Category Cables CAT 6
Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage Category Cable in the United States to serve the needs of professional integrators, electrical contractors, and distribution partners. Our CAT 6 offering is built for commercial and industrial environments where consistent performance, clear documentation, and dependable supply matter. Whether you specify unshielded or shielded runs, plenum or non-plenum, or outdoor direct-burial pathways, our portfolio of cat6 cables helps you standardize installations and keep projects on schedule.
All SmartWire CAT 6 constructions are engineered for Category 6 performance to support Gigabit Ethernet to 100 meters and commonly used PoE applications, with select models offering Category 6e performance. We focus exclusively on products and solutions for the trade and do not sell to end users or consumers.
Why choose SmartWire CAT 6 from Windy City Wire
From core horizontal links to noise-prone spaces and outdoor pathways, our cat 6 wire and cable lineup gives you a clear path to compliance and performance with a single specification. If you are standardizing on category 6 cable or category 6 wire across multiple sites, our breadth of constructions simplifies planning and procurement.
Available constructions
At-a-glance options
How this adds value to your next project
Specifying SmartWire CAT 6 helps teams deploy consistent, code-appropriate cabling from a single source partner. Our focus on low-voltage products and solutions, combined with friction-reducing SmartWire Glide Technology lubrication and a full range of constructions, supports faster pulls, clean terminations, and predictable test results. We partner directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors to provide reliable availability, helpful technical guidance, and the breadth of category 6 cable and cat6 cables you need to execute the scope—on time and within budget.
Category Cables CAT 6 for Professional Low-Voltage Systems
Windy City Wire supplies Category Cable solutions designed for commercial and industrial environments. Our CAT 6 portfolio supports reliable data, voice, control, and power (PoE) across a wide range of building systems. We partner directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors to help standardize projects, control install variables, and deliver predictable performance from rough-in to commissioning.
Where CAT 6 Fits in the Low-Voltage Ecosystem
Cable Constructions to Match the Job
Performance and Standards
Lengths, Colors, and Selection
When to Choose Shielded vs. Unshielded
Key Advantages for Integrators, Contractors, and Distributors
Industries and Typical Use Cases
Specifying Windy City Wire CAT 6
Whether you need unshielded plenum for a typical office floor, shielded plenum near electrical equipment, non‑plenum for general spaces, or direct burial for outdoor runs, our cat6 cables deliver consistent performance across low-voltage systems. For project standardization and takeoff support, contact Windy City Wire to select the right cat 6 wire and cable construction for your application. As a partner to integrators, contractors, and distributors, we help you deploy dependable category 6 wire infrastructure that supports today’s devices and future upgrades.
Related Search Terms
Category Cable, category 6 cable, cat 6 wire and cable, cat6 cables, category 6 wire
These SmartWire category 6 cable options are available in 23 AWG and 24 AWG with 4 twisted pairs of bare copper. Constructions include shielded and unshielded, with plenum, non‑plenum, and even an outdoor direct‑burial shielded option.
Available colors include: White-Blue/Blue, White-Orange/Orange, White-Green/Green, and White-Brown/Brown. SmartWire can also be produced with custom jacket and stripe colors to standardize your installations.
They use solid bare copper conductors (4 pairs), ideal for permanent structured cabling. For stranded patch-cord needs, contact us for compatible solutions.
At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire category 6 wire as a standard 1,000 ft length. Additional lengths available on select items include 100 ft, 250 ft, and 500 ft to match project requirements.
Our SmartWire Category Cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton as part of our complete solution to help maximize labor savings and efficiency. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview
- CAT5e: Up to 1 Gbps to 100 m at 100 MHz; common for basic data/voice.
- CAT6: Up to 1 Gbps to 100 m at 250 MHz; supports 10 GbE up to ~55 m; better crosstalk performance than CAT5e; typical choice for modern category 6 wire and cable runs.
- CAT6A: 10 Gbps to 100 m at 500 MHz; improved alien crosstalk control; preferred for high-density, PoE, and Wi‑Fi 6/6E backhaul.
- CAT7: Typically 600–1000 MHz, fully shielded designs; supports 10 Gbps to 100 m; often uses non‑RJ45 connectors and follows ISO/IEC specs rather than common TIA standards; used in specialty environments.
While color conventions vary by organization, common practices include:
- Blue: Data/network drops for workstations (popular for cat6 cables).
- White: General use/ceiling runs or low‑visibility areas.
- Yellow: PoE devices, IP cameras, or important services.
- Red: Critical systems, emergency, or voice priority circuits.
- Orange: Backbone, uplinks, or interconnects.
- Green: Security systems, control, or legacy crossover designation.
- Purple: AV/broadcast or digital signage.
- Gray/Black: General patching, AV, or utility runs.
Use a documented color standard across projects for consistent Category Cable identification.