To further enhance the integrity of the UL Mark, UL is introducing a holographic label requirement for a wide variety of cable categories. The new UL Marks include the use of secure golden holographic label material and color shifting inks to prevent unauthorized label reproduction.

This type of label has been proven an effective tool in deterring counterfeit products from entering the marketplace. Effective October 1, 2010 manufacturers will be required to apply holographic UL Marks for the products noted below. Although the holographic label is new, the remaining engineering marking information provided on the cable tags or reels and the methods for applying these markings remain unchanged.

Code authorities have already begun to see cables with the new holographic labels during their inspections, and will see an increasing number of cables with these markings in the future. You can expect to see the UL symbol on the product and the new holographic UL Listing Mark on the attached tag, the reel, or the smallest unit container in which the cable is packaged. The UL symbol will still appear on the surface print of the cable, and can be either the complete UL in a circle, or the letters “UL” in parenthesis “(UL)”. Surface printing of the UL Certification Mark on the wire insulation or jacketed material is only permissible when the accompanying reel or smallest unit container is also provided with the UL holographic Listing Mark. Although manufacturers cannot add non-holographic labels to cable after October 1, 2010, it may take a while for cable with the non-holographic Listing Marks to be cleared from the supply chain.



An example of the UL holographic label on Cat5e Bulk Communications Cable offered at Discount-Low-Voltage.com




Related Posts:
UL Warns About Counterfeit Communications Cable
UL Finds Performance & Safety Issues Found in Offshore Communications Cable
How Low Voltage Communications Cable is Made - Cat3, Cat5e, Cat6, OSP
25 Pair Cat3 Telephone Communications Cable Video
What is Plenum Communications Cable and When Should I use It
How To Make an Ethernet Cat5e/Cat6 Cable

All that and you get to work with a company that has been offering solutions for over 10 years. Sounds to me like you have a win win : )



Order all the Kwik Tool and Kwik Jacks online at Discount-Low-Voltage.com/The-Kwik-Jack-System

Or by phone (888) 797-3697 

As you know cell tower and outdoor wireless equipment installations can be some of the most demanding and dangerous. Contractors for these installations face many pressures from meeting a deadline, proper materials, making sure the job is done correctly and doing everything with a safety first mentality.

We can't help you with everything your going to bump into at your installation but we can help with getting you proper materials for your installation in a timely manner to help meet your deadline.

One product that comes to mind is the BBDE serise of outside plant cable by Superior Essex.


* This cable is built with a dry water blocking agent outside of the inner jacket that helps prevent  water ingress between shield in inner cable preventing damage to equipment.

* The core is fully filled with PFM Gel allowing for a no drip or flow in vertical installations, also helps fight against degraded transmission performance.

* Outside plant rated sunlight resistant black jacket will allow for years and years of reliable performance.

With these features and the reliability of a company that has been making cable since 1930 you can rest assure the quality of this cable is as good as your installation.

You can order this cable at Discount Low Voltagee

"By Mercy Salinas"

Check out the new product videos we did on Bulk Cat5e cable and Cat5e Shielded Cable. The cat5e cable comes in 1,000ft pull boxes and features the Reelex cone inside. These Reelex boxes reduce tangles while pulling cable, which increases your productivity. The shielded cat5e cable comes on a durable wooden spool. For more information on both products, click the links above or visit Discount-Low-Voltage.com.

Bulk Cat5e Cable Video

Bulk Cat5e Shielded Cable

Related Posts:
Bulk Cat5e Cable Details
How To Make an Ethernet Cat5e/Cat6 Patch Cable
Standard 568b Wiring Diagram
Crazy Cat5e Wiring - INSANE!!!
How It's Made - Cat5e Low Voltage Cable Video

I recently did a video on a Essex cable with a copper shield and not to long ago I did what I though was the same cable but with a aluminum shield, let's take the red pill and dig into these cables.


The cables compared are part of the Superior Essex BBDe series of OSP (Outside Plant) cables. More specifically the part number for the aluminum is 04-601-54 and the copper is 04-601-55.

Both of these cables are designed to provide extension of the LAN beyond the premise, core is filled with a PFM gel to prevent water ingress and won't drip down in vertical cable run installations. Applications for both these cables are the same, 10BASE-T through 1000BASE-T, ATM and token ring, WiMAX cell towers.

Let's go over what the features are for both cables.

* Cat5e transmission performance to 350mhz
* Shield provides EMI/RFI prtection
* UV sunlight resistant black jacket
* Dry water block between shield and core

Let's visually look at these cables from our YouTube channel.




So these cables are the same except the shield, what shield is the correct shield for your installation? Let's compare.

Part number 04-601-54 the aluminum shield has a electrically continuous polymer coated smooth aluminum tape, applied with an overlap. Essex specifies this cable to be installed in lashed aerial, underground conduit and "low risk" direct burial installation.

Part number 04-604-55 the copper shield has a electrically continuous corrugated copper clad armor, applied with an overlap shield and flooded with a flooded compound. Where to install this cable is the same but essex specifies this cable as "rodent proof".

Certain areas are more exposed to those cute rodents so if that's a big concern for you go with the copper shield. Actually after comparing pricing per foot there's not much of a price difference, might as well install the copper shield.

"By Mercy Salinas"

Tightening cable ties on data cables too much will hurt the physical properties and performance.


















You should be using the Caddy Mille-Tie.




This tie is most commonly used for bundling high-performance copper and fiber cables but is also used for innerduct in cable trays, surface raceways, service poles and in wall cabling. Don't squeeze your data pipe and do it right!

"By Mercy Salinas"

- Made in the USA

- Allows installation at -20°C temperatures

- Small outside diameter

- Capable of 1000BASE-T

- Black, CM rated, non-haolgen, OSP grade jacket material

- Vibrant insulation colors

- Compliant to ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 for CAT 5e

- Easy to order from Discount-Low-Voltage.com

- More...

1) Video/Pictures: Crazy Data Center Wiring

2) Video: Bulk Cat5e 500 FT Pull Pack

3) Video: Industrial Cat5e Cable Solution for Mobile MRI Machine

4) Picture: 25 Pair Color Code Chart

5) Video/Pictures: How To Terminate Dynacom Cat5e/Cat6 Kwik Jacks

When you start your data cabling do it right from the beginning before it gets out of hand. Here's a couple of examples to avoid before you start pulling your hair out!



If your cabling gets this bad you better hope there's a building remodel before a network remodel. The cost of having network cabling reorganized when it gets this bad is so expensive you might as well upgrade your existing network.

There's a simple, easy and inexpensive tool to help you avoid the point of no return. A Cable Comb.



It's so easy to use, so save yourself the headache in the long run and keep this cool tool on hand in the telecom closet. Maybe lock it up, tools never end up where you left them.

"By Mercy Salinas"

I get sucked into this discussion constantly and it always ends up being a long conversation that goes round and round and ends up going nowhere.

Our good buddy Ron with Ideal Industries discusses the differences of a qualifier vs certifier when the quality of your network cabling is in question.


Did you notice the standards chart did not include "Cat5 Big E" or "Cat5e 350mhz"? Did you find a standard for "Cat6E"? Those are probably topics that you'll have to educate your customer on.

Questions, comments? Leave them below.

"By Mercy Salinas"