Patch Lead

Ubiquiti make some excellent Cat6 patch lead - ultra-thin with bendable boots:

https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/pro/category/accessori...

I need some in 0.2 and 0.5m lengths which they do not make. All other thin patch leads I can find are not wonderful - un booted, bad write-ups &c.

Does anyone know of one similar in style and build to the UI ones?

wouldn't mind some that are 40m to 50m ...... but its gonna go into the loft, so maybe something more solid might be better...... I still have nightmares over my 5m cat 6a cable which wasn't very bendy !!!!!

40-50m - bit long for patch leads! At that length you should be using infrastructure (solid) cable!

would this be a more sensible route?

https://www.kenable.co.uk/en/networking/network-cabl...

At this time the intention is to have max a 2.5gbe connection but i need some 10gbe ports (two to 3 machines plus nas for those 3 machines) so i was thinking Mikrotik CRS309-1G-8S+IN..

The rest of the network, 2.5gbe /1gbe. I just need basic vlan tagging hence managed switches

That is outdoor cable, so unless it is running outside, just go for https://www.kenable.co.uk/en/networking/network-cabl...

Same price for twice the length and is full copper.

Put a Cat6 RJ45 at each end - I use https://www.amazon.co.uk/kwmobile-RJ45-Network-Socke... for Cat 5e/6/6A full selection at https://www.amazon.co.uk/kwmobile-RJ45-Network-Socke... Add in a short flexi patch lead at each end.

No loft only and thanks for the connectors and the semi flexible route for going down the side of the wall in trunking it saves a lot of flaff and swear words...........

I'm about to order some more of the connectors too. I often use them in sealed boxes with industrial grade outdoor cable and they work well.

Indoor cable is normally more flexible that outdoor too - and smaller in diameter.

One other thought ... as it is point to point and you want a full 10 Gbps then why not go to fibre. Easier to run, fibre is cheaper than Cat6A, but interfaces may cost a little more.

that run will be 2.5gbe and needs to presented with a rj45 at the end - will be going to an asus zenwifi unit I did think fibre but 10gbe media converters probably aren't cheap.


i don't know if this route would work. if i went fibre. If i just presented a cat6a cable to the zenwifi, i wouldn't need the second switch.

Not sure if i can do

ont -> asus router -> CRS309-1G-8S+IN switch -->fibre-> CRS310-8G+2S+IN switch --> zenwifi......

That way the roof backbone would be 10gb plus. The house is old, so fibre in some ways would be better than Ethernet cable. the sitting room and beyond doesn't need 10gb but usage will change over the years.

Edited by Taras (Tue 16-Jan-24 17:04:51)

I use the 1Gb version of these https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/pro/category/accessori... which are £36/pair for 10Gbit.

My "hub" has a 10Gb SFP+ port but at the remote it is only a 1Gb but that is adeqaute for 4 or 5 cameras. The remote is a https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/pro/products/optical-d... I feed power into that, it take the optical input, converts to 1Gb on the Ethernet port and applies PoE then that powers the switch.

Can i use Fiber Couplers twice in a run? one into the loft and one for coming down out of the loft

This way if something breaks the fibre i only have to replace the loft run

No reason why not except cost. If the fibre is in fine trunking, then what is te chance of breakage?

I live in the new forest and occasionally little furry things have managed to get into the loft space. Even though i will be putting the fibre into a conduit, i just want a quick replace system!

In the loft area use flexible steel conduit, then as it exits change to plastic and wrap expaned metal around it.

Thank you 😀. I do appreciate the responses from you. I also hope its good search material

In reply to a post by MHC:

Ubiquiti make some excellent Cat6 patch lead - ultra-thin with bendable boots:

https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/pro/category/accessori...

I need some in 0.2 and 0.5m lengths which they do not make. All other thin patch leads I can find are not wonderful - un booted, bad write-ups &c.

Does anyone know of one similar in style and build to the UI ones?

