Summary: SmartCAT Outdoor

SmartCAT Outdoor Category Cable

SmartCAT Outdoor is Windy City Wire’s outdoor-rated Category Cable offering for low-voltage runs between buildings, around perimeters, and in challenging environments where direct burial or exposed UV conditions are part of the project scope. Built for commercial and industrial installations, this SmartWire® cable uses solid bare copper conductors and a rugged outdoor jacket to deliver consistent performance on long runs to field devices such as cameras, access control points, sensors, and communications endpoints.

Manufactured in the United States under our SmartWire® brand, SmartCAT Outdoor helps integrators, contractors, and distributors standardize on a dependable, low-voltage Category Cable that’s ready for outside plant work. Each put-up is supplied in 1000 FT lengths for straightforward estimating and inventory planning.

Outdoor-ready construction: Direct-burial, OSP-grade build with a black, UV-stable jacket to handle sun, temperature swings, and moisture exposure.
Solid bare copper conductors: 22 AWG, 4-pair, unshielded design for stable electrical characteristics and dependable terminations.
Low-voltage applications: Well-suited for security, control, and communications circuits where outside plant routing is required.
Installer-friendly handling: SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication is applied during manufacturing to reduce jacket friction and ease long pulls through duct or conduit.
Conduit planning: Nominal OD of 0.310 inches supports accurate fill calculations for outdoor pathways.
Identification in the field: Standard conductor color code pairs (Light Blue/Blue, Light Orange/Orange, Light Green/Green, Light Brown/Brown) simplify terminations and troubleshooting.
Branding and standardization: Ask about custom SmartWire jacket and stripe colors to align with your organization’s standards and make as-built identification faster on future service calls.
Built for trade partners: Windy City Wire works directly with integrators, contractors, and distributors to support project schedules and consistent product availability.

Where SmartCAT Outdoor Category Cable fits best

Campus and perimeter security backbones, including long outdoor camera or device drops
Gate, parking, and lot infrastructure requiring direct-burial cable paths
Outdoor signage, kiosks, and environmental sensors
Industrial yards and utility locations with exposure to sunlight and moisture

Available constructions

22 AWG 4 Pair Solid Outdoor-Rated Insulation Low-Voltage: Unshielded, direct-burial OSP cable with a black UV-resistant jacket for durable outdoor performance. Solid bare copper pairs support consistent, reliable signal transmission for low-voltage data and control circuits in exposed environments.

Why choose Windy City Wire for your next Category Cable project

Consistency you can specify: US-made SmartWire provides predictable quality lot to lot, helping reduce rework and callbacks.
Jobsite efficiency: Smooth jacket lubrication and solid copper conductors support repeatable pulls and clean terminations in the field.
Project-focused support: Our team partners with integrators, contractors, and distributors to align on product selection, availability, and customization when needed.
Standard 1000 FT lengths: Simplifies planning, inventorying, and estimating for outdoor runs and multi-drop layouts.

Summary

SmartCAT Outdoor from Windy City Wire delivers a straightforward, outdoor-ready Category Cable solution for low-voltage outside plant work. With solid bare copper conductors, a durable UV-stable jacket, SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication, and optional custom jacket/stripe colors, this product helps trade professionals install with confidence and maintain consistent results across sites. When your project demands reliable outdoor Category Cable, SmartCAT Outdoor is a practical choice for long-term performance and jobsite efficiency.

Solutions: SmartCAT Outdoor

SmartCAT Outdoor Category Cable for direct-burial, campus, and perimeter runs

Windy City Wire’s SmartCAT Outdoor solution is built for outside-plant, low-voltage projects where reliability and longevity matter. Designed for commercial and industrial deployments and specified by integrators, contractors, and distributors, this unshielded, solid 4‑pair, 22 AWG bare copper Category Cable supports a wide range of outdoor IP, control, and signaling applications—without the complexity of shielding—while delivering the conductor size many teams prefer for demanding power and distance requirements.

