Southwire CAT 6 23 AWG 4-Pair Riser Blue Data Cable 1000-Foot Pull Box – Model 56918949

The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft riser-rated data cable (Model 56918949) is the structured cabling specification that commercial new construction, enterprise office build-outs, modern multi-tenant residential, and high-performance home networks deploy when bandwidth headroom and future-proofing matter. As a CAT 6 23 AWG riser cable, this product uses thicker 23 AWG copper conductors compared to the 24 AWG conductors in CAT 5e, which delivers superior signal performance, better near-end crosstalk rejection, and improved Power over Ethernet capacity for high-wattage PoE++ applications. The CAT 6 blue 4 pair cable uses industry-standard blue jacket coloring (the conventional color identifier for CAT 6 specifications), making it instantly distinguishable from CAT 5e (typically gray) and CAT 6a (typically green) cables on shared cable trays or in mixed-grade installations. As Southwire 56918949, this specific SKU has become the default new construction commercial specification because of the combination of trusted Southwire manufacturing, CMR riser fire rating, and the 1000-foot pull box format that suits project consumption. As a CAT 6 10 Gigabit Ethernet cable, the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft supports 10GBASE-T at run lengths up to 55 meters (180 feet), which covers the majority of practical building installation scenarios where 10-Gigabit capability is needed at the workstation, access point, or end-device location. Every Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft pull box ships nationwide from IB Lighting with free freight and contractor volume pricing. Manufacturer specifications are available at the official Southwire website.

Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft Key Highlights

What CAT 6 Is and How the Specification Works

CAT 6 stands for Category 6, an industry-standard specification for unshielded twisted pair (UTP) data cabling defined by the TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1 standard. The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft is the riser-rated implementation of this specification, and understanding what CAT 6 actually delivers helps you specify the right cable for your project.

CAT 6 represents the next major performance tier above CAT 5e. The key specifications: 250 MHz signaling bandwidth (compared to CAT 5e’s 100 MHz), 23 AWG conductors (thicker than CAT 5e’s 24 AWG), and tighter electrical performance requirements for return loss, near-end crosstalk, equal-level far-end crosstalk, and other parameters that determine high-speed signal integrity. The thicker conductors and tighter performance specifications combine to deliver meaningfully better signal headroom than CAT 5e, even when both cables are running standard Gigabit Ethernet.

The most significant CAT 6 advantage is 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) support up to 55 meters (180 feet). CAT 5e officially supports only Gigabit Ethernet, with 10-Gigabit operation possible only at very short distances and in good electrical conditions. CAT 6 reliably handles 10-Gigabit Ethernet at meaningful run lengths, which matters for installations where the network speed requirement may exceed Gigabit in the future. For 10-Gigabit operation at the full 100-meter distance, CAT 6a is required; CAT 6 covers the meaningful middle ground at 55 meters.

The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft also delivers improved Power over Ethernet capacity. The thicker 23 AWG conductors carry more current with less voltage drop than 24 AWG conductors, which improves PoE delivery efficiency at the end device. For high-wattage PoE++ applications (IEEE 802.3bt at 60W and 100W classes), the better conductor capacity of CAT 6 reduces voltage drop and heat generation in the cable.

23 AWG Conductor Advantage Over CAT 5e 24 AWG

The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft uses 23 AWG solid copper conductors, which is one of the most underappreciated specification differences between CAT 6 and CAT 5e. CAT 5e uses 24 AWG conductors, which is one gauge thinner. The difference matters meaningfully for both signal performance and PoE delivery.

Conductor gauge directly affects three performance areas. First, signal attenuation: thicker conductors have lower DC resistance, which means signal amplitude decreases less over a given cable length. For long runs near the 100-meter specification limit, the 23 AWG conductor delivers stronger signal at the far end than 24 AWG, providing more margin for the receiver to recover the data signal reliably. Second, near-end crosstalk rejection: thicker conductors produce slightly larger physical separation between adjacent pairs (because the overall pair diameter is slightly larger), which reduces the electromagnetic coupling between pairs. Third, current capacity: thicker conductors carry more current with less heat generation, which matters for PoE applications where the cable carries DC power along with data signals.

