AV Category Cable CAT 6A Outdoor Cables

Summary: ProAV Category Cable CAT 6A Outdoor Cables

ProAV Cabling from Windy City Wire

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage cabling in the United States for professional audiovisual integration. Our shielded ProAV category solution is built for commercial environments where reliability, signal integrity, and predictable installation timelines matter—venues such as enterprise campuses, stadiums, performance spaces, higher education, healthcare, hospitality, broadcast, and mission-critical control rooms. If your project requires a pro av cable that supports AV over IP, real-time audio, control, or networked video distribution, SmartWire delivers consistent performance from design through turn-up.

Engineered for AV over IP and Modern Networks

• 23 AWG, shielded category cabling supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications common in AV transport workflows.
• Designed for POE (power over ethernet) use cases to power cameras, DSPs, touch panels, and endpoints across the same network infrastructure.
• Black jacket blends into equipment rooms, theaters, broadcast sets, and other low-visibility environments.
• Supplied in 1000 FT lengths to standardize planning, procurement, and installation across large-scale projects.

SmartWire advantages for installers

• SmartWire Glide lubrication is applied during manufacturing to reduce pull friction by up to 70% for easier, cleaner installs—especially in long or congested pathways.
• FastFIND Footage Markers help track remaining length and make quick point-to-point estimations, improving material planning and reducing waste by an estimated 15–25% when used properly.
• Consistent jacket and conductor performance supports clean terminations, predictable testing, and repeatable results across every pull.

Built for high-density technical spaces

• Shielded construction helps mitigate EMI/RFI and crosstalk in racks, conduits, and ceilings packed with power and signal lines.
• Cat 6A cabling provides headroom for current and future AV transport protocols and network growth, helping you standardize on one pathway for data and power.
• Works seamlessly with your preferred cat6a patch cable strategy at the rack and workspace, maintaining end-to-end performance objectives.

Available Construction

• 23 AWG 8 Conductors Solid Shielded Polyolefin Low Voltage: Shielded Cat 6A bulk pro av cable for AV over IP, control, and data backbones; supports 10G applications and POE (power over ethernet) while helping to minimize interference in dense AV environments.

Technical summary

• Category: Cat 6A Ethernet (bulk) with shielded design for noise reduction
• Application: 10GBASE-T data, AV transport, control systems, and PoE-powered endpoints
• Jacket color: Black
• Length: 1000 FT

SmartWire customization

SmartWire is known for flexible jacket and stripe color options. Standardize on your organization’s colors to speed identification during installation and future service. Contact Windy City Wire to discuss custom jacket and stripe configurations for project or enterprise standards.

Why teams choose Windy City Wire for ProAV

• Made in the USA SmartWire low-voltage cable designed for commercial AV deployments
• Shielded Cat 6A ethernet cable supports long-term network and AV transport needs
• Installation-focused details—SmartWire Glide lubrication and FastFIND Footage Markers—help reduce labor time and material waste
• Consistent quality across large rollouts for predictable testing and certification
• Product and solutions expertise from a partner dedicated to low-voltage cable

Summary: Value for your next project

SmartWire gives ProAV integrators a reliable, shielded Cat 6A foundation for data, audio, video, and control—backed by features that help you install faster and waste less. With consistent performance for 10G and POE (power over ethernet) applications, black-jacket aesthetics for professional spaces, and the ability to align with your cat6a patch cable plan at endpoints, Windy City Wire provides the products and solutions you can standardize on across your portfolio.

Solutions: ProAV Category Cable CAT 6A Outdoor Cables

CAT 6A Outdoor Cabling for Professional AV Networks
Windy City Wire’s shielded, black‑jacket CAT 6A outdoor solutions are designed for commercial AV deployments that demand dependable bandwidth, clean signal integrity, and streamlined installation. This pro av cable category supports high‑density networking and AV over IP workflows for integrators, consultants, and facility teams building scalable systems across large properties and mixed indoor/outdoor environments.

Where CAT 6A Outdoor Cable Fits in AV Systems

• AV over IP distribution: Connect encoders/decoders, media processors, and displays across campuses, stadiums, and public spaces. Cat 6a cabling enables 10G network backbones that carry high‑resolution content with low latency.
• Networked audio (Dante/AVB and similar): Tie together stage boxes, PoE DSPs, network amplifiers, and ceiling or outdoor speakers. Shielded construction helps limit interference from lighting systems and power runs.
• Unified communication and collaboration: Extend conferencing to outdoor meeting areas, courtyard overflow spaces, and flexible event zones with reliable connectivity for cameras, microphones, and collaboration endpoints.
• Digital signage and LED displays: Feed displays, menu boards, and large LED walls in outdoor concourses and storefronts. CAT 6A supports both content transport and device power where POE (power over ethernet) is applicable.
• Control, automation, and monitoring: Network touch panels, processors, environmental sensors, and lighting controllers across facilities for centralized management and diagnostics.
• Security and AV convergence: Tie PTZ cameras, intercoms, and paging with public‑address and visual messaging systems, leveraging shared infrastructure while maintaining segmented networks.
• Wireless augmentation: Backhaul outdoor Wi‑Fi access points that support streaming, ticketing, and guest experiences during events and peak traffic periods.

