Introduction to Rhino Guard Cat6 U/UTP PE Duct Cable (305 m)
Rhino Guard CAT6 U/UTP PE 6 — 305 m duct-grade bulk cableis a purpose-built Category 6 cable designed for outdoor and duct deployments where a robust polyethylene (PE) outer jacket, reliable electrical performance and easy installation are priorities. Supplied as a 305 m reel (with an easy-pull box option commonly available), this cable combines solid 23 AWG copper conductors, HDPE insulation and a cross-skeleton pair separator to deliver Cat6 performance up to 250 MHz, making it suitable for Ethernet and CCTV backbone runs.
Key selling points include its duct-grade PE jacket (black RAL9005), nylon ripcord for fast jacket removal, and construction optimised for external or buried ducting. With a suggested retail price of 129.99 (trade/cost price noted at 95.35), the Rhino Guard Cat6 duct cable targets installers, system integrators and network professionals who need a cost-effective, weather-resistant Cat6 bulk option.
- Category 6 U/UTP (unshielded) performance rated to 250 MHz.
- Solid 23 AWG (approx. 0.55 6 60.565 mm) bare copper conductors for consistent signal integrity.
- HDPE insulation with cross-skeleton pair separator to reduce crosstalk and maintain pair geometry.
- PE outer sheath, black (RAL9005), designed for duct and external environments.
- Nylon ripcord for simple jacket removal during termination.
- Typical reel length: 305 m (bulk reel) with easy-pull box variants available.
The Rhino Guard Cat6 U/UTP PE duct cable is built to balance electrical performance, mechanical durability and cost-efficiency. Below are the technical highlights and why they matter for installers and network designers.
- Cable type & category rating:Cat6 U/UTP rated to 250 MHz. This supports up to gigabit Ethernet performance and provides headroom for higher-frequency CCTV and data transport across moderate distances.
- Conductor:Solid bare copper, 23 AWG (approx. 0.55 6 60.565 mm). Solid conductors offer stable impedance and are the preferred choice for permanent horizontal and backbone runs; they terminate cleanly in punch-down blocks and RJ45 keystone jacks rated for solid wire.
- Insulation & separator:HDPE insulation with an approximate insulation thickness of 0.18 mm (insulation OD ≈ 1.02 mm) and a cross-skeleton pair separator. The separator improves pair isolation and reduces near-end crosstalk (NEXT), helping the cable meet Cat6 return loss and near-end crosstalk specifications.
- Outer sheath (jacket):PE (black RAL9005) with an approximate jacket thickness of 0.5 mm and overall diameter ≈ 6.1 mm ±0.03 mm. PE jackets are chosen for duct and outdoor use because of their resistance to moisture and mechanical abrasion compared with standard PVC jackets.
- Electrical characteristics:Characteristic impedance 100 3 615 3, conductor DCR (20 0C) 6 5 3/km or less. These parameters ensure predictable signal behaviour across installed runs.
- Operating environment:Rated to operate between 620 0C and 90 0C, making it suitable for a wide range of climates and buried duct conditions (verify local installation standards for ambient and thermal constraints).
- Installation aids:Nylon ripcord for easier jacket removal accelerates on-site termination and reduces the risk of nicking conductors when stripping the cable.
- Robustness in ducts: The PE jacket provides durability against abrasion and moisture ingress common in duct and conduit environments.
- Consistent electrical performance: Solid 23 AWG copper and HDPE insulation maintain impedance stability and lower insertion loss compared with thinner conductors or lower-grade insulation.
- Cost-effective bulk supply: 305 m reels are a common, economical format for contractors running backbone or long external runs, reducing joints and connectors.
- Ease of termination: The ripcord and consistent conductor sizing simplify termination into keystone jacks and patch panels designed for solid conductors.
The Rhino Guard Cat6 U/UTP PE duct cable is purpose-built for external, ducted and non-plenum environments. Typical use cases include:
- Ducted external network runs:Ideal for campus or between-building ducting where cables are pulled through conduit or underground ducts and require a durable, moisture-resistant jacket.
- CCTV backbones:High-quality video transmission from IP cameras across medium to long distances. The Category 6 performance provides headroom for PoE and higher bandwidth camera feeds.
- Outdoor perimeter and security networks:When runs are exposed to variable temperatures and mechanical stresses in ducts, this PE-jacketed cable offers a practical solution.
- Temporary or semi-permanent installations:For events or modular builds where robust duct-rated cable is needed but a full outdoor-rated, direct-burial cable is not required.
Important note: This cable is not intended for plenum spaces or indoor riser installations without confirming the jacket's flame rating. Always follow BS 7671 and local wiring regulations and use appropriate glands, seals and cable management practices for external entries.
Choosing the right cable requires assessing environmental demands, performance needs and budget. Here 2s how the Rhino Guard Cat6 PE duct cable compares with common alternatives:
- Versus Cat5e duct cable:Cat6 provides tighter pair geometry, improved crosstalk performance and higher frequency support (250 MHz vs 100 MHz for Cat5e). For gigabit Ethernet and higher-resolution CCTV, Cat6 is a better choice.
- Versus Cat6A cables:Cat6A offers guaranteed 500 MHz performance and better alien crosstalk immunity for 10GBASE-T over 100 m. However, Cat6A cables are thicker, heavier and more expensive. Rhino Guard Cat6 PE is a balanced choice when 10 Gbps over 100 m is not required but reliable gigabit performance is.
- Versus shielded (F/UTP or S/FTP) cables:Shielded cables provide better EMI protection in electrically noisy environments (near high-voltage equipment or radio transmitters). The Rhino Guard U/UTP is suitable for typical outdoor ducted runs but may be less appropriate where electromagnetic interference is significant.
- Versus LSZH jackets and direct-burial cables:LSZH (low-smoke zero-halogen) jackets are preferred indoors where fire safety and smoke toxicity are concerns. For direct burial without conduit, gel-filled or purpose-designed direct-burial cables with additional moisture barriers are recommended. The Rhino Guard PE duct cable is optimised for ducts rather than direct burial unless used with appropriate conduits.
At the time of writing, specific customer reviews for the product SKU ITM004952 are not provided. However, installers and system integrators working with duct-rated PE-jacketed Cat6 cables commonly report the following practical observations:
- Ease of pulling when the cable is supplied on a proper 305 m reel or easy-pull box, reducing installation time and the need for intermediate joins.
- Positive feedback on the nylon ripcord saving time during termination and lowering the risk of conductor damage from knife stripping.
- Appreciation for the balance of performance and cost: many contractors prefer Cat6 PE duct cables for backbone and CCTV work where Cat6A would be over-spec and Cat5e under-spec.
If you require verified customer feedback for procurement decisions, ask suppliers for reference installations or sample reels to test termination and pull characteristics on-site.
The Rhino Guard Cat6 U/UTP PE duct cable (305 m) is a practical, cost-efficient choice for external ducted network and CCTV backbone installations. It delivers reliable Category 6 electrical performance up to 250 MHz through solid 23 AWG conductors and HDPE insulation with a cross-skeleton separator, while the PE outer sheath provides durability for duct and conduit environments. The nylon ripcord and common reel lengths make it installer-friendly, and the overall specification strikes a sensible balance between performance and price.
For projects that demand robust duct-rated cabling for gigabit Ethernet or high-quality IP video distribution where shielded or Cat6A solutions are not required, this Rhino Guard cable is a strong contender. Always confirm the cable's compliance marks (CE/UKCA), review the manufacturer 2s full datasheet for detailed test results, and follow all relevant installation standards such as BS 7671 when deploying the cable in live systems.
