£116 per box !


Was just looking at my supplier and they too have a 5mm https://www.fscables.com/sites/admin/plugins/elfinde... and https://www.fscables.com/sites/admin/plugins/elfinde... will almost certainly be cheaper

In reply to a post by MHC:

..What is the existing cable?...

Hi. Thanks for the reply. The existing cable currently only carries the unfiltered phone line to the modem using one pair. I was intending to use it to connect the ONT to the router once the FTTP gets installed. The cable definitely has 4 pairs but you've prompted me to wonder if it's cat 5 or 5e. The cable was installed by me just after ADSL became available, looking at SamKnows that was 2003 so it may well be cat 5. I've got a metre or so stuffed in the cavity either end so I'll have to pull it out and look at the markings when I can turn the internet off. Current thinking is to reconsider the ONT location. I'll still replace the existing cable with a single Cat 5e/6 cable if it's not suitable for 1Gbps. Andy

Edited by Rhubarb (Fri 05-Feb-21 13:51:38)

In reply to a post by Rhubarb:

In reply to a post by MHC:

..What is the existing cable?...

Hi. Thanks for the reply. The existing cable currently only carries the unfiltered phone line to the modem using one pair. I was intending to use it to connect the ONT to the router once the FTTP gets installed. The cable definitely has 4 pairs but you've prompted me to wonder if it's cat 5 or 5e. The cable was installed by me just after ADSL became available, looking at SamKnows that was 2003 so it may well be cat 5. I've got a metre or so stuffed in the cavity either end so I'll have to pull it out and look at the markings when I can turn the internet off. Current thinking is to reconsider the ONT location. I'll still replace the existing cable with a single Cat 5e/6 cable if it's not suitable for 1Gbps. Andy

If it was 2003 - it will 100% be Cat5e

In reply to a post by jabuzzard:

In my experience the chances of being able to pull a cable through joists like that using an old cable without issue is very low...

Yep, true. The run through the joists is about 7m straight horizontal run where I can access the first and last joist along with a central point with little disruption. I'll use a substantial single core cable as a pull through and solder it to the cores of the replacement cable and cover with heat shrink as you suggested. That's what I did when I pulled the current cables in. I seem to recall I used some washing up liquid as well.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

If it was 2003 - it will 100% be Cat5e

Cheers. Just had a look at the cable, the outer sheath says CAT 5 with the word ENHANCED along it so it's looking good. Andy

Looks good.

If it's a moderate length run, it should run Gig ethernet without a hitch. You can test beforehand, just plug one end to a 1G switch port and a 1G laptop on the other end to see if the link establishes.

Hi - you could try Comms Express Cat.6 (part # UTPS6E-CE100) at £47.40 per 100m - 5.8mm o.d. and thinner than usual Cat.6. I've used this cable on 100m runs and links at 1Gbps.
Pat