Belden 8471 Wire, not the best option?

The drain is for static drain from the user shuffling their feet and then touching the station and not for signal shielding. This protects the station electronics from damage. In fact, due to the nature of the communication across the wire, shielding often hurts rather than helps communication so it is important that you not pull a shielded wire for stations.

If you are in need of approved alternates to Belden 8471, check out: https://www.etcconnect.com/Support/Cable-Cross-Database.aspx

The drain is for static drain from the user shuffling their feet and then touching the station and not for signal shielding. This protects the station electronics from damage. In fact, due to the nature of the communication across the wire, shielding often hurts rather than helps communication so it is important that you not pull a shielded wire for stations.

If you are in need of approved alternates to Belden 8471, check out: https://www.etcconnect.com/Support/Cable-Cross-Database.aspx

hmm, that's an interesting take on it. So that's why it's said you can run the drain wire to any earth ground.

Then I guess a Belden Cable with a twisted pair and a jacketed ground would still be better, in cases where you are running the drain back to the Station Power Supply. But I guess, that's when you would just pull a Green Wire with the Belden

Please contact aesupport at etcconnect dot com with any questions regarding cable crosses. Cheers!