ethernet cable

Sapphire1217 · March 23, 2022

is 100ft too long for ethernet? Or more specifically, will I encounter any latency or speed loss etc?

Here is the cable I was looking at: https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Ethernet-Cable-White-Connectors/dp/B00WD017BG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=EP1954KJLAQ8&keywords=ethernet%2Bcable%2Blong&qid=1648005391&sprefix=ethernet%2Bcable%2Blong%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-3&th=1

BondiBlue · March 23, 2022

100 feet is well below the maximum for gigabit over Cat 6. I've got longer cables than that running as part of my network and they're totally fine. You shouldn't notice any latency or speed difference.

tkitch · March 23, 2022

you'll be slightly more likely to run into interference with a flat cable than a round cable. Don't run it past flourescent lights or high powered fixtures.

But 100' is well within spec for the 300' of ethernet.

Sapphire1217 · March 25, 2022

On 3/22/2022 at 8:42 PM, tkitch said:

you'll be slightly more likely to run into interference with a flat cable than a round cable. Don't run it past flourescent lights or high powered fixtures.

But 100' is well within spec for the 300' of ethernet.

I dont really know much about networking, so I dont know the difference between flat and round. I dont know what these cat6 and 7 are either. Would you mind recommending me a cable (I have a gigabit port and need 75-100ft)

Alex Atkin UK · March 25, 2022

14 hours ago, Sapphire1217 said:

I dont really know much about networking, so I dont know the difference between flat and round. I dont know what these cat6 and 7 are either. Would you mind recommending me a cable (I have a gigabit port and need 75-100ft)

Avoid CAT7, CAT5e is fine for Gigabit (speed of the ethernet connection not your broadband) but it doesn't hurt to go CAT6 or 6a.

mariushm · March 25, 2022

Like above, go for cat5e, cat6 or cat6a cable.

Look on the cable and/or box if you're buying in person, or read the description and if possible, avoid the cables that are CCA (copper clad aluminum or copper coated aluminum) 0 - it means that they made the cable cheaper by using aluminum wire coated with a very thin layer of copper, instead of having the wires made with 100% copper ... aluminum is cheaper but the cable is not as great as a full copper one. At 75-100ft you probably wouldn't notice a difference, but as it's a one time purchase, just spend 2-3$ more on the cable and get a proper one.

Cat7 cables are not really a thing, because actual cat7 cables would require special connectors ... they make up the rating and in reality the cables may or may not be a bit better than cat6a cables which doesn't mean anything.

Even old standard cat5e cables can do 2.5 gbps up to 100 meters, cat6 cables can do 10 gbps up to around 50 meters (~ 150ft) and cat6a can do 10 gbps up to 100 meters.

There's absolutely no difference between the cables if your connection is 1 gbps maximum, but the manufacturing processes are so good these days that it makes little sense to make anything less than cat6.

Whoever still makes cat5e either makes it for those people that think "oh, it says here in this manual that I need cat5e and cat5e is what I'm gonna buy and nothing else" OR a small percentage of manufacturers will actually use lower grade wire that can't be rated as Cat6 to make these cables (unlikely)

tkitch · March 25, 2022

15 hours ago, Sapphire1217 said:

I dont really know much about networking, so I dont know the difference between flat and round. I dont know what these cat6 and 7 are either. Would you mind recommending me a cable (I have a gigabit port and need 75-100ft)

got a pic of the box the cable was in? or a link to the cable?

Sapphire1217 · March 26, 2022

10 hours ago, mariushm said:

Like above, go for cat5e, cat6 or cat6a cable.

Look on the cable and/or box if you're buying in person, or read the description and if possible, avoid the cables that are CCA (copper clad aluminum or copper coated aluminum) 0 - it means that they made the cable cheaper by using aluminum wire coated with a very thin layer of copper, instead of having the wires made with 100% copper ... aluminum is cheaper but the cable is not as great as a full copper one. At 75-100ft you probably wouldn't notice a difference, but as it's a one time purchase, just spend 2-3$ more on the cable and get a proper one.

Cat7 cables are not really a thing, because actual cat7 cables would require special connectors ... they make up the rating and in reality the cables may or may not be a bit better than cat6a cables which doesn't mean anything.

Even old standard cat5e cables can do 2.5 gbps up to 100 meters, cat6 cables can do 10 gbps up to around 50 meters (~ 150ft) and cat6a can do 10 gbps up to 100 meters.

There's absolutely no difference between the cables if your connection is 1 gbps maximum, but the manufacturing processes are so good these days that it makes little sense to make anything less than cat6.

Whoever still makes cat5e either makes it for those people that think "oh, it says here in this manual that I need cat5e and cat5e is what I'm gonna buy and nothing else" OR a small percentage of manufacturers will actually use lower grade wire that can't be rated as Cat6 to make these cables (unlikely)