Ethernet cable for CCTV

Key features of Ethernet cable for CCTV

• Cat5e — 1 Gbps up to 100 metres, PoE / PoE+ rated. The value choice and still adequate for most residential and small-commercial CCTV.
• Cat6 — 1 Gbps to 100 m, 10 Gbps up to ~55 m, less crosstalk and better signal-to-noise than Cat5e. The current standard for new IP CCTV installs. Supports PoE++ (802.3bt) for long-range PTZ with heaters.
• Cat6a — 10 Gbps to full 100 m, fully shielded variants available, the strictest crosstalk spec. Specify when the install needs 10G at distance (aggregating multiple 4K streams to a multi-NVR site) or when full PoE++ at distance matters.
• Shielded (STP / FTP / SFTP) — extra metal foil or braid around the conductors rejects electromagnetic interference. Needed near power lines, motor drives, industrial loads, or in EMI-noisy environments. Unshielded (UTP) is fine for most residential and commercial.
• Solid conductor for permanent in-wall and through-eave runs — the conductor is one solid copper strand, less flexible but lower attenuation. Stranded conductor for patch leads between switch and rack — multiple thin strands, more flexible but slightly higher attenuation. Don't use stranded for long permanent runs; don't use solid in a patch cable.
• Indoor PVC jacket for interior runs. Outdoor UV-stabilised jacket for exterior runs — direct sun degrades standard PVC over 1–3 years in Australian conditions. Direct-burial gel-filled cable for underground runs.
• Bulk reels (305 m / 1000 ft) for permanent installs — drag-box reels with run-length printed every metre on the jacket for cable management. Pre-terminated patch leads in 0.3 m to 30 m for rack connections.
• RJ45 termination — solid-core RJ45 plugs for solid cable, stranded-core plugs for stranded cable. Mixing them is a common failure point.

How to spec Ethernet cable for your install

Four decisions, in this order:

1. Category — Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6a. For most residential and small-commercial IP CCTV at typical distances, Cat6 is the right answer — adequate bandwidth, supports PoE++ at distance, and only marginally more expensive than Cat5e. Cat5e is fine for small budget-sensitive installs where distances are short. Cat6a only when you specifically need 10G or full PoE++ across 100 metres.

2. Shielded or unshielded. Unshielded (UTP) for typical residential and commercial — clean EMI environment, lower cost, easier to terminate. Shielded (STP, FTP, SFTP) for industrial sites, near three-phase motor drives, in EMI-noisy environments, or where the cable runs parallel to mains power for any distance. Shielded cables need a grounded connection at the termination — a common installer gotcha.

3. Solid or stranded conductor. Solid for every permanent run from switch to camera position (through walls, eaves, conduit). Stranded for patch leads only — switch to rack, switch to wall jack, etc. Mixing them up causes early failure: stranded run permanently flexes and breaks; solid in a patch role fails on repeated bend.

4. Indoor or outdoor jacket. Indoor PVC for any run inside the building envelope. Outdoor UV-stabilised jacket for runs in direct sun (under eaves with sun exposure, on external walls, across rooflines). Direct-burial cable with gel fill for underground runs (driveway crossings, perimeter to outbuilding).

What's the difference between Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a?

The category number refers to the physical specification of the cable — the conductor gauge, the twist rate of the pairs, the crosstalk performance, and the maximum supported bandwidth. Higher category = tighter twist + better crosstalk + higher bandwidth:

• Cat5e (enhanced Cat5) — 100 MHz bandwidth, 1 Gbps to 100 metres, supports PoE and PoE+.
• Cat6 — 250 MHz bandwidth, 1 Gbps to 100 m, 10 Gbps to ~55 m, supports PoE++ (802.3bt) including at full 100 m on most certified Cat6.
• Cat6a (augmented Cat6) — 500 MHz bandwidth, 10 Gbps to full 100 m, full shielding option, the strictest crosstalk spec. Used in data centres and 10G enterprise.

For IP CCTV at 4K resolution streams, Cat6 has plenty of headroom. The current standard recommendation for new installs is Cat6 unless there's a specific reason to step down to Cat5e (budget) or up to Cat6a (10G distance).

Real-world install considerations

• 100 m PoE limit — Cat6 supports PoE reliably to 100 metres. For longer runs, use a PoE extender mid-cable or a secondary switch at distance.
• Outdoor jacket matters — standard indoor PVC degrades in 1–3 years in direct Australian sun (NT, WA, north Queensland), faster on coastal sites with salt air. UV-stabilised jacket is worth the small premium for any exterior run.
• Termination quality is half the install — punch down at a wall jack and patch panel for permanent runs (better termination, easier diagnosis); plug RJ45 on cable end only for patch leads. RJ45 plugs are category-specific — Cat5e plugs on Cat6 cable cause performance issues.
• Pull tension — Ethernet cable shouldn't be pulled harder than ~110 N (11 kgf). Pulling through tight conduit or around sharp bends damages the internal twist rate and degrades performance.
• Separation from mains — keep Ethernet cable at least 200 mm from parallel mains power. Crossings should be at 90°.

Why buy from Security Cameras Australia

• Authorised Australian dealer — genuine cable from trusted brands with full warranty.
• Expert support — pre-purchase advice on category, jacket type, length and termination.
• Price-match guarantee — competitive pricing on bulk reels and patch leads.
• Free shipping — fast Australian delivery.
• 30-day returns — satisfaction guarantee.

Shop the Ethernet cable range

Browse the Ethernet cable range below, or talk to us about specifying cable for an install — tell us the camera count, the run distances and whether the runs are indoor, outdoor or buried, and we'll recommend the right category, jacket and reel length. For switches, see the network switches collection.