flat network cable?

[DarthTedious]

I am trying to find some flat network cable - I know the stuff exists as I have a short 2m length of it, about 1mm thick, but I need longer... after long web search I've found it at places in US and Germany but neither take credit card and postage from US is too expensive anyway.

Someone in the UK must sell the stuff surely?? Anyone know where I might get some?

Also, what are people's views on using WiFi for gaming? I'm using it at the moment, but even when a game shows low ping there still seem to be constant problems. (hence my plan to use wires!)

[zephod]

WiFi gaming can be a tedious experience as, like you have found, even at high speeds, there are occasional dips in signal where the network appears to need to assign a large % of the bandwidth elsewhere...possibly for error correction/authentication...I never really looked into it. I just always LAN game with wires unless I have no option these days.

I have NEVER seen any flat network cable in the real world, but would quite like some. /me wonders whether or not it would comply to cat6 shielding regs...

[DarthTedious]

This kind of stuff:

http://www.national-tech.com/catalog...workcables.htm

delivery is $34 minimum, plus I'm choosy who I give my credit card details to so would prefer ordering from a company I've heard of in the UK!

They're not shielded. How important is that? Distances involved aren't great, <10m.

[Re-Invented]

I have run unsheilded and aslong as its not right next to a power cable youre ok

Lee

[Agent]

I brought some of it off Ebay not too long back

So much easier to carry with a laptop

[directhex]

flat network cables are pretty uncommon, as the data rate is significantly worse than the regular kind

[dbh]

and why is that?

[Steve B]

is the flat stuff twisted pair?

[directhex]

and why is that?

the wires inside a network cable are twisted into pairs, and those pairs twisted together, in an effort to eliminate crosstalk between wires (worst case, it's possible to do netowkring entirely with crosstalk, without a single wire connected "properly" at both ends)

flat cables offer neither. you'll find flat serial console cables (which only do a few baud anyway), but nobody will install flat network cables at a real site

[Agent]

You'll get away with it for short lengths, but the legend that is Jo has it bang on

Also keep in mind that flat cables rarely have the durability of proper Cat5/e. A nasty tug or trip over one can break them much easier.

However, If its for carrying around with you for laptop use, or something, they are a god send

[dbh]

Cool stuff thanks now I'm better informed

[adam1701]

i find that having a good router... a linksys help soo much for playing games over wifi.

I only use wifi for games when my computer is down stairs... is super reliable!

[5cupa]

i have a flat 10m cat6 one sitting here not doing much. drop me a pm if u want to do a deal