SmartCAT

Summary: SmartCAT

SmartCAT Category Cable

SmartCAT Category Cable from Windy City Wire delivers dependable, low-voltage data cabling for commercial and industrial environments. Built under our SmartWire brand and manufactured in the United States, these unshielded twisted-pair solutions support structured cabling, AV distribution, building automation, security, access control, and other professional low-voltage applications. We partner directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors to provide products and solutions that streamline installation, reduce labor time, and support consistent results across projects. Windy City Wire does not sell to end users or consumers.

Why SmartCAT for your next project

• Consistent performance and headroom: Solid bare copper conductors and precision twist lay support reliable signal integrity. Our CMP plenum construction is performance-tested up to 400 MHz.
• Built for the environments you work in: Choose from plenum-rated for in-building pathways or direct-burial for outdoor underground runs—both low-voltage and non-shielded for straightforward termination.
• SmartWire Glide Technology: SmartWire Glide Technology is Windy City Wire’s term for the cable lubrication applied to SmartWire cables. It reduces pulling friction by up to 70% and is invisible to the touch, helping crews pull faster with less rework and fewer snags.
• FastFIND Footage Markers: Bold ascending/descending sequential footage markings appear every two feet on the cable jacket, making it easy to confirm you have 1,000 feet, track remaining cable at a glance, and calculate point‑to‑point runs. Proper use helps reduce waste by 15–25% and promotes full utilization of every box.
• Standardized identification: Four clearly color-coded pairs (White‑Blue/Blue, White‑Orange/Orange, White‑Green/Green, White‑Brown/Brown) support fast termination and field verification. Additional jacket and stripe color options are available to help standardize identification across your organization.
• Project-ready lengths: All SmartCAT cables are supplied in 1,000 FT lengths to support efficient pulls and predictable material planning.
• Part of the RackPack Field Systems Solution: SmartWire cable, FastFIND Footage Markers, and our overall system approach help improve safety, efficiency, and material utilization across the jobsite.

Available constructions

• 22 AWG 4 Pair Solid CMP Plenum Low-Voltage: Unshielded UTP rated to 400 MHz for in-building pathways where plenum compliance is required.
• 22 AWG 4 Pair Solid Direct Burial Low-Voltage: Unshielded UTP designed for underground pathways, with a moisture-resistant construction for outdoor installations.

Key specifications at a glance

• Category Cable options in 22 AWG and 21 AWG (availability varies by construction)
• Conductor: 4 Pair, unshielded twisted pair (UTP), solid bare copper
• Shielding: Non-shielded across the SmartCAT lineup
• Performance: Up to 400 MHz on CMP plenum construction
• Pair color code: White‑Blue/Blue, White‑Orange/Orange, White‑Green/Green, White‑Brown/Brown
• Jacket colors: White & Black Jackets available
• Length: 1,000 FT per cable

How SmartCAT adds value for integrators, contractors, and distributors

• Lower installed cost: SmartWire Glide lubrication and FastFIND Footage Markers help crews pull faster, cut accurately, and use more of every box—reducing waste and time on site.
• Reliable materials: Solid bare copper conductors and tightly controlled manufacturing mean consistent termination, stable long-run performance, and fewer callbacks.
• Standardization: Consistent color coding and optional custom jacket/stripe colors simplify identification, documentation, and maintenance across facilities and portfolios.
• Built for professional channels: We sell through and support integrators, contractors, and distributors with product depth, availability, and technical guidance for complex jobs.

Summary

When your project depends on dependable Category Cable, SmartCAT from Windy City Wire provides a practical, low-voltage solution built for commercial and industrial environments. With UTP constructions for plenum and direct-burial use, solid bare copper conductors, SmartWire Glide lubrication for easier pulls, and FastFIND Footage Markers to minimize waste, SmartCAT helps you deliver on performance and budget. Contact our team to review specifications, align on jacket/stripe color standards, and build a product plan for your next project.

Note

SmartWire and SmartWire Glide Technology are registered names used by Windy City Wire. SmartWire is not a technology; it is the brand name of our low-voltage cable line and part of the RackPack Field Systems Solution.