Key Advantages of Shielded CAT 6A for Outdoor AV

• Performance headroom: Cat 6a ethernet cable is engineered for 10‑Gigabit Ethernet, providing the throughput required by modern AV over IP, multi‑channel audio, and management traffic on a single network.
• Noise mitigation: Shielding helps reduce EMI/RFI from motors, lighting arrays, and power distribution common in venues, transportation hubs, and industrial sites.
• POE (power over ethernet) device support: Streamline installations by powering compatible cameras, encoders, control panels, and amplifiers over the same cable used for data.
• Professional presentation: A black jacket blends with conduit, cable tray, and exterior structures for a clean, consistent look in public or guest‑facing areas.

Industries and Environments That Benefit

• Corporate campuses: Connect outdoor signage, collaborative areas, security, and sitewide paging on a single structured cabling platform.
• Stadiums and arenas: Support large LED boards, IP broadcast paths, intercom, and crowd information systems with robust backbone capacity.
• Higher education and K‑12: Link buildings, courtyards, stadiums, and student gathering spaces for events, digital wayfinding, and hybrid learning.
• Hospitality and retail: Power outdoor menu boards, interactive kiosks, perimeter audio, and surveillance as part of cohesive guest experiences.
• Transportation hubs and convention centers: Feed signage networks, ticketing kiosks, cameras, and paging across extensive concourses.
• Healthcare campuses: Extend secure networks to exterior entries, walkways, and parking for communications, wayfinding, and safety systems.
• Houses of worship and performing arts: Connect remote stages, overflow seating, and broadcast capture points for services and events.
• Industrial facilities: Enable reliable links for process displays, paging, and safety communications in high‑interference areas.

Common AV Endpoints and Integrations

• AV over IP encoders/decoders and media players feeding exterior or large‑format displays
• Network DSPs, PoE amplifiers, and speaker endpoints for distributed audio
• PTZ and fixed cameras, intercom stations, and access control panels
• Touch panels, room schedulers, kiosks, and wayfinding systems
• LED wall controllers and digital signage players
• Outdoor Wi‑Fi access points supporting streaming and mobile applications

Deployment Guidance for Integrators

1. Design for end‑to‑end CAT 6A performance: Use matched connectors, modular plugs, and patch panels rated for CAT 6A to maintain channel integrity.
2. Plan for shielding continuity: Follow bonding and grounding best practices for shielded cable to minimize noise and ensure compliance.
3. Pathways and separation: Route in conduit or tray as required and maintain adequate separation from high‑voltage lines and lighting controls.
4. POE (power over ethernet) budgeting: Confirm power classes and distances for cameras, amplifiers, and control devices to avoid mid‑span surprises.
5. Testing and documentation: Certify channels to CAT 6A standards and label endpoints for faster service and future expansion.
6. Complete the link in the rack: Use appropriately rated cat6a patch cable to connect switches, DSPs, and encoders to the permanent link.

Why Choose Windy City Wire for Outdoor Pro AV
Our CAT 6A outdoor solutions give AV teams a dependable, shielded cable platform that supports today’s bandwidth needs while leaving room for future services. With consistent construction and a black jacket for a professional look, they help standardize installations across diverse sites—reducing troubleshooting time, simplifying device power via POE (power over ethernet), and supporting the performance expectations of modern pro av cable infrastructures.

For assistance aligning cat 6a cabling to your AV design, our team can help with product selection, pathway strategy, and best practices for shielded terminations and certification.

Frequently Asked Questions: ProAV Category Cable CAT 6A Outdoor Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 6A Outdoor Cables cable?
  23 AWG conductors.
• What other colors is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 6A Outdoor Cables cable available in?
  The standard jacket color for this category is Black. Additional stock colors are not listed; however, SmartWire cables can be custom ordered with specific jacket and stripe colors—contact Windy City Wire for customization options.
• Is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 6A Outdoor Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
  Solid bare copper conductors, with a shielded construction for reliable outdoor performance.
• What length is this SmartWire AV Category Cable CAT 6A Outdoor Cables cable sold in?
  1,000 ft. Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks 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 for efficient pulls and handling. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

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• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
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