Ethernet Cable length

[viperdiablo]

Just wondering if there is a maximum or recommended ethernet cable length that should be used when connecting the HD extender to the PC? Thanks for any info.

[dgeezer]

I believe that the standard spec for Cat5 is 100 meters between devices. You should be fine unless your house is really huge.

[viperdiablo]

Thanks for the info.

[MilkmanCDN]

While the standard specs 100m, most ethernet PHY's (the chip in the system that connects the box to the network) typically guarantee up to 120-130m. Unless you live in a mansion, I can't imagine why you'd want to run more than 400+ feet.

[MrD]

even if you did u can throw in a switch every 100 meters

[Zervun]

I get all my cabling from www.deepsurplus.com - at their prices I just get Cat6

Cat5e was the gig bridge of cabling, cat6 is the official 1000BaseT and there is 6a for 10G(500Mhz). cabling and provides 250Mhz performance. You can use Cat5e just fine if you aren't reaching close to the 100m max at full gig bandwidth (around 888Mbps w/ overhead).

We have found in testing that as it approaches 100m, that it gets a tad iffy on 5e on gig (some crosstalk). Anthing we use over 50m that runs high bandwidth 500Mbps or greater we slap in cat6. Odds are you will never get to that point where it matters .

It's a little extra piece of mind though, the cables are cheap at deepsurplus, and the difference between 5e and 6 is minor.

If you want more info

ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1 for 6
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 for 5e
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-10 for 6a (If you really get bored)

If you are really anal you can always pony up for cat 7 =) (4 individual STP in overall shield) =)

[viperdiablo]

So with a normal router hooked up to a PC, Cat5 e is fine to run 100 feet to the HD extender? And if Cat 6 is a few bucks more i should just get that? Cat 6 has no problem working with a normal 80 dollar router? Just want to make sure iam getting this all correct. Thanks

[bastafidli]

I use cat6 exclusively and had no issue at all. The cost difference is so small (Fry's) that it is a nobrainer.

[viperdiablo]

Thanks for the reply bastafidli. Just wondering if you are using 100ft or 50ft?

[DigitalMan]

The extender is not gigabit and doesn't require much bandwidth. If you're pondering someday connecting gigabit devices out there, 5e is probably going to be plenty good.

[bastafidli]

The longest so far I have is 50ft.