Overview

As the commercial industry continues to require faster digital networks in avionics, cables need to transmit data reliably at much higher rates. At the same time, the industry is moving away from proprietary networks to open-source architectures and standardized protocols, like Ethernet.

GORE Ethernet Cables meet the increasing data demands of modern airborne digital networks. We manufacture a selection of cables in several configurations and performance lengths that support standard Ethernet protocols to meet your specific application needs and requirements. You can be confident that our high-density cables will deliver high data rate transmission without failing in demanding aircraft environments.

Easier Installation with Routable Designs

Our Ethernet cables can significantly reduce size and weight without compromising durability or signal integrity. The smaller cable diameters also allow for greater flexibility and a tighter bend radius. All of this means that our Ethernet cables can be easily installed or retrofitted in new and existing aircraft structures without breaking or failing for less maintenance, downtime, and overall costs. You can also reduce additional signal amplification in your system architecture because of the superior electrical performance of our cables, decreasing weight and power requirements even more.

Benefits

GORE Ethernet Cables provide aircraft system architects and engineers with many benefits that improve electrical and mechanical performance such as:

  • excellent signal integrity with stable performance after installation and over time
  • meet and exceed standardized high-speed data protocol requirements
  • highly robust constructions tolerate harsh aircraft conditions
  • smaller, lighter weight designs with greater flexibility, tighter bend radius
  • less need for additional signal amplification further reduces weight/power requirements
  • compatible with variety of high-speed aerospace connector systems/backshells
  • selected pre-qualified samples with short lead times for prototyping and evaluation
  • low technical risk based on validated product performance in real-world conditions

For more information about the benefits of our cables, please contact a Gore representative.

4 Pairs (Cat5e/6/6a)

Our award-winning Ethernet Cat6a version exceeds stringent electrical requirements and delivers excellent signal integrity with sufficient margin for high-speed data transmission up to 10 Gb at lengths up to 80 m (262 ft). This version is approved to SAE AS6070™ standards that support AS50881 EWIS (electrical wiring interconnection systems) specifications and on the Qualified Products List (QPL).

Comparison between GORE Ethernet Cables and standard cables

Reduced cable diameter

Our Ethernet Cat6a cables have a unique compact design that is 24% smaller and 25% lighter than alternative designs. In fact, this 4-pair version is proven to save 5.9 kg/km (13 lb/1000 ft) on aircraft.

Proven Installed Performance

We designed an aviation display to evaluate the effects of severe bending on cables while being routed through an airframe. Results showed that our Ethernet Cat6a version delivered lower signal attenuation, reduced crosstalk and improved shielding effectiveness after routing compared to alternative cables available on the market today.

CONNECTOR-CABLE COMPATIBILITY

Download our best practices for terminating our 4-pair Ethernet cables with leading high-speed aerospace connectors and related electrical data for connector-cable compatibility.

Construction of Gore’s Ethernet 4-Pair Cables
A
B
C
D
E
F

Engineered fluoropolymer jacket

Close

Braided shield

Close

Aluminized polyimide shield

Close

FEP filler

Close

Silver-plated copper / SPC alloy conductor

Close

Color-coded composite dielectric

Close

High-density construction of GORE Ethernet Cables (4 Pairs, Cat5e/6/6a)

Applications

GORE Ethernet Cables (4 Pairs, Cat5e/6/6a) are engineered to perform reliably in a variety of aircraft applications, including:

  • avionics network
  • cabin/flight management systems
  • digital video systems
  • Ethernet backbone
  • program upgrades (commercial/business)

If you have any questions or to discuss your specific application needs, please contact a Gore representative.

Properties

These values demonstrate the electrical, mechanical and environmental performance of GORE Ethernet Cables (4 Pairs, Cat5e/6/6a).

Download the data sheet for technical information and performance data.

