Choosing Cat.7A: How It Compares, and How to Reach a Model Number

Picking a cable class is a specification decision, and it is worth settling before you look at part numbers. CRXCONEC's Cat.7A range is built as S/FTP — individually foil-screened pairs inside an overall screen — in 23AWG solid construction, supplied in 305 m lengths, rated beyond IEEE 802.3an 10GBASE-T and legacy speeds, and supporting PoE and PoE+ to IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at. If your project calls for a different class, compare the specifications on Cat.6A, Cat.7 and Cat.8 before committing.

The reason to specify a fully shielded S/FTP build is usually the installation environment rather than the headline class. Where cables share a tray or riser with many others, or run alongside power, screening on each pair plus an overall screen is what protects the margin you designed for. Shielding also has to be continuous to do its job, so plan the cable, connector and patch cord together — a shielded cable terminated onto an unshielded component hands that margin back at the joint.

Jacket comes next, and it is normally set by where the cable runs and which fire code applies, not by preference. The Cat.7A range is offered with a PVC jacket, CM rated and meeting UL 1685, for general in-wall and horizontal runs; and as an LSZH version for locations where low smoke and zero halogen content are required. Confirm the requirement against your project specification first, because the jacket is not a field-changeable choice.

With class and jacket settled, select the model. Cat.7A is available in jacket colours for pathway identification — yellow, blue, grey, red, green and white — with the item model number, component category, shielded type and colour listed on each product record. Copper cabling portfolios are backed by an optional 25-year product warranty. Send your BOM through "Send Inquiry" for an OEM quote.