[Elecraft] W-2 Cable Question

[Jack Brindle]

It should work just fine. A Cat cable has four twisted pairs that are meant to be really nice for fast ethernet signals. It also tends to be a bit expensive because of the specifications.
The flat cable that is supplied with the W2 does not use twisted pair and is meant for short jumpers in low-speed ethernet. 
The W2 uses the eight wires for individual signals, unlike ethernet. But, at the low analog signaling it uses, there really is no reason not to use a short ethernet patch cable.
Just don’t use a long one, or the signal degradation will adversely affect the power measurements. I would try to stay to maybe one or two meters in length.

73,
Jack, W6FB


> On May 15, 2025, at 8:10 PM, William Liporace <wc2l at wc2l.com> wrote:
> 
> I know that Elecraft uses a flat ribbon cable with the W-2.  Can you use CAT5 or CAT6 cables?
> Is there a reason to use or not to use the CAT cables??
> 
> TNX Will WC2L
> 
> -- 
> William Liporace WC2L
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