For Power over Ethernet specifically, the 23 AWG advantage is meaningful. Standard PoE (IEEE 802.3af) delivers up to 15.4 watts to the powered device. PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) delivers up to 30 watts. PoE++ (IEEE 802.3bt) Type 3 delivers up to 60 watts, and PoE++ Type 4 delivers up to 100 watts. Higher PoE classes require more current flow through the cable, and thicker conductors handle this current with less voltage drop and less heat. For installations powering PTZ security cameras (often 30W+), video conferencing endpoints, high-power wireless access points, and similar high-current PoE devices, CAT 6 is the appropriate specification.

The 23 AWG conductor also handles continuous high-current PoE delivery without the thermal degradation concerns that affect 24 AWG conductors under maximum PoE++ load. While CAT 5e can carry PoE in most installations, CAT 6 is the right specification when PoE is a primary system design factor.

Internal Spline Separator: The CAT 6 Construction Difference

One of the most visible physical differences between the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft and CAT 5e cable is the internal spline separator inside the CAT 6 jacket. The spline is a cross-shaped (or X-shaped) plastic separator that runs the length of the cable, physically holding the four twisted pairs in separate quadrants rather than allowing them to lie randomly against each other inside the jacket.

The spline serves a specific signal performance function. The largest source of crosstalk in twisted pair cabling is electromagnetic coupling between adjacent pairs, which is most significant when the pairs are physically close together. By forcing each twisted pair into its own quadrant of the cable cross-section, the spline maintains consistent separation between pairs along the entire cable length. This consistent separation is what enables CAT 6 to achieve its 250 MHz bandwidth specification with reliable signal performance.

The trade-off is that the spline makes CAT 6 cable slightly larger in diameter than equivalent CAT 5e, which affects conduit fill calculations and pulling considerations. The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft outer diameter is approximately 0.235 inches compared to roughly 0.205 inches for CAT 5e. For most installations, the difference is inconsequential, but for very high-density cable bundles or tight conduit fills, the larger CAT 6 diameter must be accounted for in the design.

When terminating CAT 6 at jacks and patch panels, the spline must be cut back to the jacket edge but the twist pattern of each pair should be maintained. Strip about 1 inch of jacket back at each termination, cut the spline flush with the jacket edge, then untwist each pair only as far as needed to reach the termination contacts (typically less than 1/2 inch). Excessive untwist at the termination degrades the cable’s near-end crosstalk performance and can prevent 10-Gigabit operation even though the cable itself is rated for it.

10-Gigabit Ethernet Capability at Up to 55 Meters

The headline performance advantage of the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft over CAT 5e is reliable 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) support at run lengths up to 55 meters (180 feet). This capability is genuinely meaningful for installations where 10-Gigabit may be needed at the device location, even if it is not required immediately.

Where 10-Gigabit Ethernet actually matters today: data center adjacent installations, video production facilities, high-resolution medical imaging environments, financial trading floors, AI/ML workloads in commercial offices, and any environment where workstations regularly transfer large files (uncompressed video, large image libraries, massive datasets). For these applications, CAT 6’s 10-Gigabit capability matches the actual bandwidth demand at the workstation.

Where 10-Gigabit Ethernet matters for future-proofing: new construction commercial buildings with 20+ year expected cabling lifespans, premium office build-outs where re-cabling later would be disruptive and expensive, residential structured cabling installs where the homeowner wants long-term performance headroom, and any installation where the build cost premium of CAT 6 over CAT 5e is small relative to the total project budget. For these scenarios, installing CAT 6 today provides headroom for emerging bandwidth needs without forcing a future cable replacement.

The 55-meter 10-Gigabit limit covers the practical run lengths for most commercial installations. A typical commercial office layout has the network closet positioned centrally so that no workstation is more than 55 meters of cable distance away, which means CAT 6 can deliver 10-Gigabit Ethernet to every workstation in the building. For longer runs requiring full 100-meter 10-Gigabit operation, CAT 6a is the correct specification, but the cost premium of CAT 6a over CAT 6 is significant and often unjustified for installations where the 55-meter limit fits the actual building geometry.