Why SmartCAT Outdoor works in the field

22 AWG, 4‑pair bare copper helps manage voltage drop on longer low-voltage runs and supports devices with higher power needs over twisted pair when engineered appropriately.
Unshielded, solid direct‑burial construction is suited for in‑ground pathways and exterior routes where a shield is not required, simplifying termination and helping control total installed cost.
Nominal 0.310 in. OD aids conduit‑fill and pathway planning, especially when bundling multiple runs to poles, pedestals, or cabinets.
Black outdoor jacket offers a clean, discreet appearance across building exteriors, parking areas, and landscaped spaces.
Standard 4‑pair color coding supports fast, consistent terminations and field troubleshooting across large sites.

Systems and applications that benefit from SmartCAT Outdoor

Video surveillance and perimeter security — Power and data to pole‑mounted cameras, license plate readers, thermal cameras, and remote enclosures around lots, campuses, and perimeters.
Access control and entry management — Gate controllers, vehicle barriers, card readers, intercoms, emergency call boxes, and door hardware at exterior entries.
Outdoor Wi‑Fi and point‑to‑point links — Wireless access points on facades or poles, and Ethernet bridges connecting buildings across courtyards or parking areas.
Smart campus and municipal infrastructure — Parking guidance, pedestrian counters, kiosks, wayfinding displays, and smart‑pole devices.
Industrial facilities and utilities — Perimeter sensors, pump stations, environmental and leak detection, tank monitoring, and controls in treatment plants and substations.
Transportation and logistics — Camera and sensor runs for lots, depots, ports, railyards, and distribution centers.
Hospitality, retail, and mixed‑use exteriors — Outdoor signage, intercoms, service entries, patio Wi‑Fi, and camera coverage.
Education and healthcare campuses — Blue‑light phones, walkway cameras, exterior clocks/paging interfaces, and building‑to‑building low‑voltage links.
Stadiums and venues — Exterior cameras, POS enclaves, digital displays, and fan‑facing connectivity around the perimeter.
Agriculture and remote sites — Irrigation controllers, soil and weather sensors, and outbuilding communications where direct‑burial is preferred.

How integrators and contractors leverage SmartCAT Outdoor across systems

PoE and power delivery — The larger 22 AWG conductors help manage voltage drop to devices such as cameras, access readers, and outdoor APs. Verify end‑to‑end power budgets and distances per device class and design requirements.
Pathway flexibility — Suitable for direct‑burial routes as well as duct, conduit, and handhole transitions across campuses and large sites.
Streamlined terminations — Unshielded construction reduces hardware complexity. Select jacks, modules, or plugs rated for 22 AWG conductors and follow manufacturer termination specs.
Noise management — In typical outdoor separations, U/UTP performs well. For locations with elevated EMI (heavy motors, high‑frequency equipment), evaluate placement, separation, or consult on shielded alternatives from the broader Windy City Wire portfolio.
Testing and documentation — Certify links to project requirements, record results by location, and maintain consistent labeling to speed turnover and service.

Industry verticals served

Commercial campuses — Office parks and multi‑building properties needing exterior connectivity and security coverage.
Industrial and manufacturing — Process areas, yards, and perimeter zones with outdoor sensors and IP devices.
Utilities and energy — Water/wastewater facilities, electrical substations, solar fields, and wind sites.
Municipal and public sector — Streetscapes, parks, and civic campuses integrating safety and communications infrastructure.
Transportation — Airports, seaports, transit hubs, and logistics terminals with expansive outdoor networks.
Education and healthcare — Large grounds requiring reliable exterior pathways between buildings and public areas.
Hospitality, retail, and entertainment — Guest Wi‑Fi outdoors, exterior POS, and security systems.

Design notes for durable outdoor links

Plan trenching and depth per local codes, and maintain separation from power and lighting circuits.
Seal transitions at building entries and handholes to mitigate moisture ingress; use drip loops into enclosures.
Protect endpoints with appropriate surge protection and bonding as required by site standards.
Document as‑builts with pathway routes, handhole locations, device IDs, and test results for future serviceability.

