Category Cables – CAT 6 Outdoor
Windy City Wire supplies trade professionals with SmartWire low-voltage Category Cable engineered for exterior CAT 6 applications. Our cat6 outdoor cable options are built for direct-burial and outdoor environments, helping integrators, contractors, and distributors execute reliable network, security, surveillance, access control, and building systems where exterior runs are required. If you need exterior cat6 cable that installs cleanly, pulls smoothly, and performs to Category 6 specifications, our SmartWire lineup delivers a dependable, field-ready solution.
Why SmartWire for outdoor Category 6?
Where these CAT 6 outdoor cables fit
How Windy City Wire adds value
Available constructions
Summary
SmartWire Category Cable for CAT 6 Outdoor applications gives commercial and industrial teams dependable options for exterior runs, from unshielded direct-burial to foil-shielded designs that help control interference. With U.S.-manufactured low-voltage cable, SmartWire Glide lubrication to speed installation, and trade-focused support, Windy City Wire is a reliable partner for your next outdoor Category Cable project.
Category Cables – CAT 6 Outdoor
Windy City Wire supports commercial and industrial projects with Category Cable built for demanding outdoor conditions. Our category 6 outdoor cable options are designed for reliable Ethernet and PoE connectivity between buildings, on rooftops, along perimeters, and in direct-burial pathways. We partner directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors to help you select and deploy the right cat 6 wire and cable for each environment and system.
Built for Outdoor Performance
Our CAT 6 outdoor solutions use solid bare copper conductors in a 4‑pair construction to deliver consistent performance for Gigabit Ethernet and power delivery to remote devices. Options include:
Both constructions are engineered for the challenges of exterior installations, including direct-burial routes and exposure to the elements. A durable outdoor jacket and industry‑standard pair color coding support efficient terminations and long‑term serviceability.
Where CAT 6 Outdoor Cabling Fits
Systems and Devices Supported
Choosing the Right Category 6 Outdoor Cable
Installation Considerations for Exterior CAT6 Cable
Why Work with Windy City Wire
Two options are available: 24 AWG 4-pair bare copper in a direct-burial unshielded design, and 23 AWG 4-pair bare copper in a direct-burial shielded (overall aluminum foil) design. Both are Category Cable options optimized for cat6 outdoor cable applications.
The outer jacket is black for outdoor use. Inside the cable, the standard 4-pair color codes are:
They are made with solid bare copper conductors for stable performance on long runs and reliable PoE delivery—ideal for exterior cat6 cable deployments.
Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks SmartWire Category Cable in 1,000 ft lengths as our standard length. Each category 6 outdoor cable is provided in a single 1,000 ft unit to streamline installation and inventory planning.
Our SmartWire cat 6 wire and cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton to maximize labor savings and efficiency as part of our complete solution (not on spools). Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview
- CAT5e: Up to 1 Gbps at 100 m; 100 MHz bandwidth; typically unshielded; suitable for everyday data drops.
- CAT6: Up to 1 Gbps at 100 m and 10 Gbps up to ~37–55 m; 250 MHz; tighter twist and separator reduce crosstalk; common for higher-performance runs and many cat6 outdoor cable builds.
- CAT6A: 10 Gbps at 100 m; 500 MHz; larger diameter and more stringent crosstalk control; available in shielded or unshielded for noisy environments and high PoE loads.
- CAT7: 10 Gbps at 100 m; typically 600+ MHz and fully shielded constructions; commonly uses non-RJ45 connectors (e.g., GG45/Tera) and is not a TIA/EIA-recognized Category in the U.S. enterprise market.
Color conventions vary by organization, but here are common uses: