Outdoor, Direct Burial and Armored Cables

Cable that survives outside: UV-resistant outdoor CMX Cat5e and direct-burial Cat5e (PE jacket, gel-filled or shielded) for yard, eave and conduit runs; weatherproof Cat8 patch cables; armored anti-rodent Cat6A with a stainless spiral under the jacket for barns, crawl spaces and anywhere something chews; and 12 AWG SJTW extension cords rated for wet locations.

Choosing

Above ground in sun: outdoor CMX with a UV jacket. Underground: direct-burial (gel-filled if the trench floods). Rodents, abrasion or foot traffic: armored. Power tools and heaters outside: an SJTW cord with the W in the code. Read when armored cable is worth it and what the jacket codes mean.

Start here: our guides to outdoor vs direct burial Ethernet cable and best Ethernet cable for security cameras.

Common questions

Can I run regular Cat6 outside? Not for long. Indoor PVC jackets crack in sunlight and wick water. Use outdoor-rated cable above ground and direct-burial cable in the ground.

Does armored cable need special connectors? No. Our armored Cat6A patch cables are terminated with standard RJ45 plugs and plug into any jack or switch; the armor is under the jacket.