I have used from cat 5E through cat 8 with the radio. I haven't tried any flat cat 8 cables.
Caution with any shielded cable is creating a RF ground loop. My choice is to purchase double length shielded SSTP that come with a pair of shielded connectors THEN CUT to the length needed using NON shielded connectors. The shield is on the switch side and non shield on the outboard device (radio). Ensure your switch is CAT 6 specified as CAT 5 and lower specs do not require a balanced transformer which reduces common mode EMI radiation.
Think about going optical. It's really small and easy to install, no potential for picking up stray currents, no connectors, and the run distances are crazy. Happy to provide more detail on my installation if you want to consider.
73,
Bob, WK2Y
Optical works with all of your existing equipment. You just add an inexpensive media converter at both ends.
Here's what I bought back in 2019:
Media converters:
Cable:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FDFXCCG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The eBay link looks like the right thing. Even cheaper then when I bought them though I'm not sure if there are differences in quality, speed, etc. You do need the "adapters" that are illustrated in my link.
You will defiantly want to get Gigabit speed Fiber to Copper Media converters
Most will find the Cat 5e cable supplied by Flex with the radio purchase to be adequate.
The supplied cable is short. Try 30 feet of inexpensive Cat 5e before moving to more exotic and expensive solutions.
if your asking about a Fiber jumper then the limitations is the fiber quality and the media converters, you can buy them for 1KM pretty cheep these days.
I found on amazon some heavy duty Fiber jumpers that where 125' long for my installation just make sure you get the correct (Single Mode) or (Multimode) for your media converters and of course the correct connectors.
LC are very common connectors
Stan - way back in the beginning of this thread you said
"I have used from cat 5E through cat 8 with the radio. I haven't tried any flat cat 8 cables.
Caution with any shielded cable is creating a RF ground loop. My choice is to purchase double length shielded SSTP that come with a pair of shielded connectors THEN CUT to the length needed using NON shielded connectors. The shield is on the switch side and non shield on the outboard device (radio). Ensure your switch is CAT 6 specified as CAT 5 and lower specs do not require a balanced transformer which reduces common mode EMI radiation."
when you reattach the non-shield connector to the radio side, are you just spicing it in or do you need a crimper and new connectors?
tnx 73 Paul w2eck
Needs to use normal attaching a connector. Crimp tool is the normal way.
Another thread had a paper on audio grounding which found that double shielding is better PROVIDING a parallel ground is included, such as a thick wire or strap. That paper flies against FlexRadio recommendation of no shielding cable (UDP re STP or SSTP). I'd like to see a that paper repeated with radio frequencies rather than audio ground loops (hum)
Stan - thanks for the followup and advice
73 Paul w2eck
