Branded the CatKit range, Canford launched its Cat5e breakout boxes and multicore cables for outside broadcast, live production and touring applications at IBC 2011.

These offer four/eight-way Cat5 connectivity, with the Cat5E Multicore cable available in four- or eight-way versions and come in multiple standard lengths with custom lengths made to order. Also launched were Fibre Optic breakout boxes. Both types are intended for applications where a tough resilient solution is required.

The new breakout boxes use a rugged steel construction and are designed to withstand the rigours of touring production. All feature metal end plates and bottom skid bars for added protection and employ tough Neutrik etherCON connectors, allowing the whole cable run up to the operator to be of the robust construction but still permit the use of standard RJ45 patchcords to a laptop or other device.

The optical-fibre boxes use the same rugged construction as the Cat5 units. The end connection is an opticalCON Quad connector and can be custom made by Canford with any combination of ST, LC, SC or opticalCON DUO connectors.

To further aid in easy roll-out of Cat 5 cable, Canford have designed four- and eight-way multicore Ethernet cables which are available terminated with the stage boxes or ‘standalone’. The Cat5e multicore cables come as standard in 25m, 50m and 75m lengths. Canford also offers a custom-build service where customers can specify the lengths of the cables and tails.

The multicore Ethernet cables employ Canford’s reduced size Cat5E-F-M, designed for installations where a high quality but very flexible screened Category 5E cable is required. The core construction and jacket material is identical to Cat5E-F; the difference is only in the jacket thickness. The individual cables are collected within a tough outer sleeve enabling their uses in deployable applications. Each cable is individually numbered to aid termination.

More: www.canford.co.uk