We Buy Surplus Low-Voltage and Communication Cable in Ohio
Low-voltage cable is the easiest surplus to overlook. A network refresh leaves boxes of Cat6A, a fire alarm upgrade leaves partial reels of FPLP, and a closed office leaves coils of 18/2 security cable. We buy that material across Ohio. The jacket legend and the box count tell us most of what we need to know.
Data Cable: Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A
Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A are twisted-pair cables, 100 ohm, four pairs, terminated on modular jacks. The category number tracks tested bandwidth, and Cat6A is the larger, stiffer cable of the three. Shielded versions add a foil wrap, sometimes around each pair, plus a drain wire.
The rating letters matter as much as the category. CMP is plenum rated, CMR is riser rated, and CM is general purpose. A box of CMP is a different product from the same category in CMR, so read the print rather than the carton color. Send the category, the rating, the jacket color and how many boxes or reels remain.
Fire Alarm and Security Cable
Fire alarm cable carries FPL, FPLR or FPLP on the jacket: power-limited fire alarm, with the R and P marking riser and plenum. Non-power-limited versions print NPLF. Common constructions are 18/2, 16/2, 14/2 and twisted pair with an overall shield, and the red jacket is a convention rather than a rating.
Security and access control cable is usually smaller: 22/4, 18/2 and 18/4 stranded, shielded or unshielded, sometimes a composite design carrying power and signal in one jacket. Plenum versions are worth listing on their own line, because the rating is what makes the cable usable in a return-air space.
Count matters as much as type here. A partial reel of 16/2 FPLR and a case of 22/4 security cable are reviewed on different terms, so put each construction on its own line with the footage or the box count beside it.
Coax and Fiber
Coaxial cable for video and broadband is 75 ohm, most often RG-6, with RG-11 for longer runs and RG-59 in older work. Note the shield type, since quad-shield and tri-shield constructions are printed on the jacket. Partial boxes are common and easy to count.
Fiber optic cable comes as singlemode or multimode, tight buffer or loose tube, with strand counts from 6 upward. OFNP and OFNR are the plenum and riser ratings. Armored and indoor/outdoor versions exist as well, so photograph the reel label and the jacket print instead of describing the cable from memory.
Quote this material
This form is routed with the category already noted, so the buyer knows what they are looking at before opening the photos.
Full reels, partial reels, coils and cartons are all reviewed. Condition changes the number, not the eligibility.
Quote Low-Voltage & Communication Cable
Tell us what you have and attach photos of the reels, tags and jacket legends. Fields marked * are required.
Low-Voltage & Communication Cable questions
Do you buy opened boxes of Cat6?
Yes, opened boxes and partial reels are normal in surplus. Tell us roughly how much is left and whether the box was stored dry. A photo of the box label helps.
What is the difference between CMP and CMR?
CMP is plenum rated and CMR is riser rated, with CM as general purpose. The letters are printed on the jacket and they change where the cable can be used, so list each rating separately.
Do you buy fiber optic cable by the reel?
We review fiber on the reel label, the strand count and the rating letters. Send a photo of the label and the jacket print with your inquiry. Partial reels are fine to list.
Selling low-voltage & communication cable?
Send the wire type, footage, condition and photos of the reels and tags. We review it and come back with pricing and pickup logistics.