I'm supplanting an existing Netgear M4300 10GbE switch with a new Cisco 1U C9300X-48HX switch soon and was looking to replace some very stiff and cumbersome 6A patch leads with something slimmer, shorter and more wieldy inside the rack.

The UI gear looks good, albeit its 250 MHz (Cat6) rated rather than 550 MHz (Cat 6A) but in all honesty in a channel test with a Fluke it would probably pass 6A.

For this style of 'super slim' patch lead - the other alternative, which I would have some faith in are these from fs.com:

https://www.fs.com/uk/products/151364.html

These are slightly thicker at 4.2mm OD than the UI cables at 3mm but are slightly higher (category) rated.

Edited by Pheasant (Sun 21-Jan-24 12:48:36)

Could be what I need - although I did just take a chance and ordered four off 5e short cables from Amazon to try in one location which mainly needs 100Mbit only.

So, at some point will get some of the FS ones - but still no 0.5 (or 0.4) options.

...yeah its 0.3m or jump up to 0.9m/1m lengths.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

For this style of 'super slim' patch lead - the other alternative, which I would have some faith in are these from fs.com:

https://www.fs.com/uk/products/151364.html

These are slightly thicker at 4.2mm OD than the UI cables at 3mm but are slightly higher (category) rated.

those look really pretty!!!!!!!! 😂 Seriously though if they work thats great, the less girth the better !

...oi oi 🤣

I'm going to order 10 of each respectively, from FS and UI, run some tests and see what they're generally like to use.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

I'm going to order 10 of each respectively, from FS and UI, run some tests and see what they're generally like to use.

I have been using some cheap Cat 6A patch leads for several years now and they are so rigid, I keep looking for something more flexible so will be interested in your feedback.

Yes, a nuisance.

My problem is that 16/17 years ago when cabling with Cat5e and some "new Cat6" the patch panels were fitted on a wall and the original switch wwas flat mounted above - all nice an neat with the BT hub wall mounted along side.

Now, with FTTP and a UDM-Pro as the main element with a USW-24 below both rack mounted, they are at right angles to the patch panels (now 3x12 way), with PoE injectors below the switch too. So, switch to patch panel is variable and I want to keep everything shortish to avoid a birds next

Like to hear your feedback - the UI do seem to be good the bendable part is stff but retains the bends. Have a friend who has a 10Gb link from his multi Terabyte (50 ish) NAS - will try to ask if he has tried them.

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

I'm going to order 10 of each respectively, from FS and UI, run some tests and see what they're generally like to use.

I have been using some cheap Cat 6A patch leads for several years now and they are so rigid, I keep looking for something more flexible so will be interested in your feedback.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Like to hear your feedback - the UI do seem to be good the bendable part is stff but retains the bends. Have a friend who has a 10Gb link from his multi Terabyte (50 ish) NAS - will try to ask if he has tried them.

Sure. No problem. I’ll post up some photos and feedback when I get hold of them 😀

My first ever 6a cable was shielded and was semi rigid that it put me off buying 6a for a while.

Please do ..... can you also do a comparison pic of a normal cat cable, so we can visually understand its slim nature 😂. emojis aside thank you

When you see them side by side you will certainly appreciate how slim the UI cables are at just 3mm. I also run PoE over some - only 15w maximum, without issue.

I have some other 4.0/4.2mm ones too (origin unknown) and they look much neater than the standard cables.

Interesting, as you will always have some cat cable floating in a network, smaller trunking etc because of smaller cables is very useful, also so is flexibility

Just having a sort out of patch leads &c. A box of the standard 1.8 long, LJU to Modem/Hub and Hub to PC supplied by ISPs. - even recent ones can be Cat5 ! Most of those will be going to recycling.

Then glanced at my own Infrastructure and I saw "Cat5 " that is without the "e". Firtunately, twisting it round brought up the word "enhanced".

