For UV resistance all I have to do is remember when I worked for the cable companies.
Where white coax was previously used on the outside of a house such that it received direct sunlight exposure it was only a year or two before the white PVC jacket became brittle, cracked and the cable had to be replaced.
Where black coax was used it would last for many, many years thus we had a policy of using only black cable on the outside, much to some homeowner's irritation.
The same holds true for ty-raps, we always use black outside, the natural colored ones will deteriorate in sunlight also.
None of these cables or ty-raps were labeled "sunlight resistant" however it is common knowledge that black will not allow UV to penetrate like white. Colors will have a lifespan somewhere between black and white depending on their UV absorption but it is not advisable to use them outdoors at least where they are exposed to sunlight.
Problem is find some black CAT5. Unless it is I doubt it will be permanent where exposed to direct sunlight. I have a sample of a 2 pair CAT3 cable that is available in black and I believe 4 pair also. Verizon uses it to go from the outdoor demarc into the house.
You make a good point about low temperatures also. There are cables available that are made for "low temperature handling". The cables that I have seen this problem with seem only to be UTP. If you are going to install it in unheated space or even if you store it in your truck in the cold you don't want one that will crack on you.
I think you have to go out of your way to find a "cold weather" UTP cable because most is installed inside. You don't have this situation with coax and I have never had a problem with cold weather being a problem with it.
I had this problem when I brought a reel of cable inside from the truck one cold day. I was stapling it and with each staple the jacket cracked like an egg shell. So, this is not the kind of cable you would want to use outside unless it is Florida.
Whenever you see a flooded cable it is usually intended for burial applications and as such wouldn't be exposed to sunlight. So flooded isn't necessarily an outdoor cable either.
-Hal
[This message has been edited by hbiss (edited 11-02-2005).]
