Cat7 vs Cat6a for UK CCTV Cabling

For UK CCTV runs that need headroom beyond gigabit, Cat6a, shielded where the site needs it, is the right choice. It supports 10GBASE-T over a 90m permanent link (100m channel including patch leads) and leaves ample headroom for PoE cameras. Where a camera run will only ever carry 1 gigabit, Cat5e and Cat6 also manage that over the standard 90m distance, so Cat6a is a design decision rather than a necessity.

An IP camera or NVR port typically can't use the extra bandwidth Cat7 offers, so on most jobs you'd be paying more for capacity that never gets used. Whether a high-EMI site justifies Cat7 depends on the shielding and connector requirements of the actual installation, so assess those before deciding. Shielded Cat6a is a fair comparison in that case: Cat6A F/FTP Outdoor Cable PE – Connectix TruLAN is built with foil-shielded twisted pairs, and Cat7's different connector and tooling are a real cost to weigh.

How to choose cat7 vs cat6a

If a run needs 10Gb or room to grow, choose Cat6a: it carries 10Gb over a 90m permanent link, and Cat7 only pays off when you need more than that. Gigabit-only camera runs can still be served by Cat6 or Cat5e, which both carry 1Gb over 90m.

Four criteria separate the two:

• Speed and distance. Cat6a is specified to 500MHz and runs 10Gb over a 90m permanent link (100m channel once patch leads are included). Cat7 is rated to 600MHz (Cat7A to 1000MHz). Most commercial equipment never asks for more than 10Gb, so that headroom usually goes unused.
• Connectors and link performance. Cat7 uses a different connector type from the RJ45 plug on Cat6a. Cat6a-and-below patch leads can be mixed in, but the completed channel still has to meet the performance the application needs. A link performs to its weakest component, so the cable category alone does not set the result: the connectors and patch leads at both ends count as well.
• Space and containment. Cat7 is physically larger than Cat6a, which is itself bulkier and stiffer than Cat5e or Cat6. Before specifying either, check containment capacity, bend radius round dado trunking, and whether floor boxes are deep enough for the modules. On retrofits, this check can rule Cat7 out on its own.
• Cost at volume. Cat7 costs more across a large cable count, and the cost is hard to justify when the end equipment is capped at 10Gb. For bulk CCTV runs, the Cat6A Network Cable 305m Reel is solid core and suited to patch-panel and IP camera infrastructure. Account pricing applies, so ask for a trade quote.

Cat6A F/FTP Outdoor Cable PE – Connectix TruLAN — best for external CCTV runs

For camera runs that leave the building, this foil-shielded Cat6A cable with a PE sheath is a sensible alternative to Cat7, and it keeps standard RJ45 connectivity.

• Construction: F/FTP foil-shielded twisted pairs, built for high-bandwidth Ethernet and CCTV networks.
• Sheath: PE, specified for external installations, so it suits routes between buildings or along exterior walls.
• Category performance: Cat6A is generally quoted at 500MHz and 10 Gigabit up to 90m over a permanent link, which is more than most IP camera networks will use.

This cable already has foil-shielded pairs, so for most camera networks the extra construction of Cat7 is hard to justify. Whether a particular site needs more than that, for example where electrical interference is a concern, depends on the shielding and connector requirements of the actual installation, so assess those before specifying. Either way, the completed link's performance depends on the terminations and components as much as on the cable category.

Cat6A is larger and stiffer to work with than Cat5e or Cat6. Check your conduit, glands and bend radius before committing, and if your cameras only need Gigabit over short runs, a thinner cable may be easier to install. Account pricing applies, so sign in to a trade account to see what you would pay.

Cat6A Network Cable 305m Reel – Solid Core — best for fixed 10G CCTV and LAN runs

For installers pulling permanent IP camera and structured-cabling runs, the Cat6A Network Cable 305m Reel – Solid Core is a grey, 305m reel of Cat6A that supports Gigabit and 10G networks.