Electrical Property Value
Standard Impedance (Ohms) 100 ± 10
Typical Operating Voltage (V) < 15
Nominal Velocity of Propagation (%) 80
Nominal Time Delay ns/m (ns/ft) 4.10 (1.25)
Capacitance pF/m (pF/ft) 42.6 (13.0)
Minimum Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT) (dB)
 10 MHz
 100 MHz
 500 MHz
 
59.2
52.3
42.2
Shielding Effectiveness (dB) > 55
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage (Vrms)
  Conductor-to-Conductor
  Conductor-to-Shield
 
1500
1000
Mechanical / Environmental Property Value
Jacket Material Engineered Fluoropolymer
Jacket Color White (Laser Markable)
Conductor Silver-Plated Copper or SPC Alloy
Conductor Color-Coding Solid Blue & White / Blue Stripe
Solid Orange & White / Orange Stripe
Solid Green & White / Green Stripe
Solid Brown & White / Brown Stripe
Dielectric Material ePTFE/PTFE
Temperature Range (°C) -65 to +200
Part Numbers & Drawings

Download the drawings to view cable characteristics, like diameter, weight, minimum bend radius and insertion loss.

Cat6a Part Number AWG Size
(Stranding)
RCN8966-24 24 (19/36)
RCN9034-24 24 (19/36)
RCN8966-26 26 (19/38)
RCN9047-26 26 (19/38)
RCN9034-28 28 (19/40)
Cat5e Part Number AWG Size
(Stranding)
GSC-01-83471-00 24 (19/36)
GSC-01-83472-00 26 (19/38)
Qualifications

GORE Ethernet Cables (4 Pairs, Cat5e/6/6a) have undergone substantial qualification testing to ensure they meet the most current industry standards and our customers’ requirements.

Fill out a short form to receive a complimentary sample of our pre-qualified cables for prototyping and evaluation from our authorized global distributors, Air Cost Control (Europe) or WireMasters (US).

Download Gore’s best practices for terminating GORE Ethernet Cables (4 Pairs, Cat5e/6/6a) with leading high-speed aerospace connectors and related electrical data for cable-connector compatibility.

Download an assembly drawing for connector part numbers.

Note: Drawing is for reference only to provide customers with relevant information related to connector options included in Gore’s best practices for terminating cable assemblies. Gore does not build assemblies specified in the drawing.

HARTING RJ Industrial® 10G RJ45 Connector System

ITT Cannon OctoGig™

LEMO® 2B Series

MIL-DTL-38999 General Purpose Connector System

Omnetics Micro 360

TE Connectivity® CeeLok FAS-X®

TE Connectivity® CeeLok FAS-T®

Quadrax (Cat5e)

When you don't want to use a standard 4-pair design in your system architecture, our star quadrax design is a perfect alternative to meet Ethernet Cat5e protocol requirements. These dual differential pairs transmit continuous bi-directional, high-speed signals up to 100 MHz at lengths up to 70 m (230 ft) using size 24 AWG and 50 m (164 ft) using size 26 AWG. They’re also proven to be a reliable substitute to dual twisted pair cables for meeting high data rate needs.

We’re the original inventor of this pioneering quadrax cable geometry that is about 40% smaller than dual twisted pair constructions. Our cable’s lightweight build is also proven to save more than 5.0 kg (11 lb) on aircraft.

Construction of Gore’s Ethernet Quadrax Cables
A
B
C
D
E
F

Engineered fluoropolymer jacket

Close

ePTFE binder

Close

Silver-plated copper alloy conductor

Close

FEP filler

Close

Color-coded composite dielectric

Close

Braided shield

Close

Lightweight build of GORE Ethernet Cables (Quadrax, Cat5e)

Applications

GORE Ethernet Cables (Quadrax, Cat5e) are engineered to perform reliably in a variety of aircraft applications, including:

  • avionics networks
  • box-to-box systems
  • digital visual interface (DVI)
  • Ethernet backbone
  • flight control
  • propulsion control

If you have any questions or discuss your specific application needs, please contact a Gore representative.

Properties

These values demonstrate the electrical, mechanical and environmental performance of GORE Ethernet Cables (Quadrax, Cat5e).

