For example, modern HDMI cables are all rated for 4k. But if the HDMI cable is running through a coupler , users will almost certainly not get 4k. Each time a signal passes through a connection, even just connecting a cable to something like a TV or computer, the signal quality degrades a little. Another key factor for signal quality is the distance of the cable.
The further a signal has to travel, the more it will degrade by the time it gets from Point A to Point B. Some cables are also more subject to this issue than others, so doing a little research before running a particularly long cable never hurts. When using cables with two different ends, the distance limit will be subject to whichever type of connector has the shorter maximum distance.
Other factors such as electromagnetic interference or radio wave interference can also come into play. If the cable will be run near electrical cords or in an area near something like a radio tower, these issues can be mitigated by using shielded cables.
With this information in mind, remember that the rest of this article highlights the maximum distance a cable can run and still work. Some of these numbers are not officially acknowledged as industry standards, but real-world experience has taught us what to look for. There are a few different versions of ethernet cable, but they all have a maximum distance of meters feet.
It should be noted that Cat7 cable has harsher distance limits than Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a. Cat7 gets advertised for its Gbps speed, but that will only work for distances up to 15 meters slightly over 49 feet. Beyond that, it drops to the same 10 Gbps speed of Cat6 and Cat6a although it still retains its superior Mhz bandwidth. This limit can be overcome by using active USB extension cables. An extender balun allows users to use an ethernet cable as an extension for USB.
This is especially true when incredibly thin wires are used, as they are in Ethernet cable. The further the electrical signal is pushed, the more sensitive the data traveling along it becomes, potentially resulting in degradation. It may be tempting to use fiber within your home network, but for many people, it is unlikely that you will ever approach the meter limit of standard Ethernet.
Plus, fiber would be completely overkill and work out to be quite expensive. Within reason, longer runs of Ethernet cable will not result in reduced download or upload speeds. If using Cat5e cable that has a maximum transmission speed of 1 Gbps, the speeds you receive will be pretty much the same regardless of whether it is a 1-meter run or a meter run.
Should you be using an older form of Ethernet cable like Cat5, though, you are more likely to see a decrease in speed the longer the cable is. The take-home message is that you are more likely to get away with maintaining the speed over a longer run if using Cat5e or Cat6 cable that is capable of 1 Gbps compared with Cat5 which is limited to Mbps.
When measuring the length of your Ethernet cable to see if you are approaching that meter limit, it is important to remember that this limit is for a single run. You are not limited to meters total from your router to the device you wish to connect. Here are a few different ways you can measure the length of an Ethernet cable, with some being more practical than others:. You will need to have access to the full run of cable in order to measure it accurately as well as having a tape measure that is actually long enough.
Most bulk reels of Ethernet cable will have footage markings on the outside shielding. This is ok if you are only just starting a new reel of cabling as these markings are really only intended on letting you know how much cable remains in the box. In order to measure the cable, you would need to know the number on either end of the cable and also have confidence that nothing has been spliced along the way.
The issue that can arise here as we previous mentioned is if connections are done improperly. The other aspect to this is shielded use. If you are using a shielded ethernet cable in areas with EMI Electromagnetic Interference you want to use a shielded inline coupler. By using an unshielded coupler you can cause a break in the shielding which opens you up to the potential of EMI. Keeping your whole channel shielded is the recommend way to design your network in areas with EMI.
This ensures that your network is protected from any unwanted signal noise. Another mention for extending your ethernet cable might be to splice your ethernet cable. This can be done but is not recommended. There is just too many variables that could go wrong. It's better to bring in an additional connector for your cable then trying to splice correctly. Having a wired network that is too short is an issue that can easily be fixed.
By following this guide on how to extend ethernet cables we hope we've made this process just a little bit easier. Remember to grab a rj45 inline if you want to extend you cable more. They are available in many different types and designs for different areas. The other solution you can do is to use a network switch. This doubles as a solution to create additional connections with your network cable and extending the length.
Both of these will have your internet connection up and running in no time. So glad to hear this article solved your problem. Thanks, the info was very helpful, I can solve a problem that I currently have with an installation….
How To Extend Ethernet Cable? Maximum Distance For Ethernet Cable When deciding on which length of cable you need you first want to know more about maximum distances. Extending Your Ethernet Cable The great aspect of copper twisted pair cable is that they are easily connected to other devices. This means you can have variations like this:. In each scenario above, the maximum distance for a channel is used, and that happens to be feet, assuming certain conditions. You heard that right: Your entire connection from router to PC for example is limited to 49 feet if you use a 28 AWG patch cable.
This will be discussed in a future blog. Based upon the limits and other rules, you can see a huge number of ways to run Ethernet in your home or business.
Which path you take is often dedicated by budget, skill level, environment, and more. So, there it is. A potentially confusing topic made easier to understand! While the information on this website is about data networking and electrical issues, it is not professional advice and any reliance on such material is at your own risk.
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Login Cable Academy. Here is a quick table for your reference. The patch cable as a channel theme Here is an example of a super simple channel, at maximum length: In the above example, a very long cable with RJ45 connectors also called plugs or ends is attached to both ends of the cable.
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