CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum) CAT6 Ethernet - any good?

Hardware Hub Networking
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I just bought 700 feet of CAT6 Ethernet for $50 on marketplace. I thought this was an awesome deal…

I am now reading that CCA is not good for Ethernet. I had planned to use this for a 20-40’ Ethernet run between my first floor and unfinished basement so I can move my homelab into the basement.

I have a small network stack in a first floor closet. I plan to run a single CAT6 cable to the basement with a small switch in the basement and a few homelab servers.

How bad is CCA? Should I toss/donate this and start from square one? Or is it fine for this application? I’ve read it’s particularly bad for long runs and POE- neither of which is applicable here.

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CCA is fine. Dont use it for PoE applications. Skin effect is such that ethernet is one of the better applications for CCA. That said not all CCA is created equal. If it’s particularly chintzy then you may find its throughput is significantly degraded over even short distances or cables break internally. If you don’t have a tester then this is obviously harder to diagnose which is why most people avoid it at all costs.

FWIW I got 500ft of windy city wire 22awg cat 6 on eBay for $100 so deals are out there.

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Here’s 250ft for $65 if you wanted to get the ‘good’ stuff.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175657244709

Good is maybe subjective but this is what I use at work all the time.

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Do not use CCA, it doesnt even meet the spec to be sold as Cat5e, Cat6, etc. because it doesnt meet the minimum standard for electrical resistance of the cable to be validated for even gigabit speed.
It it not approved under the US national electric code due to its possibility of being a fire hazard if it ever gets plugged in to PoE, and it is not UL listed either due to this same problem.

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Thanks both for the replies.

I started the aspects of the project other than actually fishing the cable through the wall. (I.e., planning out the route, cutting drywall for a port, etc.)

I saw a 1000ft box of CAT6 solid copper for under $100 on marketplace and figured I should just do it right considering how much time this project will take. I don’t want to re do these cable runs.

Appreciate the insights nonetheless!

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We were shipped some CCA cat 6 cable - got used as support tie ropes for a temporary mast. Destined for the bin.
Drove a colleague mad until he realised what he had.

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How so, out of interest?

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Citation? The NEC generally doesn’t care about anything that’s a low voltage application.

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It isnt about the voltage specifically, it is about fire safety rating of the cables that these cables do not meet. So you could technically install them as a patch cable and such, but not between floors and in walls. Ill get the citations later when I have time.

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