Why Cat6 Solid Copper Cable is Expensive?

The Cat6 Solid Copper Cable is rather expensive when you compare it with other ethernet cables. Especially, when you compare other bulk cat6 copper cables, the solid copper variant is more pricey. Why does it cost more and how do you buy it?

If you are unsure what the answer to these questions might be, read on. We will walk you through each detail. 

What is Cat6 Cable 1000ft?

Cat6 cable 1000ft is a high-performance LAN solution. It reaches a maximum speed of 1 gigabit per second over 100 meters. The cable also supports a voluminous bandwidth of 550 MHz.

With a variety of options to choose from, it is versatile and meets the demands of a variety of networking applications.

For instance, the plenum and riser-rated bulk Cat6 ethernet cable are two of the most commonly used variants. These variants are further iterated in terms of conductor type and shielding. 

The one with shielded conductors, also known as STP provides better performance as compared to the one without shielding (UTP). 

A major reason why this cable is high-performing is that its conductor pairs are twisted tightly. The tighter the pairs, the better their resistance against EMI and crosstalk. Moreover, it features a spline, also known as a pair separator which keeps the conductor pairs apart. This directly results in reduced crosstalk. 

Understanding Solid Copper Conductors

Before we delve into the question of why the Bulk Cat6 Copper cables are more expensive, we need to understand what solid copper conductors are.

Solid copper conductors mean that the material is pure copper and the conductors are made from a single piece of metal. The individual wires are not made from multiple thin strands of wire, rather they are made from a single thicker strand. 

This results in three things. 

First, solid conductors deliver data at greater efficiency. Meaning, without loss in data packets.

Second, the cable becomes rather tricky to install because solid conductors make the cable stiffer. 

And third, the cable costs more because of its better quality performance. 

Why is Cat6 Solid Copper Cable Expensive?

As mentioned earlier, the Cat6 ethernet cable is rather expensive because of its improved performance. But that is not all.

It is also expensive because making solid conductors is a costly process as compared to making stranded ones.

However, if you look at the return on investment, the Cat6 Solid Copper is not at all expensive. Although it costs more, the 1000ft ethernet cables are bound to last for years to come. This results in minimal to almost no expenses on maintenance and replacements of the Cat6 Ethernet Cable. It also means you will have a reliable connection and would not need to worry about signal loss in the future.

So it would not be an overstatement if you say that the Cat6 Solid Copper is not an expensive 1000ft ethernet cable, despite having a higher price tag as compared to its counterparts. 

How To Buy?

Now that we have established what this bulk ethernet cable is and why it might appear expensive, let’s figure out how to buy it. Because when you survey the market, you will come across a lot of brands and iterations of the cable. But to make sure that you are getting the best Cat6 ethernet cable, you surely need an expert’s guide. 

Know Your Network

First, you need to understand what sort of network you are establishing. Is it a LAN for a school, home, or commercial building? Whatever the case may be, it will determine how much and with exactly what specifications you need this cable. 

For instance, if you are buying the Cat6 ethernet cable for a regular home, you are making the best choice. But make sure you take the correct measurements so that you do not overbuy or buy far less than what you need. 

Another important thing to consider is what speeds will you be requiring. Will you be able to make do with 100 MBit/s or 1 GBit/s? Or will you perhaps need 10 GBit/s for your data-intensive ethernet applications? 

Well, in any case, the bulk Cat6 copper is perfectly capable of supporting all of the above-mentioned speeds. However, to access 10 GBE, you will need to run it at a maximum of 50 meters. More than that, you run the risk of losing speed and data packets. 

Choosing the Supplier

As mentioned earlier, you will come across many bulk ethernet cable suppliers online. But before you choose your supplier, there are a couple of things you might want to confirm.

First, make sure the cable you are buying has been tested. Because in some states, building inspectors will check the quality of the cable you are using. And if you have substandard cable, it might not get approved. So make sure the cable complies with industry standards. 

Second, you might want to make sure that the bulk cat6 copper you are buying is truly solid copper. Because there is another solid copper out there which is known as copper-clad aluminum. Or CCA for short. And CCA cable is not pure copper. It is made from aluminum with only a single layer of copper coated over the base to enhance the quality of the cable. 

Making the Purchase

Once you make sure that the Cat6 solid copper you are buying is pure solid copper and that it complies with industry standards, it’s time to make the purchase. 

But still, before you make a purchase, it is wise to ask for a warranty. Because a trusted cable supplier will provide a warranty on copper cables, which can be a minimum of 10 years. 

So if you get a warranty, great. Make the purchase. And if not, you can first ask for a sample of the cable. 

Anyway, after carrying out all the standard procedures, you can finally make the purchase. 

Final Verdict

In short, the Cat6 Solid Copper Cable might appear more expensive because of its rather higher price tag. But when you take your return on investment, the price is not high. Further, you save more capital in the long run by avoiding maintenance and replacements. Not to mention the peace of mind that comes with high-quality connections because of the solid copper 1000ft ethernet cables.