CMR Riser Rating and Code Compliance

The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft carries the CMR (Communications Multi-purpose Riser) jacket rating, which is the most common general-purpose specification for commercial and residential structured cabling. The CMR rating allows the cable to be installed in vertical riser runs between floors in non-plenum spaces while meeting NEC Article 800 fire safety requirements for flame spread between floors.

The complete NEC Article 800 jacket rating hierarchy from most restrictive to least:

• CMP (Plenum): Required for installations in air handling spaces where HVAC air actively circulates through the cable installation area. Most expensive jacket type with lowest smoke production and flame spread.
• CMR (Riser, this product): Approved for vertical riser installations between floors in non-plenum spaces. The practical default for typical commercial and residential cabling.
• CM (General Purpose): Approved for general communications installations in single-floor non-plenum applications. Lowest cost but limited use.
• CMX (Limited Use): Approved only for dwelling installations and certain restricted applications.

The CMR rating on the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft is the right specification for typical multi-floor commercial buildings where data cable runs vertically through risers between floors, and for residential installations where the cable may pass between floors during the rough-in. CMR cable cannot be used in plenum spaces where HVAC return air circulates; those applications require CMP-rated cable. Verify your specific building’s air handling design before specifying jacket rating.

For permitted commercial installations, fire inspectors specifically verify the jacket rating during inspection. The CMR rating is printed on the cable jacket itself at regular intervals, allowing inspectors to confirm the rating without breaking down the installation. The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft printing includes the CAT 6 specification, the CMR rating, the manufacturer name, and the cable footage marker that identifies how much cable has been pulled from the box.

The 1000-Foot Pull Box Format

The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft ships in a 1000-foot pull box rather than a spool reel, which is the format network installers actually prefer for project work. The pull box is a cardboard or composite shipping carton with a pull-out hole on the top, containing the cable wound inside in a smooth controlled pattern that dispenses cleanly through the pull hole without binding, tangling, or kinking.

The pull box format suits structured cabling installation patterns specifically because CAT 6 runs are short (the maximum permitted CAT 6 run length is 100 meters) and there are often many separate runs in a single project. Network installers might pull 30 to 80 separate cable runs in a large commercial fit-out, with each run terminating at a different location. The pull box dispenses cable for each individual run as the installer moves around the building, with no spool repositioning between runs.

For typical residential structured cabling projects covering 8 to 15 wall-jack drops, a single Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft pull box is usually sufficient with material remaining for future expansion. For commercial fit-outs covering 50 to 200 drops, multiple boxes are deployed across the site, with each installer working from their own box during the pulling phase. The standardized 1000-foot length matches industry norms for bill-of-materials estimating.

Common Applications for the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft

The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft is the premium structured cabling specification for commercial new construction, enterprise build-outs, modern multi-tenant residential, and high-performance residential networks. The most common applications include:

• Commercial new construction Ethernet networks. Office buildings, retail spaces, medical facilities, educational institutions specifying long-term cabling that supports current and future bandwidth needs.
• Enterprise office build-outs. Tenant improvements in commercial buildings where the lease cost justifies premium structured cabling for the office equipment lifecycle.
• High-performance residential networks. Custom homes, smart-home installations, and homes with home offices where the homeowner wants 10-Gigabit capability for future hardware upgrades.
• Multi-tenant residential cabling. Apartments, condominiums, dormitories where the building owner specifies premium cabling as a tenant amenity.
• Video production and content creation facilities. Editing suites, production studios, post-production environments where 10-Gigabit workstation connectivity matters for workflow.
• Healthcare facility networking. Medical imaging, electronic medical records systems, telemedicine infrastructure where bandwidth and reliability matter.
• Education technology infrastructure. K-12 schools, universities, and training facilities deploying modern classroom and computer lab technology.
• High-power PoE applications. PTZ security cameras, high-performance wireless access points, video conferencing endpoints, and similar devices using PoE++ (60W+) power delivery.

