:On Wed, 18 May 2011 22:20:54 +1000, "Phil Allison" wrote: : :>
:>"Mike B" :>>
:>> If you believe :>>
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:>> 20% of the cable entering the UK is counterfeit. :>>
:>> Half way down the page it says, "Counterfeit cables can even have :>> copper-coated :>> steel or aluminium conductors in place of copper, ". :>>
:>> The resistance measurements of my cable would suggest that 2 of the 4 :>> pairs are :>> copper clad steel :-( :>
:>
:>** Is it obviously magnetic ?? :>
:> Steel has about 7 times the resistance of copper. :>
: : :The brown pair stick to a magnet :-( :The green and orange pairs do not. :I don't have any spare blue pair to test. : :Well there you go. Fake UL certified cat5 copper/aluminium and copper/steel. : : :Mike
I see that in the USA they have instituted a laser holographic product labelling system for UL certified cable.
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This might be of use to cabling contractors who buy bulk cable but for the hobby/small user who only buys a few metres off the roll at some unscrupulous or ignorant supplier, he could still get caught.
I have asked Communications Alliance
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if they are aware of the problem and if there are plans to institute a similar labelling scheme here.