Whether in a smart home, a modern office, or in industry – high-performance networks are indispensable today. With the increasing importance of home networks and networked systems, the demand for professional installation is also rising. A crucial step in this process: correctly stripping data cables such as Cat 7.
In this article, we’ll show you step by step how to do this professionally and safely – and which tools will make the job particularly easy.
What is a data cable – and what is behind “Cat 5 to Cat 8”?
Data cables are the backbone of modern networks – they enable the reliable transmission of information between devices. Especially in the Ethernet sector, you often encounter designations such as Cat 5, Cat 6, or Cat 7. These categories differ primarily in their performance: the higher the category, the higher the possible transmission speed and frequency. While Cat 5e is sufficient for simple home networks, Cat 6a or Cat 7 are in demand in professional environments such as offices or industrial facilities.
Important to know: Terms such as “LAN cable” or “Ethernet cable” mean the same thing – a twisted-pair copper cable that connects devices in a local area network.
“LAN cable” (Local Area Network) is a generic term for all cables used to connect devices in a local area network. It therefore describes the function of the cable in the network, not its technical standard.
“Ethernet cable” is the correct name for a network cable and is now the most commonly used standard for wired networks worldwide. Therefore, virtually all modern LAN cables are Ethernet cables.
Structure of a data cable
A typical data cable, such as Category 6 or Category 7, consists of several layers:
• PVC outer jacket
• Shielding foil
• Braid for additional shielding
• Four twisted pairs of wires inside.
Cables with twisted pairs of wires are also known as “twisted-pair cables.” This pairwise shielding effectively protects against electromagnetic interference—a key difference from coaxial cables, which have a single inner conductor that is centrally shielded. You can find out more about coaxial cables in our article „Stripping coaxcable“.
Differences between the Cat classes
| CAT-class | Maximum data rate | Frequency range | Maximum length (for full power) | Typical applications |
| CAT 5e | Up to 1 Gbit/s (Gigabit Ethernet) | 100 MHz | 100 m | Home networks, simple offices |
| CAT 6 | Up to 1 Gbit/s (10 Gbit/s bis 55 m) | 250 MHz | 100 m (1 Gbit/s), 55 m (10 Gbit/s) | Offices, small data centers |
| CAT 6a | Up to 10 Gbit/s | 500 MHz | 100 m | Industry, modern infrastructures |
| CAT 7 | Up to 10 Gbit/s | 600 MHz | 100 m | High-end networks, shielded |
| CAT 7a | Up to 10 Gbit/s (theoretically 40 Gbit/s) | 1000 MHz | 100 m | Special industrial applications |
| CAT 8.1 | Up to 25 Gbit/s | 2000 MHz | 30 m | Data centers, server connections |
| CAT 8.2 | Up to 40 Gbit/s | 2000 MHz | 30 m | High-performance server applications |
Stripping network cables with the No. 1-Cat – this is how it works step by step
Our Cable Stripper No. 1-Cat (Art. no. 30500) is designed for cleanly stripping PVC-insulated data cables (e.g., Cat 5, Cat 6, Cat 6e, Cat 7, Cat 8, twisted pair cables) with a working range of 4.5 to 10 mm in diameter. The two-stage stripping system ensures a clean stripping result.
Step 1 – Remove outer jacket
- Unlock the safety lock and open the cable stripper.
- Insert the cable into the pair of blades 1 to the required length (length varies depending on the connection variant; adjustment for the cutting depth is not necessary).
- Close the half-shells, turn the tool 1/4 turn left and right with appropriate pressure.
- Open the tool and reposition it a little towards the end to be stripped.
- Bend the cable slightly and strip the sheath backwards.
Step 2 – Remove aluminum shielding
- Fold the braided shield backwards
- Turn the cable stripper over and insert all shielded wire pairs into blade pair 2 to the required length.
- Close the cable stripper and, applying minimal pressure, turn it 1/4 turn left and right, thus scoring the foil shielding with the tool.
- Set the tool down, bend the foil back with your fingers, and remove the pair shielding.
Application video No. 1-Cat
Common mistakes when stripping data cables
Often, the outer jacket is cut too deeply during stripping. This can damage the sensitive wire pairs, leading to signal interference or complete loss of connection. Twisting the wires should also not be undone, as this impairs transmission quality. With the right tools and a little care, these problems can easily be avoided—and the network connection remains stable and efficient.