Solutions: SmartCAT

SmartCAT Category Cable for Commercial and Industrial Projects

SmartCAT is Windy City Wire’s performance-driven line of low-voltage Category Cable designed for the realities of commercial and industrial jobsites. Built around solid bare copper conductors and a 4‑pair unshielded construction, SmartCAT supports high-bandwidth data, control, and power delivery over Ethernet in a wide range of building and campus environments. Options include plenum-rated (CMP) for indoor air-handling spaces and unshielded solid direct-burial for outdoor pathways and between-building runs. Across the family, the larger copper gauges available help reduce DC resistance for stronger PoE performance and dependable device uptime.

Who We Serve

Windy City Wire partners directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors. Our focus is to help trade professionals deliver reliable networks and building systems on time and within spec. We do not sell to end users.

Where SmartCAT Category Cable Fits

• Enterprise LAN and WLAN – Horizontal drops to work areas, consolidation points, and in-ceiling runs to wireless access points in offices, healthcare, higher education, and government facilities.
• Security and Life Safety – IP cameras, video encoders, NVR connections, access control panels and readers, intercoms, emergency call stations, and perimeter devices using PoE/PoE+ or PoE++ where specified.
• Building Automation and Smart Buildings – BACnet/IP and Modbus TCP controllers, occupancy sensors and gateways, PoE lighting nodes and drivers, and environmental monitoring.
• Audio/Video and Collaboration – AV over IP endpoints, networked DSPs, control processors, scheduling panels, digital signage players, and room systems. Many HDBaseT and similar transports are supported when installed to the device and distance requirements.
• Industrial Ethernet – PLCs, HMIs, machine cells, and plant network backbones where ruggedized pathways and direct-burial transitions between buildings are needed.
• Retail and Hospitality – POS terminals, kiosks, digital menu boards, in-room access points, guest services terminals, and smart locks and controllers that use Ethernet and PoE.
• Transportation, Stadiums, and Public Sector – Camera networks, wayfinding screens, public Wi‑Fi, operations control networks, and distributed control systems.

Why Contractors Choose SmartCAT

• Solid Bare Copper Conductors – Ensures stable electrical performance, consistent terminations, and standards compliance for Ethernet and PoE applications.
• Available in 22 AWG and 21 AWG – Larger-gauge copper helps lower DC resistance for better voltage delivery to powered devices, supports higher PoE loads, and can provide additional headroom on challenging runs when engineered within TIA and NEC guidelines.
• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) – Straightforward to install and terminate with excellent performance in most commercial environments when standard pathway separation from noise sources is followed.
• High-Bandwidth Design – Engineered for up to 400 MHz to comfortably support Gigabit Ethernet and many 2.5GBASE‑T deployments, along with latency‑sensitive traffic for cameras, voice, and control.
• CMP Plenum and Direct-Burial Options – Match the jacket to the pathway: plenum for air-handling spaces; unshielded solid direct-burial for outdoor, underground, and campus applications.
• Installer-Friendly Details – Consistent diameter for cleaner routing and bundling, plus the standard 4-pair color code techs expect for quick identification and termination.
• Termination Compatibility – Works with 22 AWG–appropriate modular plugs, jacks, and termination tools to deliver repeatable, spec-compliant ends. Follow manufacturer instructions for conductor size compatibility.

System Integration Scenarios

• Wireless Access Points – Use SmartCAT to power and backhaul 802.11ax/6E APs via PoE+/PoE++. Larger copper gauges help mitigate voltage drop on long, loaded channels.
• IP Video – Camera runs to junction boxes and IDFs, with the headroom to support multi-megapixel streams and analytics while maintaining power stability across bundles.
• Access Control – Door controllers, readers, and intercoms over Ethernet or PoE for simplified power and data combined on one run.
• PoE Lighting – Drivers, fixtures, and sensors on structured cabling; lower resistance conductors help support higher-power nodes within the design envelope.
• Conference and Classroom Tech – Touch panels, control processors, cameras, and networked audio endpoints connected with one standardized Category Cable plant.
• Industrial Controls – Networked PLCs and devices in harsh pathways; transition to direct-burial for building-to-building runs without changing cable family.