Why teams standardize on this outdoor Category Cable

Consistency across deployments — One outside‑plant 4‑pair platform supporting surveillance, access control, Wi‑Fi, and controls reduces variability and simplifies BOMs.
Solid bare copper performance — Quality conductors support stable terminations and dependable link performance for low‑voltage outdoor networks.
Installation efficiency — The unshielded, direct‑burial design minimizes parts and speeds terminations while meeting typical outdoor pathway needs.
Clear pathway planning — A known nominal OD simplifies conduit sizing, especially in multi‑run pathways.

Common use cases by location

Camera poles and towers — Single‑run data and power to cameras, speakers, and sensors at height.
Parking lots and garages — LPR cameras, intercoms, call stations, and networked lighting controllers.
Gates and perimeter fences — Access readers, gate operators, contact sensors, and intrusion detection.
Courtyards and quads — Outdoor APs and displays connected back to the nearest building entrance.
Service yards and utility areas — IP devices and sensors tied into SCADA, BMS, or VMS platforms.

Specify with confidence

When your project calls for a direct‑burial, unshielded 4‑pair outside‑plant run, SmartCAT Outdoor delivers a dependable choice for commercial and industrial sites. Work with Windy City Wire to align conductor size, pathway strategy, device power requirements, and testing criteria so each link performs as intended. Our team supports integrators, contractors, and distributors with application guidance to help you select the right Category Cable for every outdoor segment of your build.

Next steps

Share your site plan, distances, and device list with your Windy City Wire representative to finalize specifications, select compatible termination hardware for 22 AWG conductors, and confirm best practices for your outside‑plant topology. From security and access to outdoor Wi‑Fi and controls, SmartCAT Outdoor is ready to support the low‑voltage infrastructure your customers rely on.

Frequently Asked Questions: SmartCAT Outdoor

What AWG conductors are available with these SmartWire SmartCAT Outdoor?
These SmartCAT Outdoor cables are available in 22 AWG with 4-pair, bare copper conductors.
What other colors are these SmartWire SmartCAT Outdoor available in?
They are available in Light Blue/Blue and Light Orange/Orange conductor color code options. The standard outdoor jacket is black. Custom SmartWire jacket and stripe color combinations can be produced to meet your organization’s identification standards—contact Windy City Wire for details.
Are these SmartWire SmartCAT Outdoor made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
They are made with solid, bare copper conductors in a 4-pair unshielded (UTP) construction designed for direct burial/outdoor use.
What lengths are these SmartWire SmartCAT Outdoor cable sold in?
Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks SmartWire Category Cable in a 1,000 ft standard length.
How is your SmartWire low-voltage Category Cable sold—on spools or in boxes?
SmartWire Category Cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton to help maximize labor savings and efficiency. 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 at 100 meters; typically 100 MHz bandwidth; common for basic data networks.
- CAT6: 1 Gbps at 100 meters; supports 10 Gbps up to ~55 meters; 250 MHz bandwidth; tighter twists and improved crosstalk performance over CAT5e.
- CAT6A: 10 Gbps at 100 meters; 500 MHz bandwidth; superior crosstalk and noise mitigation, ideal for high-density PoE and backbone links.
- CAT7: Typically 10 Gbps at 100 meters; up to 600 MHz bandwidth; generally uses individually shielded pairs and overall shielding; most common outside of TIA standards and may require non-standard connectors.
What are some popular Category Cable colors and what do they stand for?
While color conventions vary by organization, common practices include:
- Blue: General data/LAN drops
- White: Ceilings/office or cameras in some standards
- Red: VoIP, emergency, or critical circuits
- Green: Management networks or crossover identification
- Yellow: PoE devices, video, or DMZ segments
- Orange: Demarc, backbone, or special services
- Purple: A/V or security systems
- Gray: Standard work-area patching
- Black: Outdoor, OSP, or general-purpose identification

Additional Links:

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