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    Longer ethernet cable = more packet errors/signal degredation?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by talin, May 11, 2011.

  1. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

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    As the title suggests, does using a longer ethernet cable (thinking 25 ft.) increase packet errors or cause more signal degredation? :)
     
    talin, May 11, 2011
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  2. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Cat5/6 is rated for a maximum length of 100 meters. Unless if you're daisy chaining cables, the signal in any standards-compliant cable should be perfect at any length up to 100m. 25 feet (~8m) is a tiny fraction of that.
     
    Peon, May 11, 2011
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  3. weinter

    weinter /dev/null

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    And don't bend the cables.
     
    weinter, May 11, 2011
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  4. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

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    Thanks! :)
     
    talin, May 11, 2011
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  5. ALLurGroceries

    ALLurGroceries  Vegan Vermin Super Moderator

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    A longer cable can get you into trouble just because of placement - if it goes near fluorescent lights, transformers, other things that are producers of interference. Besides that the above answers it. ;)
     
    ALLurGroceries, May 11, 2011
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  6. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    reb1, May 12, 2011
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  7. Jarhead

    Jarhead 恋の♡アカサタナ

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    So long as you don't place cabling near fluorescent lights and the other things ALLurGroceries said (also, microwaves, et al? not sure on that though), you won't need to pay for more expensive shielded cable. Shielded cable is mostly used in factories and other industrial settings where there's much more interference than a household could possibly generate.

    Just get any 25ft Cat5 cable you see at the store (though you can buy it much cheaper online than say, BestBuy. Retail stores make insane profits on cabling).
     
    Jarhead, May 12, 2011
    #7