Industry Use Cases

• Corporate and Multi-Tenant Offices – From open offices to MDF/IDF refreshes and wireless densification projects.
• Healthcare – APs, RTLS gateways, cameras, and clinical communications in plenum spaces.
• Education – Classrooms, auditoriums, labs, and residence halls with a mix of AV over IP and PoE endpoints.
• Retail and Logistics – POS, inventory systems, cameras, and dock door sensors across warehouses and distribution centers.
• Hospitality and Entertainment – Guest networks, in-room controls, signage, and networked AV for event spaces.
• Municipal, Transportation, and Public Safety – Campus-wide networks, intersections, stations, and operations centers.

Design and Deployment Considerations

• Standards – Plan channels to TIA‑568.2‑D and BICSI best practices. Validate performance with certification testing appropriate to the intended application speed.
• PoE and Bundling – For PoE+/PoE++ designs, account for conductor gauge, bundle size, ambient temperature, pathway fill, and device wattage. Follow TSB‑184‑A guidance and device vendor recommendations.
• Electromagnetic Environment – UTP performs well in typical commercial spaces. Maintain separation from high‑noise sources per code and standards. Where exceptionally high EMI is present, evaluate pathway and grounding practices.
• Plenum vs. Direct-Burial – Use CMP jackets in air plenums and other code‑required spaces. Choose unshielded solid direct-burial for underground or outdoor conduit where moisture and soil contact are factors.
• Device Speeds – SmartCAT supports Gigabit Ethernet broadly and many 2.5GBASE‑T use cases. For higher data rates or unusual distances, verify device specs and test the actual channel.
• Termination – Use connectors and jacks rated for the conductor size you select (22 AWG or 21 AWG). Maintain pair twist up to the point of termination and keep cable handling within bend radius limits.

Selecting the Right SmartCAT Option

1. Environment – Choose CMP plenum for indoor air-handling spaces; select direct-burial for outdoor and underground pathways.
2. Power and Distance – For higher-power PoE or challenging runs, consider the lower-resistance 21 AWG option; 22 AWG remains a strong all-around choice for most horizontal channels.
3. Application Mix – Align the cable grade with your mix of WLAN, cameras, AV over IP, controls, and PoE lighting to streamline inventory and terminations across the project.

Partner with Windy City Wire

From pre-bid assistance and takeoffs to on-site support and post-install verification guidance, Windy City Wire is built to serve integrators, contractors, and distribution partners delivering complex Category Cable projects. Talk with our team to match SmartCAT selections to your environment, power budget, and performance targets, and to coordinate compatible connectivity and termination components for a complete, standards‑aligned outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions: SmartCAT

• What AWG conductors are available with these SmartWire SmartCAT cables?

  These SmartWire® SmartCAT Category Cable options are available in 22 AWG and 21 AWG.

• What other colors are these SmartWire SmartCAT cables available in?

  Available color options include: White or Black Jackets

• Are these SmartWire SmartCAT cables made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  They use solid, bare copper 4-pair conductors and are unshielded (UTP).

• What lengths are these SmartWire SmartCAT cables sold in?

  Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks SmartWire Category Cable in a 1,000 ft standard length. For easier pulls and planning, SmartWire cables include FastFIND Footage Markers every two feet to help you track remaining cable and reduce waste. All stock SmartWire cables also come standard with SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication to reduce pull friction by up to 70%.

• How is your SmartWire low-voltage Category Cable sold—on spools or in boxes?

  Our SmartWire Category Cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

• What are the main differences between CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6A, and CAT7 cables?

  CAT5e: up to 1 Gbps, 100 MHz, common for basic data and VoIP over 100 m runs.
  CAT6: up to 1 Gbps at 100 m and 10 Gbps up to ~55 m, 250 MHz; better noise performance than CAT5e.
  CAT6A: 10 Gbps up to 100 m, 500 MHz; improved alien crosstalk control; often larger diameter.
  CAT7: typically shielded constructions (e.g., S/FTP), up to 10 Gbps at 100 m with 600+ MHz bandwidth; uses non-RJ45 connector types in ISO/IEC standards and is not a TIA/EIA recognized Category in the U.S.

• What are some popular Category Cable colors and what do they stand for?

  Color conventions vary by organization, but common usages include:
  Blue: general data/network drops
  White: office/administrative or ceiling runs
  Yellow: PoE devices, cameras, or APs
  Red: critical links, voice/VoIP, or security
  Green: management networks or crossover identification
  Orange: demarcation/ISP handoff or special circuits
  Purple: security/access control
  Black: A/V or camera runs
  Gray: standard patching or general use

Additional Links:

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