does ethernet cable length affect data rates?

[mentalcrisis00]

Just curious if the ethernet cable length affects downloads and data transfer rates? I've always thought that the longer the cable the more the signal weakens but was never sure. I usually use the shortest cable possible but I'm running a 25 footer ATM cause I had nothing else off hand, distance from router to PC is only about 3 feet.

 

[MustISO]

The length where you would see issues is MUCH longer than 25 feet. The max dependable length is somewhere around 300ft.

 

[seepy83]

I believe it's a 300ft max for solid copper cable that's terminated on keystone jacks. Patch cables are crimped on the end and are made of stranded copper - the spec is written for them to have a max length of 16 ft. I don't know how much speed would be effected at 25 ft...just letting you know what the specs say.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Ethernet cables run a maximum of 328 ft.

 

[spidey07]

If properly installed per category specifications - absolutely not. If not properly installed, then highly likely. Calls for 90 meters of solid core cabling terminated into jacks with up to 10 meters of patch cable TOTAL for the link - this is normally 5 meters of patch cable on each end for a total of 100 meters.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
Ethernet cables run a maximum of 328 ft.

yep. anything over that is "out of spec". anything up to that size should not have an effect.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
Ethernet cables run a maximum of 328 ft.

yep. anything over that is "out of spec". anything up to that size should not have an effect.

With the condition that it has to be properly installed. 100 meters of stranded cabling ain't gonna work.

 

[evident]

^ of course!

 

[m1ldslide1]

As a side note, we just troubleshot one of those mystery issues where the problem ended up being a 6" CAT5 cable. I'm not sure what the minimum length spec is, but apparently 6" is way too short.

 

[spidey07]

minimum length is 1 meter.

 

[NickOlsen8390]

1 Meter?
I take it this is "spec" again.
We use 1 foot Cat6 Patch cables all the time in patch panel to switch setups.

 

[m1ldslide1]

Originally posted by: NickOlsen8390
1 Meter?
I take it this is "spec" again.
We use 1 foot Cat6 Patch cables all the time in patch panel to switch setups.

Key word being patch panel. Total cable run between devices must be 1 meter or greater.