Long Ethernet cables.

[legend8887]

Does the performance in the Ethernet cables not drop the longer they get? There are some pretty long ones like 100 feet. Also, which Cat cable is the best for long distances?

[1Scotty1]

I had a 20 meter cable and did not have any issues

[79wjd]

5e drops off after 100 feet iirc 

Cat 6 is what you want for VERY long distances 

[AlwaysFSX]

5e drops off after 100 feet iirc 

Cat 6 is what you want for VERY long distances 

5e does but that only matters if you internet is fast enough to saturate it.

[ForsakenLive]

get a cat 6 cable.

[Atmos]

Used a cat5e for a 50ft tether to a router. Managed to pull almost a 45mb/s draw on it, so for normal use it should be fine even at those distances.

[79wjd]

5e does but that only matters if you internet is fast enough to saturate it.

Fair enough 

[skywake]

If you're under 50m then you should be able to do whatever you want with any cable as long as its in good nick. Longer than that or with less than ideal cables you will drop down from 1Gbps to 100Mbps and if you really push it eventually it'll just fail. It's not like wireless or powerline in that way, it'll either work at a rated speed (10, 100, 1000 etc) or it won't. For an average use-case though and with a mix of Gigabit and 100Mbps gear you'll never hit those limits.

 

That said if you are planning to put some cables through your walls more permanently see whether you can get Cat6. Not because it'll "do Gigabit better" but more because for the distances in a typical home-run it should be enough for 10Gbps. If you go that route. Which you might well do with those cables given they're in the damn walls and will be for years....

[Shaqo_Wyn]

Does the performance in the Ethernet cables not drop the longer they get? There are some pretty long ones like 100 feet. Also, which Cat cable is the best for long distances?

 

Cat5e or Cat6 isn't all you should be looking at. When getting long Ethernet cables especially for long term use and in-home installation the materials used and area of use should also be considered.

 

Cat6 is a good sweet spot between price, performance and a bit of future proofing. However, you also want the cable to have other properties like 100% copper inner wires and non of that cheap CCA (copper clad aluminium). CCA is cheaper but kinks and breaks much easier in longer cables rendering the whole cable useless. If you're running the cable next to power lines and telephone cables you also want S/FTP cables that are shielded to minimize EMI and crosstalk.

 

The AWG (American Wire Gauge) is also important. The lower the number the thicker the inner wire. 24 AWG is the standard but for just general home use you'd be fine with 26/27 AWG. 

 

Cables like Cat6 24 AWG S/FTP (100% copper) tend to only be available in bulk and are pretty expensive relatively speaking, but it is a very good long term investment if you're wiring up your whole house.