For typical residential applications where Gigabit Ethernet is sufficient and the home internet service is well below Gigabit capacity, the lower-cost Southwire CAT 5e 1000 ft is genuinely the right specification rather than CAT 6. For installations requiring 10-Gigabit Ethernet at full 100-meter distances, CAT 6a is the correct specification rather than CAT 6.

Installation Requirements and Best Practices

Installing the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft follows specific best practices that protect signal performance and ensure code compliance. CAT 6 is slightly more sensitive to handling than CAT 5e because the higher signaling bandwidth means termination quality and routing practices have more impact on signal performance.

Maintain bend radius: The minimum bend radius for CAT 6 is 4 times the cable diameter (approximately 1 inch). Sharper bends can damage the twist pattern and the spline separator, both of which degrade signal performance. Plan cable routing with gentle sweeping curves rather than sharp 90-degree bends.

Avoid maximum pulling tension: The maximum pulling tension on CAT 6 is 25 pounds, the same as CAT 5e. Excessive pulling force can deform the spline, damage the conductor twist pattern, and degrade performance. Use cable pulling lubricant on long pulls if friction is a concern, and use multiple pull points (intermediate boxes or pull stations) on very long runs.

Maintain separation from electrical power wiring: Per NEC Article 800, CAT 6 must be separated from electrical power wiring by minimum distances to prevent electromagnetic interference. Typical separation is 12 inches from parallel runs of 120V power wiring, with crossings permitted at 90-degree angles. Avoid running CAT 6 in the same conduit, raceway, or stud bay as power wiring.

Use CAT 6 certified components for terminations: The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft must be terminated at CAT 6 certified jacks, patch panels, and patch cords to maintain the CAT 6 performance specification through the complete cable channel. Using CAT 5e jacks at a CAT 6 cable run effectively downgrades the channel to CAT 5e performance, eliminating the benefit of the CAT 6 cable. Specify CAT 6 components throughout the installation.

Cut the spline at termination: When terminating CAT 6, strip about 1 inch of jacket back, then cut the internal spline flush with the jacket edge. Untwist each pair only as far as needed for termination (less than 1/2 inch). Excessive untwist at the termination point degrades near-end crosstalk performance and can prevent 10-Gigabit operation.

Test after installation: Use a cable certification tester to verify each run meets the CAT 6 specification. Basic continuity testers are not sufficient for CAT 6; certification testers measure return loss, near-end crosstalk, far-end crosstalk, and propagation delay parameters that determine 10-Gigabit operation. Professional installations include post-install certification testing as standard practice.

Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft Specifications

Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft FAQs

Who the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft Is Built For

The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft serves four clear buyer types. The first is commercial new construction electrical contractors and IT contractors specifying structured cabling for office buildings, retail spaces, medical facilities, and educational institutions. For these buyers, CAT 6 is the default new construction specification because of the long expected cabling lifespan and the cost-benefit of installing premium cable during the rough-in phase versus re-cabling later. A typical commercial new construction project consumes 5 to 25 boxes of CAT 6, and these multi-box orders trigger contractor volume pricing.

The second buyer is the enterprise IT contractor handling tenant improvement build-outs in commercial buildings. For these buyers, the lease cost typically justifies premium structured cabling, and CAT 6 supports the corporate IT equipment lifecycle of 5 to 10 years with bandwidth headroom for hardware refreshes. The PoE++ capability matters for modern enterprise wireless access points, IP-based security camera networks, and unified communications endpoints.

The third buyer is the high-end residential network installer doing custom homes, smart-home installations, and luxury renovations where the homeowner specifies premium infrastructure for long-term performance. The 10-Gigabit Ethernet capability supports future hardware upgrades and high-bandwidth applications including 4K and 8K video streaming, large file transfers, and emerging applications that may demand more than Gigabit Ethernet.

The fourth buyer is the AV integrator and security system installer running high-power PoE++ devices including PTZ cameras, high-performance wireless access points, video conferencing endpoints, and IP-based building automation. For these buyers, the 23 AWG conductor advantage in PoE delivery is meaningful because the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft handles continuous high-current PoE++ with less voltage drop than thinner cable. Browse the broader IB Lighting electrical and cable collection for the complete range of structured cabling and power wiring products.

