National standard network cable vs non-standard network cable: how to identify and choose?

　　First, the core definition and standard basis

　　National standard network cable

　　Definition: Network cables that comply with Chinese national standards (e.g. GB/T 50311-2016), conductor materials, diameters, tranSMission performance, and other parameters have passed national certification.

　　Standard basis:

　　Conductor material: 99.99% oxygen-free copper (OFC), single-strand diameter is 0.51MM for category 5 and 0.58mm for category 6.

　　Sheath material: Eco-friendly flame retardant PVC, meets fire protection standards (e.g. UL 94 V-0).

　　Transmission performance: Through Fluke testing, it supports high-speed networks (e.g. Class 6 supports 10Gbps).

　　Labeling requirements: The packaging is printed with the "CAT5E/CAT6" logo, and the number of meters (305 meters/box) is clearly marked.

　　non-standard network cable

　　Definition: an inferior product produced by a manufacturer to reduce costs without passing national standard certification.

　　Common problem:

　　Conductor material: use copper-clad iron, copper-clad aluminum or recycled copper (high impurity content).

　　Sheath material: recycled plastic (flammable, non-environmentally friendly).

　　Transmission performance: high attenuation, high crosstalk, only support low-speed transmission.

　　False labeling: Falsely labeling "CAT6" or meters (e.g. 150 meters/box).

　　Second, the identification method (6-step quick judgment)

　　Look at the logo

　　National standard: The packaging is clearly printed with "CAT5E/CAT6" and the number of meters (305 meters), and the Fluke test report is provided.

　　Non-standard: The logo is vague or there is no authentication information, and non-standard names such as "Super Six" may be marked.

　　appearance

　　Sheath quality: The outer skin of the national standard network cable is smooth and shiny, and the sheath is soft; the non-standard network cable may be dim and impurities.

　　Color of copper core: scraped off the outer skin, oxygen-free copper is bright red; copper clad aluminum/iron is white or dark red.

　　conductor

　　Magnet adsorption: If the wire is attracted by the magnet, it contains iron (non-standard).

　　Knife scraping test: scraping the copper core, the outer copper plating layer falls off to expose the aluminum/iron core (non-standard).

　　resistance measurement

　　Tool detection: Measure 100 meters of single core resistance with a multimeter:

　　National standard super five categories: ≤ 9Ω

　　National standard six categories: ≤ 7Ω

　　Non-standard: may exceed 50Ω (the higher the resistance, the more severe the signal attenuation).

　　weighing method

　　National standard super five categories: a box of about 10kg (305 meters)

　　National standard six categories: a box of about 13kg (305 meters)

　　Non-standard: light weight (e.g. 8kg/box), insufficient meters.

　　Professional test

　　Fluke test: detect attenuation, crosstalk and other parameters, and the national standard network cable needs to pass the test.

　　III. Core reasons for choosing a national standard network cable

　　performance assurance

　　High-speed transmission: supports speeds above 1Gbps, meeting the needs of home gigabit and enterprise 10 gigabit.

　　Low attenuation: stable signal, low latency, suitable for high-resolution video, games and other scenarios.

　　Security compliance

　　Flame retardant sheath: meets fire protection standards to reduce the risk of fire.

　　Environmentally friendly materials: no harmful substances (e.g. ROHS certification).

　　lifetime cost

　　Strong oxidation resistance: Oxygen-free copper has a lifespan of more than 10 years, and non-standard cable may fail in 2-3 years.

　　Long-term costs: Although the national standard price is 30% to 50% higher, the maintenance cost is low.

　　IV. Purchase suggestions

　　scene matching

　　Home network: Super Class 5 (CAT5E) national standard network cable is enough, supporting gigabit.

　　Enterprise/Data Center: Choose from Category 6 (CAT6) or Super Category 6 (CAT6A) shielded models.

　　Brand selection

　　Reliable brands: such as AMP, CommScope, Xundao, etc., provide complete test reports.

　　Price warning: "CAT6" below 2 yuan/meter may be non-standard, so buy with caution.

　　Acceptance skills

　　Field test: Check 8-core connectivity with a network tester.

　　Retention of evidence: Retain test reports and purchase certificates for after-sales convenience.