How Long can you have network cable

[ikonia]

For all you network gurus, what is the maximum distance you can have of network cable before performance / signal STARTS to degrade.

What is the best place to get the best type of network cable.

Many thanks

[Agent]

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/7800

As you can see, it depends on the network type your dealing with.
Generaly speaking though, in your case, its a safe bet that it would be 100 meters without somthing repeating the signal.

[ikonia]

interesting that you took the report from a DSL FAQ, as I thought DSL was a different technology than standard TCP IP networkging down twisted pair ? but hopefully the same sort of rules would apply as I'd be well under 100 meters. I've also read that the speed (I'm planning for 100 FDX) affects how long it can be, although I don't know how true this is.

thanks for the feedback though, I'll carry on investigating.

[Agent]

DSL is a totaly different technology yes, but the page states at the top : What is the maximum length of an ethernet cable.
Same go's for HEXUS, just because we are primarily a hardware review site, doesnt mean we dont do software based things (such as Jo's Linuxs guides)
It doesnt matter where the repot comes from, or what domain it falls under, information is information at the end . DSL and ethernet cables will both come under networking, so thats probably why they have info on it.

Its nothing a quick Google cant confirm

[ikonia]

never doubted it, thats why I said its interesting that this came from a DSL site.

Great info. I did google, but got a fair set of conflicting views.

[gobbo]

From the tests i've done at university, you are looking at the following max lengths for UTP Cate cabling:

100BaseTX network - 200(ish) metres without regenerator
100BaseT network - 100(ish) metres without regenerator

But, there are so many variables that can affect it, you won't get full speed over about 40-50 metres, unless you live in a house with no electrical noise.

[turkster]

From the tests i've done at university, you are looking at the following max lengths for UTP Cate cabling:

100BaseTX network - 200(ish) metres without regenerator
100BaseT network - 100(ish) metres without regenerator

But, there are so many variables that can affect it, you won't get full speed over about 40-50 metres, unless you live in a house with no electrical noise.

How much difference would running utp alongside a power cable make? Because at my parents place we have a c30m length of cable between the switch and one of our systems and about 60% of that is alongside mains powercables. I havent done any test on the speed (100BaseTX network) but I assume this would make quite a difference.

[gobbo]

I imagine it would make a lot of difference, as electrical power cables give of a lot of noise. How ever, unless you are REALLY putting massive loads through the network, it won't make much of a noitceable difference.

[Hottentot]

You can always use Cat 5 STP cable which is shielded. More expensive but it will reduce the effects of noise from power sources.

[gobbo]

Yeah, getting some decent STP cable will help, but as STP is shielded, it is more expensive (considerably) and also is slightly stiffer so harder to route round corners etc.

[Spud1]

yeah i was gonna suggest STP but tbh your not going to get that much interference from bog standard cat5e cable. As long as you route it properly [ie only put in right angles, dont bend the cable more than 90 degrees, and dont go over 100m you will be fine