CAT 6 vs CAT 5e: When Each Is the Right Pick

The choice between CAT 6 and CAT 5e is driven by specific factors that go beyond just “more bandwidth is always better.” Understanding when each is genuinely the right specification helps you make the right decision for each project rather than over-specifying or under-specifying.

Choose the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft (this product) when your installation is commercial new construction with a 15-20+ year expected cabling lifespan, when 10-Gigabit Ethernet capability matters for current or future bandwidth needs, when you are running high-wattage PoE++ devices (60W or 100W classes), when the application is enterprise office build-out where premium structured cabling is justified by the lease cost, or when the project budget supports the modest CAT 6 cost premium for future-proofing.

Choose the Southwire CAT 5e 1000 ft when your installation is typical residential structured cabling where Gigabit Ethernet is sufficient (internet service speeds are well below Gigabit anyway), when the application is standard small commercial cabling where bandwidth demands are modest, when budget constraints make the CAT 5e cost advantage meaningful, or when you are doing replacement or addition work in an existing CAT 5e installation where matching the existing specification simplifies the project.

The honest truth: for the typical American home with 200-500 Mbps internet service and standard household devices, CAT 5e delivers everything the home network actually needs. CAT 6 makes sense for high-performance residential applications, future-proofing scenarios where the homeowner specifically wants 10-Gigabit capability, and commercial environments. Most residential builders specify CAT 5e for cost efficiency; most commercial builders specify CAT 6 for the longer expected cabling lifespan.

CAT 6 vs CAT 6a: When to Upgrade Further

Within high-performance structured cabling, CAT 6 and CAT 6a represent the two tiers above CAT 5e. Understanding when to step up from CAT 6 to CAT 6a helps you specify the right cable for genuinely high-bandwidth applications.

Choose CAT 6 like the Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft when 10-Gigabit Ethernet capability is needed at run lengths up to 55 meters (covering most building geometries), when the cost premium of CAT 6 over CAT 5e is justified but CAT 6a is overkill for the application, when PoE++ delivery matters but 10-Gigabit at maximum distance is not required. CAT 6 is the practical sweet spot for premium commercial and residential structured cabling.

Choose CAT 6a when 10-Gigabit Ethernet is required at the full 100-meter standard distance, when the installation supports data center adjacent applications, when high-density commercial networks with many high-bandwidth devices are deployed, or when the application is genuinely high-performance commercial requiring the additional bandwidth headroom of CAT 6a’s 500 MHz specification. CAT 6a is meaningfully more expensive than CAT 6 and bulkier in conduit fill terms; the upgrade is justified only when the additional capability is actually needed.

The cost progression from CAT 5e to CAT 6 to CAT 6a is meaningful: CAT 6 typically costs 50-70 percent more than CAT 5e, and CAT 6a typically costs another 40-60 percent more than CAT 6. For most installations, the CAT 6 sweet spot delivers the right combination of performance and cost. CAT 6a is reserved for the specific applications where its additional capability is actually used.

Bulk and Contractor Pricing

The Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft is stocked at IB Lighting because commercial structured cabling specifies CAT 6 on most new construction and enterprise build-out projects. We offer automatic volume pricing on multi-box orders, with deeper savings on larger bills of materials. A typical commercial structured cabling fit-out covering 50 to 200 drops consumes 5 to 25 boxes of CAT 6, and these multi-box orders trigger our standard contractor pricing tier.

Free freight applies to every Southwire CAT 6 1000 ft pull box order regardless of quantity. Most orders ship within 1 to 2 business days and arrive within 5 to 6 business days. If you need a bill of materials priced and quoted before you order, the IB Lighting team can turn around a quote inside of a business day for most projects. Browse our complete electrical and cable collection for power wiring that complements your structured cabling project.

Browse the complete IB Lighting electrical and cable collection, compare with the Southwire CAT 5e 1000 ft (the residential and standard commercial alternative), explore other Southwire products, pair structured cabling with a Tesla Universal Wall Connector for home automation projects that include EV charging, consider a Generac standby generator for outage protection that keeps your network and PoE devices running, or visit our customer FAQ hub. Manufacturer technical sheets are available at the official Southwire website.