Identify communications cable category from exact product-number and data evidence, not jacket color.
Checkable specification fields
These are examples from the named references, not assertions about a reel you have not shown us. Match the actual jacket, tag and part number before using a product claim.
| Field | Documented example / boundary | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Specific product example | Belden 7814A: Cat 6, four-pair, 24 AWG solid bare copper, U/UTP with PE insulation and PVC jacket. | [1] |
| Nominal performance example | The named product lists 250 MHz, 100-ohm nominal impedance and ANSI/TIA-568.2-D; do not transfer these to an unmatched lot. | [1] |
| Separate jacket class | Belden marks that particular 7814A product CM, not CMR or CMP. | [1] |
| Testing boundary | Fluke’s category field-test guide addresses actual installation/testing requirements, not a presumed result from a carton title. | [2] |
Match the product number, not a lookalike
Record the complete jacket legend and original box/reel label. Note the number of pairs, AWG, solid/stranded metal, U/UTP or shielded design, exact category and manufacturer revision. The Belden 7814A numbers are a reference for that named product only; a different Cat 6 cable has its own specification.
- Photograph jacket markings at several locations and the exact maker/part number.
- Check the product sheet for category, construction and published frequency/impedance.
- Record box/reel footage and the seller’s basis for remaining length.
Do not imply a network result
A historical product sheet cannot prove that a previously handled run or opened box meets field performance. If no lot-specific test exists, say “no field-test record provided” rather than “certified Cat 6” or a promised data rate. Fire jacket classifications have a different evidence path than category performance.
- Disclose opened packaging, kinks, splices, end damage and any test-report provenance.
- Link the companion jacket-marking guide rather than merging CM, CMR and CMP into category labels.
Source notes and scope
The linked references support the specific examples above. Product designs and standards can change; seller-supplied markings, measured length and current condition require separate verification. Nothing here states that this buyer stocks, tests, guarantees or accepts a particular cable, or offers installation advice.