable specification across projects.

• Category 6 performance for AV-over-IP: Supports high-throughput streaming, device control, and data backbones within enterprise and venue networks.
• POE (power over ethernet) ready: 23 AWG solid copper conductors support long-run device power for cameras, DSPs, touchpanels, and networked endpoints while helping manage heat and voltage drop.
• Plenum-rated for compliance: CMP plenum constructions meet code for air-handling spaces common in commercial ceilings and pathways.
• Shielding options for noisy spaces: Choose unshielded or shielded plenum to address EMI/RFI near lighting control, LED drivers, and high-density AV racks.
• Installation efficiency: SmartWire Glide lubrication is applied to the cable jacket during manufacturing to reduce pull friction by up to 70% for faster, cleaner pulls through conduit and trays.

Built for Integrators and Facilities Teams
AV projects demand predictable installation and long-term reliability. SmartWire’s consistent geometry, tight pair balance, and 23 AWG solid bare copper conductors help control crosstalk and maintain link integrity across long runs. Standard pair color coding (White-Blue/Blue, White-Orange/Orange, White-Green/Green, White-Brown/Brown) supports fast identification and termination in the field. Stock jacket colors typically include black and blue, with the option to standardize further across your organization.

System Compatibility
SmartWire Category 6 plenum cabling integrates seamlessly with enterprise switches, extenders, and AV endpoints. Use bulk SmartWire runs in the walls and ceilings and finish at the rack or faceplates with your preferred cat6 patch cable to complete the channel.

Lengths and Ordering
All constructions are available in 1000 FT lengths. Additional lengths include 100 FT, 250 FT, and 500 FT to align with project and service requirements.

Available Constructions

• 23 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Plenum (CMP) Low-Voltage: Unshielded Category 6 for data, control, and AV-over-IP in typical commercial pathways; supports POE (power over ethernet) with solid copper conductors for robust performance.
• 23 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Shielded Plenum (CMP) Low-Voltage: Shielded Category 6 with overall shielding for high-interference environments; ideal near lighting controls, dimmers, and RF sources while supporting POE (power over ethernet).

Where This Excels in Pro AV

• Corporate and higher education: Lecture capture, room scheduling touchpanels, cameras, and content distribution.
• Hospitality and retail: Digital signage networks, POS backbones, and distributed audio control.
• Houses of worship and venues: Stage boxes, control positions, encoder/decoder nodes, and broadcast back-of-house.
• Healthcare and government: Secure networks, monitoring devices, and facility-wide control endpoints.

Value for Your Next Project
Windy City Wire delivers products and solutions that help integrators and facility teams finish on time and with confidence. With SmartWire, you can standardize a pro av cable spec across sites, choose shielding where needed, and benefit from pull-friendly jackets that help crews work faster. Our ProAV focus means you can count on clear specifications, consistent quality, and the options you need to scale—from color standardization to multiple order lengths.

Key Advantages at a Glance

• Category 6 performance built on 23 AWG solid bare copper conductors.
• CMP plenum constructions for code-driven commercial installs.
• Unshielded and shielded options to match the electrical environment.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication for smoother pulls and time savings.
• Standard pair color coding for efficient terminations and testing.
• Works seamlessly with your chosen av cables and cat6 patch cable at the rack or faceplate.
• Available in 1000 FT, with 100, 250, and 500 FT options to reduce waste across phased jobs and service work.

Plan Your Specification
Ready to standardize your Pro AV network runs? Talk with Windy City Wire about SmartWire constructions, jacket color and stripe preferences, and how our low-voltage products and solutions can support your rollout schedule and performance requirements.

Solutions: ProAV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables

AV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables for Professional AV
Windy City Wire CAT 6 plenum cables are built for commercial AV, broadcast, and enterprise environments where reliability, code compliance, and consistent performance matter. With 23 AWG solid bare copper conductors and Category 6 performance, these four-pair twisted AV cables provide a dependable foundation for AV-over-IP transport, control, and device power across a wide range of ProAV applications. Plenum-rated construction supports use in air-handling spaces, helping you meet installation and safety requirements across complex facilities.

Where CAT 6 Plenum Excels in AV Systems and Integrations

• AV-over-IP video transport: Distribute 4K content over the network using encoders/decoders and network switches. Ideal for digital signage, enterprise IPTV, and large campus deployments.
• HDBaseT and extender solutions: Support longer HDMI runs and control from racks to endpoints in conference rooms, classrooms, and hospitality suites.
• Networked audio: Connect Dante, AES67, and AVB endpoints, DSPs, amplifiers, and PoE speakers with consistent performance and low latency.
• Unified communications and collaboration: Tie together soft-codec rooms, Teams/Zoom spaces, touchpanels, scheduling displays, webcams, and USB extenders via structured cabling.
• Control systems and monitoring: Provide IP connectivity for control processors, lighting control gateways, occupancy sensors, and environmental monitoring.
• Digital signage and kiosk networks: Power and connect players, media controllers, and interactive wayfinding endpoints throughout facilities.
• Intercom, paging, and assisted listening: Use a shared network backbone to simplify distribution and centralized management.
• Security-adjacent AV: Support NVR connections, IP video walls in SOCs, and operator consoles that require dependable links to the network core.

