Solid core is used for infrastructure cabling and is normally terminated in punchdown IDCs.

Stranded is more flexible and used for patch leads and normally terminated in a through crimp - such as a RJ45 plug.


If a stranded cable is inserted into an IDC terminal, it is possible that the strands move an flatten out resulting in the insulation not being cut or several strands can be severed and a bad joint formed which may work for a short while and then fail.

Putting solid core into an RJ45 plug can result in the terminal slicing through the insulation and not having a permanent contact with the conductors again it may work but fail after a short while.

I have seen many examples of both types of problem.

Thanks for that.

So solid core is still twisted pair? That was my main worry.

Provided it is Cat5/5e/6 &c

Not everybody has overhead drops. It is common knowledge that FTTC suites underground lines better because the cable used is better quality.

And there was me thinking it was because the sunlight doesn't get to them and cause reflections. D'oh!

Oh, better quality. Better quality copper?

In reply to a post by robertcrowther:

Not everybody has overhead drops. It is common knowledge that FTTC suites underground lines better because the cable used is better quality.

Since when? And how? The insulation may be different to cope with damp rather than sunlight but they are both normally 0.5mm diameter twisted pair.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Oh, better quality. Better quality copper?

Better quality copper and better quality shielding, that's why if you look in comparison the underground cable is way thicker than overhead cables.

I thought they're thicker because they carry more cables so more cross-talk.

And there is no shielding