foxCAT5e is a tough, lightweight and highly flexible shielded Cat5e EtherCON network cable on a reel system, designed for professional audio, broadcast and touring applications where reliability and durability are essential.

The cable supports Cat5e Gigabit Ethernet performance up to 100 m, and can achieve data rates up to 5 Gbps over shorter runs up to 35 m depending on installation conditions.

The cable is supplied on a reel with flange and a 3 m EtherCON flytail, making it ideal for quickly deploying network connections across stages, venues or broadcast environments while keeping the cable neatly stored and protected when not in use.

The outer jacket is made from a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) which provides excellent flexibility and durability while remaining easy to coil and handle. This makes foxCAT5e particularly well suited to touring systems, stage networks, broadcast rigs and mobile AV installations.

TPE vs PVC Cable Jackets

foxCAT5e uses a high-performance TPE jacket, offering several advantages over traditional PVC network cables:

• Remains highly flexible even at low temperatures

• More abrasion resistant than PVC

• Resistant to scuffing, cuts and repeated bending

• Improved oil and chemical resistance

• UV-stable jacket for longer outdoor life

• Halogen-free material, producing lower toxic smoke in the event of a fire

• More environmentally friendly and easier to recycle

These properties make TPE ideal for touring, stage, broadcast and industrial networking applications.

Why EtherCON Connectors?

EtherCON connectors convert a fragile RJ45 office-style Ethernet connector into a rugged, lockable touring connector suitable for demanding professional environments.

The metal EtherCON housing protects the RJ45 plug while providing a secure locking mechanism, preventing accidental disconnection during operation.

EtherCON connectors are widely used across professional audio, broadcast, lighting and AV networking systems where robust and reliable Ethernet connectivity is required.

Key advantages include:

• Locking connector system to prevent accidental unplugging

• Rugged metal housing for mechanical protection

• Improved strain relief and cable durability

• Reliable performance in touring and live production environments

Typical Applications

This shielded Cat5e EtherCON reel system is commonly used for professional networking applications including:

• Digital audio consoles

• Audio stage boxes, including AES50 systems

• Networked audio systems such as Dante, AVB / Milan and AES67

• Digital snake systems

• Audio interfaces

• Media servers

• Lighting control systems

• Ethernet switches and network hubs

• Broadcast and video production equipment

Typical use cases include:

• Dante audio networking cables

• AES50 digital stage box connections

• touring EtherCON network runs

• AES67 audio-over-IP networks

• Lighting control networks (Art-Net / sACN)

These reel systems are widely used in live sound systems, touring rigs, theatres, broadcast installations and professional AV networks where rapid deployment and tidy cable management are required.

AES50 compatible

Technical Specification

*See our Length vs Performance Guide for information on data transmission performance over different cable lengths.