n00b question of the day

[Yzzim]

Does a cat5 cable have to be under a certain length to transfer data at 100mbit?

Thought I read that on a site somewhere. Gonna transfer some files from my xbox to computer and was wanting to get the fastest speeds possible.

Thanks!

 

[RagingBITCH]

I think it's either 50 or 100 if there even is a limit.

 

[JackMDS]

100 meters total. I.e 328'

 

[bobcpg]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
100 meters total. I.e 328'

i second that

 

[TheToOTaLL]

I've heard of several instances, from the wiring guys we contract with, of 500+ ft runs with no problems.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: TheToOTaLL
I've heard of several instances, from the wiring guys we contract with, of 500+ ft runs with no problems.

While that *may* work in some cases, it's definitely out of spec.

Yzzim: You can always put a hub or switch somewhere in there if you need to.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: TheToOTaLL
I've heard of several instances, from the wiring guys we contract with, of 500+ ft runs with no problems.

While that *may* work in some cases, it's definitely out of spec.

Yzzim: You can always put a hub or switch somewhere in there if you need to.

Might it also depend on the quality of the cable and the connections?

 

[Toff]

Ive done 500 foot runs and it worked fine. Just to be safe tho (since it was out of spec) I put a small switch in the middle of it to boost the signal.

I do not think a hub would work as according to my info it would not boost the signal but a switch definitey does.

100 meters is spec'ed max length tho.

But i've done 250 foot runs of parrellel cable also and had it work just fine for old printers.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: TheToOTaLL
I've heard of several instances, from the wiring guys we contract with, of 500+ ft runs with no problems.

To the best of your knowledge, what would happen if you drive a Sport car using Regular gasoline instead of Premium?

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Originally posted by: Toff
Ive done 500 foot runs and it worked fine. Just to be safe tho (since it was out of spec) I put a small switch in the middle of it to boost the signal. I do not think a hub would work as according to my info it would not boost the signal but a switch definitey does. 100 meters is spec'ed max length tho. But i've done 250 foot runs of parrellel cable also and had it work just fine for old printers.

There is no difference in this instance between a hub or a switch, with only two connections. A hub has the same drivers as the switch, and would serve an identical function.

 

[buleyb]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I think it's either 50 or 100 if there even is a limit.

missing units, eh?

in agreement with everyone else, its 100meters to match the spec.

 

[MainFramed]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
100 meters total. I.e 328'

you are the ne7w0rk 1337 around here Jack 🙂

 

[twilly]

It will work ok with a 500ft. run, BUT you may not get the full bandwidth. They say "optimal speed" is achieved at 100 meters.

Now, the other thing with twisted pair is that it will pick up interference as well so you could have data corruption. Of course, this is all in theory

 

[BS911]

Even worse then not getting full bandwidh you will probably get dropped packets etc. which will cause a networking nightmare.

Its not worth going over spec! that didn't come up with the spec for no good reason! Worst case just put a hub/switch every 100 meters!

 

[exx1976]

Most definitely. If you want yoru cable plant certified as CAT5, you MUST be under 100 meters per run, TOTAL. That includes patch cables between the wall and the device, all the wire in the wall, and the patch cables from the panels to the backbone.

A switch and a hub WILL both perform the same function (act as a repeater) as long as the hub is not passive (they do make hubs that require no power -- these will NOT boost a signal).

A 500 ft run *MAY* work, but as stated by everyone else, the max total distance between powered devices cannot exceed 328 feet if you want to remain in spec and not have any data loss. Also, to maintain CAT5 spec, you cannot have more than 1/2" of untwisted wire at the patch panels, otherwise NEXT becomes an issue (Near End X (cross) Talk).

 

Originally posted by: Toff
Ive done 500 foot runs and it worked fine. Just to be safe tho (since it was out of spec) I put a small switch in the middle of it to boost the signal.

I do not think a hub would work as according to my info it would not boost the signal but a switch definitey does.

100 meters is spec'ed max length tho.

But i've done 250 foot runs of parrellel cable also and had it work just fine for old printers.

who told you that hubs didn't repeat? ARCNET can use passive hubs, but does anything else?