In reply to a post by Ancient_Mariner:

One day noticed that one core was rusty and also magnetic

I've had magnetic cores before

It's possible the brown pair is the wrong spec core but everything just fits in the outer sheath so it's unlikely. My money is on it not actually being ethernet cable.

I can't even blame it on being a language problem because the electrician was shocked to see it too and the electrical wholesaler assured him the cable would be good.

If I can find out what it actually is and discover that it isn't ethernet cable, I can just ask the electrician to replace it.

In reply to a post by Highland76:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Your links won’t open for me either Sarah.

Working fine here

https://imgur.com/a/CGXUTTq

Thanks. I restarted the web server so it should be working for everyone with a browser that supports TLS 1.2 and 1.3 now

If its Ethernet cable its the strangest stuff I've ever seen. My vote goes to cable for a door Intercom.

I had a feeling it could be an Audio cable. I cannot find te cable, however have a read of:

https://www.fullcompass.com/common/files/24058-Radio...

Scroll right to the bottom where it refers to power being on the Brown/White pair and would be a good reason to separate power from 3xaudio. At5e/6 is often used but this would be an improvement.

Can you ask the wholesaler for a make and catalogue number etc?

When you attempted "normal" termination, did the twists correspond to normal CAT5? I could not see the usual CAT6 plastic centre spacer piece in your photo.

(For interest, there are certainly some unusual cables out there in the field: http://www.doncastercables.com/cables/17/77/EV-Ultra... including a CAT5 version)

Cheers!

That is an interesting find. I wonder what the demand is for 3 + 1-pair cable, to make it worthwhile?

Cheers!

In reply to a post by Ancient_Mariner:

Can you ask the wholesaler for a make and catalogue number etc?

When you attempted "normal" termination, did the twists correspond to normal CAT5? I could not see the usual CAT6 plastic centre spacer piece in your photo.

(For interest, there are certainly some unusual cables out there in the field: http://www.doncastercables.com/cables/17/77/EV-Ultra... including a CAT5 version)

Cheers!

Unfortunately I have no idea which wholesaler this came from as the electrician turned up with it already. It looks like the TUK connectors I've ordered work so there's probably no need to call the electrician back. I might drop him an email though as I'm very curious about the cable.

I think that in the future I'm going to have to give more specific instructions.

Is the white pipe running above the 4-way adapter really a water pipe?

Do you or the sparky have access to a proper cabling tester like a Fluke DSX-5000 or 8000?

Testing will tell you exactly what the cable will be certified against (TIA/EIA categories or ISO Classes) to carry.

Personally I’m never a fan of getting the spark to supply (or terminate/test for that matter) structured cabling in a commercial setting. They will throw in whatever they have got in the back of the van, which look very much to be the case here

(Admission, former structured cabling system designer here)

In reply to a post by caffn8me:

'twas a PBKC problem

https://pbkennelclub.com/

I thought that you were in France?

Cheers!