Cat6 bundled multi cable why should I use it?
Bundled cable is the installers dream. Why? Because when all is said and done it should have made cabling easier and less costly. Multi cable or any other combination can make your life a lot simpler.
When you’re going to install cable or if you are a professional installer there are some overheads that you must consider. Some being your labor, even if you’re doing it for yourself you have to give some financial accountability to your own efforts. You are worth something, even if in your mind you’re doing it for free. The hidden costs that you may not have calculated could very well be the cost of inventory.
Suppose you’re wiring 6 or 7 locations for a customer? They want video, phone and security and data to each room. So what do you do? You run out and order several different reels of cable. Now each run is almost 250 or more feet and some may be less. 1000 Ft. reels seem to be the choice. Now, you have to buy 3 or 4 different types of cable, Cat6, RG6, 18-2 and possibly Cat3 or 5e for the voice. Do to the various length runs you will have some waste on each reel. That’s a loss right there.
For all those different reels they can cost you $360.00 or more just for the cable and that can be only 2 runs off each reel. Then you have to actually pull the cable. If you’re a pro you know that labor intensive sites are a real drag on your budget. Then trying to justify it to your customer who has a budget can cause you to even loose the job in the bidding. Now if you think about it there should be a way to make the job less labor intensive. Trying to pull multiple reels off of reel caddies all at the same time doesn’t always work the way you want it too. For one the cable has a tendency to separate and get stuck in the crevices and bends and sticky spots. Not to count the nicks or cuts that be placed in the cable from trying to pull so many at once.
Do you think there could be a better way? Thankfully Cat5e or Cat6 can be used for all different type of runs. These multiple cables in one wrapper or composite cables can also come in several combinations. So no matter what you’re trying to hook up there is more than likely a combo that works.
In comes the composite cable idea. Four Cat5e @ around $179.00 or 4 x Cat6 for a little more. This can be all the combinations you need in just one reel. The result is less storage, less pulling and less cost. Now that’s a great idea. Note all prices are estimated at the time of this writing. You must check the latest prices yourself.