Cat 5e cable...suitable for RCA's?

[Kranny]

i have some Cat5e cable i got from my teacher. i remember reading that you cant really use it if its single strand copper for each wire. instead it would be better if it was multiple strands.

how do i tell if its single or multiple strands? i cant see that small too well.

Writing on the cable are as follows:

"E171480 VERIFIED (UL) & (ETL) CMR CATEGORY 5E 350MHZ TO TIA/EIA-568-B.2 24AWG 4UTP C(UL)"

only things i can understand from that is that its a cat 5e cable, 24 gauge, and apparently can handle a 350mhz frequency

[raytard]

strip it to see, duh

if youd core the outside, you should be able to bend it and pull it off and expose the like 8 wires inside, strip one of those (i'd just single one out, heat it up with a lighter, and use your thumbnail to pull it off)

or you can just go get rca's

[Kranny]

i can terminate ethernet cables (since im in the Cisco class here)

i guess thats my only option is to look real close

i'd like to make my own RCA cables since apparently theyre alot better than the ones you can buy at the store...plus its cheaper when you have access to hundreds of feet of the stuff

edit: it looks like its single stand. does that matter at all?

Edited October 26, 2009 by Krannyman92

[Guest DC Power Kyle]

single strand wires in an automotive environment aren't that reliable. From the vibrations of your bass and the vibrations of your vehicle the wire may split in two. Also the wire can split from moving it too much or excessive force.

[Boon]

Stranded ones make damn good RCAs actually...

[lanman31337]

Stranded ones make damn good RCAs actually...

I second that. Most of your cat 5 is going to be a single strand though.

[sound xtreme]

i have cat 5 for all of my van, sound quality (haha) is still their. Their is no extra noise, and i have had no problems with it.

[bobonit]

Very easy to tell the difference. Stranded is what they use for patch cables and they are very flexible. Solid strand is only used for premise wiring meaning in the walls, ceiling and floors of a building. It will have a firm PVC or Plenum outer jacket. If you bend it, it will stay that shape for the most part.

I'm actually surprised a Cisco class wouldn't teach you that.

[sound xtreme]

Agreed, Cisco makes some nice equipment, I would have figured they would be teaching even the basics.

I have solid outdoor cat running through the van, and outdoor cat patch cables going from the external radio to the van. The first time i set it up, people looked at me like i was nuts. I also have a separate lcat line running for the power for the external unit.