Coiled up excess ethernet cable?

[Andvari]

While researching crossover cables, I came across this http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm

In that guide, it says that excess coiled ehternet cable isn't good. I've got like a 20 foot gable to run my computer to the jack that is only 2 feet away. The remaining 18 feet or so are coiled up under my desk with the rest of the cord jungle.

How is this bad? Does it actually slow my connection down?

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I'm not an electrician, but I think having a large coil like that can introduce noise into the signal that's being piped through the cable. I'm pretty sure that would slow you're connection down a little bit -- but like I said, I'm not a specialist. In any case, I'm quite certain that a shorter direct line is better than a long one all coiled up.

 

[keeleysam]

It might hurt it by like 1-2%. Not worth changing it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yeah, I'd say don't worry about it.

They also tell you not do to that with speaker wire due to inductance, but I'm doing it anyway since I have 50 foot lengths for all my wires for flexibility and my let front is only about 5 feet away from my receiver. (I'm not going to try to run it back and forth along a wall for a total distance of 45 feet).

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Andvari
While researching crossover cables, I came across this http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm

In that guide, it says that excess coiled ehternet cable isn't good. I've got like a 20 foot gable to run my computer to the jack that is only 2 feet away. The remaining 18 feet or so are coiled up under my desk with the rest of the cord jungle.

How is this bad? Does it actually slow my connection down?

I think this is bogus as the voltage current levels in these twisted pairs is wayyyyy too low to induce anything into another wire. I've never had a problem with coiling ethjernet cables. I do try to keep it short for neatness though.

pcgeek11

 

[mettleh3d]

I hear the same thing happens with Guitars and long cables. the shorter the cable, the stronger the signal strength. Havent tested that theory, but I'll take their word for it.

 

[imported_rod]

The theory with the guitar is actually slighty different.

With the guitar, you get a stronger signal with a shorter lead because of the lower total reisistance (due to the shorter run of cable).

With the network cable, an emf is induced (like an electromagnet-but much weaker) due to the coiling of the cable. Since the field induced is proportional to the frequency, it will affect a gigabit ethernet connections worst than a 10/100 networks. Still, i wouldn't worry too much.

RoD