Checking what I have in various locations and one WAP is connected back with Cat5 ... but still gives 733 Mbps !

i have a tendency, not to use supplied cat cables (ie from routers etc) and keep them spare for emergency. An emergency happens and use said cable. Said emergency is over and i don't remove the cable...... 🙈

Same here, although I do finally remove most. Just having 20+ is ridiculous and a couple of years back when I went to full fibre, I sent two bags of old routers, hubs, modems, power supplies and cables back to bt for recycling - they provide the bags and postage. If/when I do an install for someone, I tend to install a cable of a suitable length and known quality.

By way of quick update; The UI patch leads arrived Wednesday. There’s been a slight delay with the leads arriving from FS, as they were out of stock of the Cat 6A leads in the 30cm length. Agreed for them to send Cat 6 in that size in lieu. The shorter and longer lengths they had stock in 6A

Will post up some photos etc later today when I get a chance.

Thanks Pheasant...... As some of my upgrades will be done in stages, not changing the router till i get 1.8gbe pon (and that won't be till next year) i have time ...... but none the less, the issues need resolving way earlier

Put a ruler under the leads so we can see the size, please.


Are FS delivery charges as high as I found - £30

whuuuuuuuuuuut thats too expensive. I thought ikea and chair delivery was bad @ £40

I paid £6.84 inc. for shipping. for 18 leads. Total before shipping was £43.20+VAT. I have a company account with them. Don’t know if that helps. They are always super attentive.

That sounds better, although still a little higher than most - will have another look when you hav eposted your comments. For me, 5e or 6 will be fine as the infrastructure is only 5e.

UI Store shipping was £10+VAT for 30 leads.

Good point, but there are shipping from The Netherlands. With UI, I tend to add small bits into the big orders - next will be £600+ but still just the basic delivery.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Will post up some photos etc later today when I get a chance.

Did you get a chance to do this?

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Will post up some photos etc later today when I get a chance.

Did you get a chance to do this?

Strange I never got a reply from Pheasant

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Will post up some photos etc later today when I get a chance.

Did you get a chance to do this?

Strange I never got a reply from Pheasant

Huge apologies for the 7 month delay! I’ve been on self imposed forums ‘sabbatical’ 😂

Here are some photos of the UI patch leads in situ and in my carry/storage box. As you can hopefully see they are very flexible and supple (ooh matron!). Honestly they are easily the most workable patch leads I’ve ever had the pleasure to use.

They will happily pass 10GbaseT ethernet traffic all day long and handle UPoE+ powered devices with aplomb. I’m using them with new Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max access points and here with a Cisco C9300X 48-port 10G switch with UPOE - more on those later.

Patching into Ethernet switches

Patch panels

Storage Box / opened

Edited by Pheasant (Sun 20-Oct-24 01:11:52)

The boots are longer than I thought on them. I recently used a load of low-profile Excel Cat6 patch cables on an install and was very happy.

https://mayflex.com/shop/product/100-516

They are indeed, but I actually quite like that.

The boots are designed to be bent into shape too. So you can mould the boot into the direction you want - ideally before you plug it into the RJ, so as not to put undue strain on contacts etc.

The fs.com 'thin' patch leads I have to say in comparison are horrible. So I'm definitely not getting any more.

FS prices have also it appears gone up, certainly on some of their actives/pluggables in recent times. I'm trialling some transceivers from FiberMall. They feel a bit hungrier and keen to please, kind of like FS.com were 5-10 years ago...😎

Edited by Pheasant (Sun 20-Oct-24 11:37:07)

I've been using them too and as you say boots are mouldable. I have one installed with a 60W PoE supply from Injector to Fibre Interface which then goes to power a PoE Switch and devices, not using all the power but everything there is happy.

The gripe still stands that the sizes are limited to 0.1, 0.3, 1, 2, 3, 5 & 8 metre. They need to add in 0.2, 0.5 & 0.8 - I have quite a few links where 0.1 is not quite enough and using 0.3s leaves a big ball of cables.