Download the data sheet for technical information and performance data.

Electrical Property Value
Standard Impedance (Ohms) 100 ± 10
Typical Operating Voltage (V) < 15
Nominal Velocity of Propagation (%) 80
Nominal Time Delay ns/m (ns/ft) 4.10 (1.25)
Capacitance pF/m (pF/ft) 50.0 (15.2)
Minimum Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT) (dB)
 10 MHz
 100 MHz
 
50.0
35.0
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage (Vrms)
  Conductor-to-Conductor
  Conductor-to-Shield
2500
Mechanical / Environmental Property Value
Jacket Material Engineered Fluoropolymer
Jacket Color White (Laser Markable)
Conductor Silver-Plated Copper Alloy
Conductor Color-Coding Blue/Red, Green/Yellow
Dielectric Material ePTFE/PTFE
Temperature Range (°C) -65 to +200
Part Numbers & Drawings

Download the drawings to view cable characteristics like diameter, weight, minimum bend radius and insertion loss.

Part Number AWG Size
(Stranding)
GSC-03-84608-00 24 (19/36)
GSC-03-84820-00 26 (19/38)
Qualifications

GORE Ethernet Cables (Quadrax, Cat5e) have undergone substantial qualification testing to ensure they meet the most current industry standards and our customers’ requirements.

  • ABD0031 (AITM 2.0005); BSS7230; FAR Part 25, Appendix F, Part I: Flammability
  • ABD0031 (AITM 3.0005); BSS7239: Toxicity
  • ABD0031 (AITM 3.0008B); BSS7238; FAR Part 25, Appendix F, Part V: Smoke Density
  • AFDX/ARINC 664, Part 7: Ethernet Networks
  • ANSI/NEMA WC 27500: Environmental Testing, Jacket and Marking
  • IEEE 802.3: Ethernet 100BASE-T / 1000BASE-T (2 cables)
  • SAE AS4373™: Test Methods for Insulated Electric Wire (Contact Gore for available data)

Fill out a short form to receive a complimentary sample of our pre-qualified cables for prototyping and evaluation from our authorized distributors, Air Cost Control (Europe) or WireMasters (US).

2 Pairs (Cat5e)

For Ethernet Cat5e protocol, our 2-pair cable is an ideal solution if you don’t want to use a 4-pair or quadrax design in your system architecture. This version preserves signal integrity, significantly exceeds crosstalk requirements, and reliably carries high-speed data up to 1 GHz. You can also position 2 of our cables side by side to achieve Ethernet 1000BASE-T performance.

Our 2-pair Ethernet cable is mechanically strong and can easily tolerate rough aircraft conditions, like extreme temperatures and constant vibration during flight. It has a smaller, more flexible form factor with tighter bending capability. If you’re an aircraft maintainer, then you’ll find it much easier and faster to route our cable, especially in complex airframes with less space.

Construction of Gore’s Ethernet 2-Pair Cables
A
B
C
D
E

Engineered fluoropolymer jacket

Close

Braided shield

Close

Aluminized polyimide shield

Close

Silver-plated copper / SPC alloy conductor

Close

Color-coded composite dielectric

Close

Smaller form factor of GORE Ethernet Cables (2 Pairs, Cat5e)

Applications

GORE Ethernet Cables (2 Pairs, Cat5e) are engineered to perform reliably in a variety of aircraft applications, including:

  • avionics networks
  • cabin management systems
  • digital video systems
  • Ethernet backbone
  • serial buses

If you have any questions or to discuss your specific application needs, please contact a Gore representative.

Properties

These values demonstrate the electrical, mechanical and environmental performance of GORE Ethernet Cables (2 Pairs, Cat5e).

Download the data sheet for technical information and performance data.