Industries That Depend on ProAV Category 6 Plenum

• Corporate and enterprise: Conference rooms, divisible training spaces, boardrooms, and campus-wide digital signage.
• Higher education and K–12: Lecture halls, hybrid classrooms, auditoriums, and eSports labs.
• Healthcare: Simulation labs, telehealth spaces, operations centers, and wayfinding networks.
• Government and public sector: Courtrooms, council chambers, briefing rooms, and command-and-control environments.
• Hospitality and entertainment: Hotels, casinos, sports venues, theaters, and themed attractions.
• Retail and quick-serve: In-store digital signage, menu boards, kiosks, and back-of-house control networks.
• Transportation and critical infrastructure: Operations centers, passenger information displays, and PA/VA systems.
• Houses of worship: Broadcast suites, overflow rooms, and distributed audio/video throughout the campus.

Why Choose Windy City Wire CAT 6 Plenum for ProAV

• Solid performance for ProAV transport: 23 AWG solid bare copper conductors and precision twisted pairs support stable bandwidth for AV-over-IP, control, and streaming workflows.
• Plenum-rated for code compliance: CMP plenum construction allows installation in return-air spaces commonly encountered in commercial buildings.
• Supports POE (power over ethernet): Power cameras, touchpanels, small-format amplifiers, encoders/decoders, and networked audio endpoints through the same cable that carries data. Helps reduce home-run power requirements and speeds deployment.
• Shielding options for noise management: Choose unshielded for typical office and education environments, or shielded constructions to help mitigate EMI in venues with lighting dimmers, motors, or dense equipment racks.
• Streamlined identification: Available jacket colors (such as black and blue) help with zone, VLAN, or system-role identification during installation and service.
• Flexible project planning: Offered in multiple lengths including 100, 250, 500, and 1000 FT to match small room refreshes or large campus rollouts.

Common AV Topologies and Best Practices

1. Structured cabling approach: Home-run CAT 6 from endpoints to IDFs/MDFs, terminate on patch panels, and cross-connect to switches. Use cat6 patch cable for equipment-to-panel connections while reserving plenum-rated bulk cable for permanent links.
2. Plan for device power: When designs rely on POE (power over ethernet), validate power budgets, switch capabilities, and cable distances to ensure reliable endpoint operation.
3. Select shielding to fit the space: Use shielded constructions near stage lighting, elevator equipment, or broadcast gear. Unshielded is typically sufficient in office and classroom environments.
4. Maintain installation integrity: Observe bend radius, avoid over-tensioning, separate from high-voltage lines, and test each run to confirm performance prior to commissioning.
5. Design for serviceability: Label network drops by zone and system role; choose jacket colors that align with AV, control, or voice networks to simplify troubleshooting and upgrades.

Applications at a Glance

• Conference rooms, huddle spaces, and training centers connecting codecs, cameras, microphones, DSPs, and displays.
• Lecture-capture and distance-learning systems using AV-over-IP encoders and decoders across campus networks.
• Venue-wide digital signage and menu boards with central content management and local PoE-powered players.
• Broadcast and production spaces linking control rooms, stage boxes, and networked audio endpoints.
• Command centers, network operations centers, and security operations centers feeding multi-display processors and operator workstations.

Fit for ProAV Workflows
From multiroom video distribution to networked audio and control, Windy City Wire CAT 6 plenum bulk pro av cable provides the dependable infrastructure integrators need to deliver consistent results. Use it alongside quality av cables and switches to build systems that scale, simplify maintenance, and support evolving AV-over-IP standards across the enterprise.

Frequently Asked Questions: ProAV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables cable?
  

  23 AWG conductors are available. This Category 6 plenum cable is built with 23 AWG, 4-pair bare copper.

• What other colors is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables cable available in?
  

  Available color options include: White-Blue/Blue, White-Orange/Orange, White-Green/Green, and White-Brown/Brown. Custom jacket and stripe color combinations can also be produced—contact Windy City Wire for details.

• Is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
  

  Solid bare copper conductors. The cable uses 23 AWG solid copper across its 4 pairs for reliable performance in permanent installations.

• What length is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 6 Plenum Cables cable sold in?
  

  1,000 ft is the standard length. At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in 1,000 ft length as our standard length. Additional available lengths include 100 ft, 250 ft, and 500 ft.

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

  Our SmartWire ProAV cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton to help maximize labor savings and on-site efficiency. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

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