Quick Answer / Summary: When a Cat 6A sample arrives, measure the conductor AWG, confirm bare copper, inspect the foil and braid, check the print, and request the matching test report. Then test the sample on a capable tester. Keep the approved sample sealed so the volume order can be compared against it.
A sample is the cheapest risk control in cable buying, but only if it is tested rather than admired. Most buyers check the jacket print and stop. The four checks that predict production behaviour are conductor metal, measured gauge, shield construction and test documentation.
A sample only protects the order when it is measured, documented and sealed.What to Measure
Physical checks take minutes and eliminate most substitutions. They are also the only checks that can be repeated later on the delivered reels for comparison.
Conductor metal and gauge
Strip a short section and measure the conductor with a caliper. Bare copper is the reference for permanent links; CCA is lighter and has higher resistance. A measurement taken at the same point on each sample makes the comparison defensible later.
Shield and pair construction
Inspect the foil and braid, count the drain wire and check the pair lay. Cat 6A may be F/UTP or S/FTP depending on the specification, and a sample that does not match the quoted construction is a different product regardless of the print.
What to Ask For in Writing
A sample without documents is a physical object with no history. The paperwork is what turns it into evidence about a production process.
Test report and construction drawing
Request a Class E-A test report at 500 MHz with the test setup described, plus a construction drawing showing conductor, insulation, shield, drain wire and jacket. A report without a batch reference cannot be linked to the sample or to the future order.
Batch and material statements
Ask for the batch reference and a statement of conductor origin. If the sample came from a different line or a different compound than the production order will use, the sample proves nothing about the order, so ask that question directly.
How to Test the Sample
A short sample cannot prove a 90 m channel, but it can expose a construction that will never reach the limit. Test what is measurable and interpret the result honestly.
Bench checks
Terminate both ends and run a link test if you have a capable tester, then compare insertion loss and crosstalk against the Class E-A limit extrapolated to the sample length. Record the instrument and the date so the result can be repeated.
Physical durability
Bend the sample around a mandrel at the stated minimum radius and check the shield for deformation. Re-terminate one end and inspect the foil and drain wire. These checks say more about installation behaviour than a datasheet does, and they can be repeated on the delivered reels to confirm the production line behaves like the sample.
Making the Sample Binding
The sample only protects you if it becomes part of the contract. An approved sample kept in a drawer has no legal weight unless the order references it.
Seal and reference it
Sign and date the approved sample, seal it, and keep one copy with the supplier and one with you. Reference the sample number in the purchase order and list the measured values so a later batch can be compared against numbers rather than memory.
Compare on arrival
Measure the first delivered reel against the approved sample and record the result. A small drift in gauge or shield coverage is a warning sign that the production line differs from the line that made the sample.
Cat 6A Sample Check Sheet
| Check | Method | Pass criteria |
|---|
| Conductor metal | Scratch and visual, resistance check | Bare copper, not CCA |
| Gauge | Caliper on stripped conductor | Matches stated AWG |
| Shield | Inspect foil, braid and drain wire | Matches quoted construction |
| Print | Read jacket legend | Category and listing marks present |
| Test report | Request Class E-A at 500 MHz | Batch reference included |
| Physical handling | Bend test at minimum radius | Shield intact, no kinks |
Practical Applications
Sampling is used before a first order, when comparing two shortlisted suppliers and when a new construction is proposed for an existing project. In each case the same sheet applies, and the recorded values become the baseline for incoming inspection.
Reviewed by ZONG Cable Editorial | Last updated: 28 October 2026 | Reviewed against TIA-568.2-D and ISO/IEC 11801-1 Class E-A channel requirements.
How this guide was built: Sample evaluation follows the Class E-A channel requirements in ISO/IEC 11801-1 and TIA-568.2-D, combined with incoming inspection practice: conductor and gauge measurement, shield inspection, test report verification and a physical bend check.
Disclosure: We do not supply samples or test cable commercially. Use a calibrated tester and record the instrument details with every result.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a Cat 6A sample be?
Long enough to terminate and test, typically three to five metres. Ask the supplier to send a cut from the production line rather than a hand-made piece.
Can a supplier refuse to send a sample?
Some charge for samples and some restrict them to serious buyers. A refusal to provide any sample is a reason to remove the supplier from the shortlist.
Do I need a tester to evaluate a sample?
A tester helps, but the physical checks catch most substitutions. If you lack a tester, ask for the report and have a third party test the sample.
Should the sample be free?
Often not, and paying is reasonable if the sample is from production. Free samples are frequently hand-made and unrepresentative.
What if the delivered reel differs from the sample?
Measure and document the difference, then raise it against the purchase order before installation. The approved sample and recorded values are the basis for the claim.