Electrical Property Value
Standard Impedance (Ohms) 100 ± 10/-5
Typical Operating Voltage (V) < 15
Nominal Velocity of Propagation (%) 80
Nominal Time Delay ns/m (ns/ft) 4.10 (1.25)
Capacitance pF/m (pF/ft) 41.0 (12.5)
Minimum Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT) (dB)
 10 MHz
 100 MHz
 
59.2
52.3
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage (Vrms)
  Conductor-to-Conductor
  Conductor-to-Shield
 
1500
1000
Mechanical / Environmental Property Value
Jacket Material Engineered Fluoropolymer
Jacket Color White (Laser Markable)
Conductor Silver-Plated Copper or SPC Alloy
Conductor Color-Coding Solid Green & Green/White Stripe
Solid Orange & Orange/White Stripe
Dielectric Material ePTFE/PTFE
Temperature Range (°C) -65 to +200
Part Number & Drawing

Download the drawing to view cable characteristics like diameter, weight, minimum bend radius and insertion loss.

Part Number AWG Size
(Stranding)
RCN9133-26 26 (19/38)
Qualifications

GORE Ethernet Cables (2 Pairs, Cat5e) have undergone substantial qualification testing to ensure they meet the most current industry standards and our customers’ requirements.

  • ABD0031 (AITM 2.0005); BSS7230; FAR Part 25, Appendix F, Part I: Flammability
  • ABD0031 (AITM 3.0005); BSS7239: Toxicity
  • ABD0031 (AITM 3.0008B); BSS7238; FAR Part 25, Appendix F, Part V: Smoke Density
  • ANSI/NEMA WC 27500: Environmental Testing, Jacket and Marking
  • ANSI/TIA 568-C.2: Performance Requirements
  • IEEE 802.3: Ethernet 100BASE-T /1000BASE-T (2 cables)
  • SAE AS4373™: Test Methods for Insulated Electric Wire (Contact Gore for available data)

Fill out a short form to receive a complimentary sample of our pre-qualified cables for prototyping and evaluation from our authorized distributors, Air Cost Control (Europe) or WireMasters (US).

Videos

Gore designed an aviation display that mimics an airframe bulkhead to demonstrate the challenges engineers face when designing an Ethernet system. We connected our cables to common avionic components, like cockpit displays and flight computers. Our Ethernet cables were also terminated with leading aerospace connector systems that support standard protocols.

Our demonstration shows how easy it is to bend, flex and route our cables through existing bulkheads with tight spaces.

For more information about selecting the right Ethernet cables to increase high-speed data transmission in civil aircraft, download the white paper.

Watch Gore engineers in this video and more on YouTube demonstrating the durability of GORE Aerospace High Speed Data Cables.

Resources

Recent News

Press Release

W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES TO PRESENT NEW MOSA PAPER AT GVSETS CONFERENCE

Posted August 11, 2023

W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) will present a new Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) technical paper at the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering & Technology Symposium & Modernization Update (GVSETS) on Tuesday, August 15, in Novi, Mich.

Event

Meet Gore at the Paris Air Show

June 19, 2023 - June 25, 2023

Visit our Booth 2C-C358 to see GORE® Cables and Materials that have been proven and trusted over time in fighter jets, rotorcraft and passenger airliners. Reserve your time slot now for a 1-on-1 discussion to talk with us about your latest airframe and aviation system developments.

Event

Visit Gore at the Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit (AAAA)

April 26, 2023 - April 29, 2023

Stop by Booth 1023 and ask to see our demonstrations to watch how GORE® Cables and Materials perform reliably before and after installation and over time. We’re also eager to hear about your latest airframe and aviation system developments and talk with you about our solutions to ensure mission performance and aircrew protection for FARA, FLRAA and enduring fleet.

Press Release

W. L. Gore & Associates Expands High-Speed Data Transmission Capabilities

Posted April 18, 2023

W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) announced today its new Cat8 ethernet cable for use in aerospace and defense platforms. The new Cat8 ethernet cable allows for four times the high-speed data transmission previously possible.

View all News & Events

FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY

Not for use in food, drug, cosmetic or medical device manufacturing, processing, or packaging operations.