What's the diff between these net cables?

[GoodRevrnd]

1000' CAT5 UNSHIELDED PLENUM CABLE - $240.00
1000' CAT5 4 PAIR 100MHZ UNSHIELDED PVC SOLID CABLE - $65.00
1000' CAT5 4 PAIR 100MHZ UNSHIELDED PVC STRANDED CABLE - $67.00
1000' CAT5 4 PAIR 350MHZ UNSHIELDED PVC SOLID CABLE - $80.00

What's the difference between these cables? Gonna be doing some cheap, low-key office networkin' in a trailer for a friend. Client doesn't want to run jacks, just run under carpet. It's a basic peer to peer 4 computer setup. Which cable would be best value and offer me what I might need for future jobs?

 

[Rkonster]

Plenum cable is fire resistant I believe. Or something close to that, as it is intended for use in air ducts and the such. The stranded cable is the soft bendy cable used in computer to jack applications. The solid cable is harder to bend, and is used for in wall applications. (I use it for everything, as I bought a reel). The 350 Mhz is sometimes called Cat5e, and it rated for transfers up to 350 Mbits I believe.

 

[Rkonster]

oops, forgot to recommend a cable. I would say either the Cat5 solid, or the Cat5e would be your best bet. I have seen cat5e for a bit cheaper though, just can't rememer where.

Also remember not to put cable in high traffic areas, as it will get worn down.

 

[Kell]

Plenum-rated cable is rated for spaces that may be used by the building's heating, ventilation, and A/C system (HVAC). The only official requirement to achieve plenum rating is that the cable must not give off visible, opaque smoke when it burns; it may burn just as easily and with just as much toxicity as the standard PVC cable.

Low Smoke, Zero Halogen cables (LSZH or LS0H) are rated beyond plenum; they are designed to produce almost no fumes, toxic or visible, when they burn. They're much more expensive than even plenum, though, and they're rarely sold or used.

As for 100MHz vs 350MHz, that defines the max transmission frequency the cable is rated for. Cat5 is rated for 100MHz; Cat5e is rated for 350MHz. Cat5E or greater is recommended these days, especially for supporting Gigabit Ethernet over copper.

Solid cable has better transmission characteristics than stranded cable, but stranded cable is more flexible and isn't as susceptible to metal fatigue . Generally, solid cable gets used within walls, and stranded cable gets used for short distances between switches, patch panels, wall faceplates, and networked computers. Plenum-rated cable is almost always solid.