• Where it fits: structured cabling, patch panels and CCTV IP infrastructure.
• Why Cat6A rather than Cat7: Cat6A is generally rated to 500MHz and 10Gbps over the standard 90m permanent link. Most commercial kit needs nothing beyond 10G, and Cat7 brings different connectors and a larger cable.
• Why a reel: one 305m length lets you cut each run to size without joins.

Solid core suits fixed, terminated runs rather than flexing patch leads. Cat6A is also bulkier and stiffer than Cat5e or Cat6, so check containment, bend radius and floor-box depth on retrofits. If a site only needs Gigabit, Cat6 is usually the easier and cheaper pull.

Shielded Cat6a Keystone Jack – Tool-Less RJ45 — best for 10Gbps PoE camera runs

For installers terminating shielded Cat6a to wall plates or patch panels, this is a tool-less keystone jack built for 10Gbps and PoE, which makes it a practical outlet for IP camera cabling without moving to Cat7.

• Shielding: 360° EMI protection, which suits runs through noisy plant rooms or alongside mains containment.
• Termination: tool-less, so no punch-down tool is needed at the outlet.
• Compliance: ISO11801 verified, with 10Gbps and PoE support stated.
• Size: a 28mm low-profile design, worth checking against shallow floor boxes or dado trunking before you order in bulk.

In a cat7 vs cat6a decision, this jack is the Cat6a side of the answer. Cat7 tends to bring a different connector type and matched patch leads, and the jack won't help there. The shielding also only earns its keep when the cable is shielded and the screen is bonded properly along the whole link, so skip it for unshielded runs.

You can see the full specification on the Shielded Cat6a Keystone Jack – Tool-Less RJ45 page.

Cat6A U/FTP Network Cable White | TruHD RJ45 — best for plug-and-go structured cabling

Best for installers who want a shielded, 10 Gigabit-class link without crimping on site: the Cat6A U/FTP Network Cable White | TruHD RJ45 is an LSFH Cat6A cable that arrives with RJ45 connectors already fitted.

• Category: Cat6A, the grade that Smartech places among the options built for 10 Gigabit speeds.
• Construction: U/FTP, aimed at reducing electromagnetic interference in data centres, offices and structured cabling systems.
• Sheath: LSFH, so check it against the project's fire-safety specification. White finish.
• Termination: pre-terminated RJ45 connectors, which removes on-site crimping and a common source of faults.

Because the ends are factory-fitted, the cable suits known, fixed runs but not long in-wall pulls that need cutting to length and terminating on site. For those, a bulk reel with keystone jacks is the better fit. Cat6A is also generally bulkier than Cat6, so check containment and bend radius before ordering.

Which one should you buy?

Cat6a is the sensible default for new CCTV cabling, and Cat7 is a specification-driven exception rather than an upgrade. Gigabit-only runs can still be served by Cat6 or Cat5e.

• Best overall: Cat6a. It carries 10Gb/s over a 90m permanent link (100m channel including patch leads) with 500MHz of bandwidth. For external runs, the Cat6A F/FTP Outdoor Cable PE – Connectix TruLAN is the foil-shielded choice. Inside buildings, the Cat6A Network Cable 305m Reel – Solid Core suits patch-panel work, terminated with shielded Cat6a keystone jacks.
• Budget: Cat6, or even Cat5e. If the system is gigabit-only, both reach 1Gb/s over a 90m permanent link, with 250MHz for Cat6 and 100MHz for Cat5e. Cat6 manages 10Gb/s only to about 55m, so it is the wrong pick if 10G uplinks are planned.
• Specific use-case: Cat7. It suits a design that already calls for it, such as high-speed AV in home automation. It uses a different connector, and mixing in Cat6a-or-below patch leads reduces the link's overall speed, so it is the completed link, not the cable category alone, that sets performance. It is also bulkier to fit into existing containment.

Cost drivers include shielding, sheath type and reel length. Account pricing applies, so you can open a trade account to see live figures.