Ethernet cables - is there a length limit?

[Danny]

Is there a limit on the length of ethernet cable I can run between my modem and a PC?

 

[very-near]

Is there a limit on the length of ethernet cable I can run between my modem and a PC?

The cat5 cabling between the switch and furthest PC in my works is about 70ft. Make sure you get shielded cabling if you want to run over that distance though.

 

[Crackle]

It depends on the cable and the switchgear but for a home network say around 100 metres. You'd have to have a big house Danny to struggle with cat5 runs at home

If running it is a problem, these things have been succesfully deployed in our house, all the gaming stuff and upstairs PC's run through them.

 

[Danny]

Sadly I only live in a modest sized semi.

However I am going to have to follow some circuitous routes round the house unless I run a cable through the middle of the kitchen (which I thought might not go down too well). Even so the maximum cable length is likely to be well below 50 metres.

 

[Garz]

100 metres is the recommended maximum if I recall correctly.

This is what I was told back in the day, CSA etc.

Never had to use more than 30m of the stuff personally so cant vouch physically.

 

[Danny]

What is the difference between shielded and standard CAT5 cabling?

Most of the patch cables you seem to be cable to buy from places like Amazon seem to be unshielded.

 

[rh100]

90 metres is the recomended max length, allowing for patch cables to be used at either end of the run, therefore not exceeding the maximum allowable of 100 metres. The longer the cable run, the more the voltage drop of the signal, which results in lost packets of data so becomes slower and more unreliable. Shielded cable is not required in ethernet, because it is twisted pair, any interference affects both cores of the twist and therefore is cancelled out leaving a clean signal.

If the length does ever need to be exceeded, just fit a hub or switch halfway along the route, it retransmits the signal so you get another 100 metres.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Yeah after 100 metres the signal can start to get distorted.

How big is your house!?!?

 

[Mr Pig]

If you work out how long a cable you need, plus a bit for safety, most local PC shops will make one up for you. We've got one that goes under the floor, through the walls and behind skirtings to get from one end of the house to the other without being seen.

 

[marinyork]

The options are 9m/10m that are sold pretty commonly, 30m or get one cut to about the length you want.

 

[Garz]

Alternatively use the mains power wires with special plugs if you cba chasing/routing cat5.

 

[GrasB]

At work we've got a few 110-120m runs of cat5e from patch panel to wall box, okay it doesn't have to deal with really nasty interference sources but you can get reliable full duplex 100mbit from those ports, gigabit however is a different matter.

 

[LeeW]

From my knoweldge 100m is the recommended max for cat5e. I've not made up anything longer than about 40m myself. If you need alot of custom length cables then I would recommend buying a reel of cat5e cable, some cable ends (RJ45 plugs) and a crimping tool to fix the ends to the cable. It is easier to feed the cable though floors/ceilings etc if it does not have an end on it.

 

[john59]

I use these 'Solwise'. Saved having to route cables around the house.


John

 

[Danny]

I use these 'Solwise'. Saved having to route cables around the house.


John

How many devices do you have linked up with them?