CAT7 Wiring Help

[CanOfRaccoons]

I recently bought about 500' of 26AWG CAT7 cable from Microcenter, and wasn't sure exactly what connectors I need for it.
I know that I need some type of RJ45, and I've made connectors for CAT5e before, and a bit of CAT6, but I'm not sure if I need exactly 26AWG CAT7 shielded connectors, or if anything else will do.
Here is the cable if it helps at all. Overkill, yes, but I'm a tad bit of an idiot and already bought it without consulting anyone that knows networking.

[mariushm]

You can treat it like Cat6 or Cat6a cable ... it's just sftp cable with thinner gauge wires (awg26 instead of awg24)

 

If it's for use inside your house, the shielding is optional, you can use plain connectors without shielding I mean it's supposed to help if you use connectors with shielding, if you will have long cables routed outside your house.

 

Here's a list of connectors that should work : https://www.digikey.com/short/j1373wf2

I've filtered the selection to show only connectors compatible with stranded wires  (because there's connectors for only solid core wires, for only stranded, and universal connectors) , and rated at least cat6

 

If you don't care about shielding, these will work : SS-39100-021 Stewart Connector | Connectors, Interconnects | DigiKey

With shielding : SS-39200-020 Stewart Connector | Connectors, Interconnects | DigiKey (but you can probably find cheaper in other places)

[Slayerking92]

[CanOfRaccoons]

5 hours ago, mariushm said:

You can treat it like Cat6 or Cat6a cable ... it's just sftp cable with thinner gauge wires (awg26 instead of awg24)

 

If it's for use inside your house, the shielding is optional, you can use plain connectors without shielding I mean it's supposed to help if you use connectors with shielding, if you will have long cables routed outside your house.

 

Here's a list of connectors that should work : https://www.digikey.com/short/j1373wf2

I've filtered the selection to show only connectors compatible with stranded wires  (because there's connectors for only solid core wires, for only stranded, and universal connectors) , and rated at least cat6

 

If you don't care about shielding, these will work : SS-39100-021 Stewart Connector | Connectors, Interconnects | DigiKey

With shielding : SS-39200-020 Stewart Connector | Connectors, Interconnects | DigiKey (but you can probably find cheaper in other places)

The main issue I'm concerned with is whether the thinner gauge will prevent the connections from properly contacting the cable. Shielding is preferred, for that bit of redundant protection. and the shielded cables look nicer

[mariushm]

Well, I can't tell you with absolute certainty that those connectors I gave you would work perfectly with that cable.

 

Datasheet for that cheap connector shows this (see pages 2 and 3) : https://belfuse.com/resources/brochures/StewartConnector/br-STW-Modular-Plugs-Selection-Guide.pdf

 

SS-39100-21 is listed in cat6 category and specifies wire diameter : .037" - .042"[0.940 mm - 1.067 mm

Same for the other connector SS-39200-20, only it's on page 2 as it's cat6a rated.

 

They sell connector versions which accept thinner wires, in the .028" - .033"[0.711 mm- 0.838 mm] range, and you have the part numbers there.

 

Reason I can't tell you with absolute certainty is because Inland doesn't list the actual thickness of individual wires, and the actual thickness of insulation around the stranded wires can vary.

 

If I go by random cat7 and cat6a cables from decent companies, it should be fine, as it seems the actual thickness with insulation should be around 1.05 mm , which is above the minimum of 0.940mm

1.05mm : https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/harting/09456000522/4337793