Coax vs Cat 5...which has more bandwidth ???

[jacobnero6918]

Which has more bandwidth and which is better for long runs ???

 

[dukenukem]

Generally the only way to use coax with ethernet is to daisy chain multiple devices, no hub is needed. However this means that if any device in the chain is down or has a problem it can effect the entire network. Since hubs are so cheap and can isolate disconnected devices you really shouldn't even be considering coax.

With Cat 5 you can connect two devices without a hub using a crossover cable. For three or more devices get a hub. For 20 or more devices that are used quite a bit, you should get a switch.

For a small home network 10Mbs is fine although most nics now are 10/100. If you just use a crossover cable you will get 100Mbs Full duplex (100Mbs transmit and receive at the same time) If you use a cheap hub you will only get 10Mbs half duplex. You can get a more expensive hub and get 100Mbs half duplex. In order to use full duplex you will need a full switch. Any device that does 10/100 must have a switch, but some devices are 8 ports with an internal 2port switch to segment the 10 and 100, you will not be able to do full duplex on this only a device that is switched on each port.


That should be complex enough to tell you that cat5 is the only way to go. Wire once and you have MANY options as your needs grow.

 

[blstriker]

Cat5 can go up to 100MBps. I might be wrong, but I think coax maxes at 10 MBps.

 

[mylam]

Cat5 is better

 

[CTR]

ArcNet can run upwards of a mile at about 3 megabits!

 

[spidey07]

I believe Coax has a higher bandwidth rating than cat5. Cat5 is only rated to 100 Mhz. Isn't Coaxial cable rated to something like 350 Mhz? No need to worry about crosstalk.

Now that's the physical cable part. As far as ethernet goes, 100 Base-T runs on Cat5 copper where coax only supports 10 Base.

So the real answer is "it depends"

 

[Cable God]

CAT5e is sort of the new standard since it supports 1000BaseT (1000mbps)

 

[Mark R]

Standard ethernet coax (RG-58) only supports 10-Base2 (10 Mbps).

Cat5 cable supports 10-BaseT (10 Mbps), 100 Base-T (100 Mbps) and 1000 Base-TX (1000 Mbps)[*]. The speed available depends on your equipment (cards and repeaters).

Unless you already have the cable I would recommend Cat5, as it is easier to handle, the hub-based network architecture is more flexible and reliable, and it has an upgrade path.

[*]1000 Base-TX is usable over Cat5, but is very intolerant of sub-standard installation. Cat5e has a better overhead is therefore recommended for any new installation.

 

[jacobnero6918]

CAT5e it is then!