Networking problem with Cat 5 vs Cat 5e cable

[tabasco]

I have two PCs at home, both with Diamond's HomeFree NICs. Currently they are connected with a 15' Cat 5 cable and everything works fine. I wanted to move one of the PCs so I purchased a Belkin 25' Cat 5e cable. With the Cat 5e installed nothing works. I thought it might be a defective cable so I went back to the store and swapped it. With the new cable I get the same results.

Everything I have read tells me that Cat 5e should work better than Cat 5. Is it the extra 10', a setting that needs to be changed or will Cat 5e just not work?

 

[hnsn82]

how did the two machines connected ???
reading your previous thread i assume that they are connected directly ( no hub / switch ). if so then you need a "crossover cable" not a regular patch cable.
prolly the 15' feet cable you had is crossover and the newer one is straight or regulaar patch cable.

cheers

 

[tabasco]

That must be it. I am new to networking and didn't realize that there were two types of cables, patch and crossover. Thanks.

 

[DrSpock]

What is the difference between CAT5 and CAT5E?

 

[JackMDS]

CAT5 Straight, Crossover. What is CAT5, which one should I Use?

 

[DrSpock]

sweet. Thanks a lot. 🙂

 

[rawko]

cat5e is rated for copper gigabit and i believe it has more twists per inch, and they also glued the pairs together

 

[ScottMac]

Beldon is the only UTP I know of that bonds their pairs (DataTwist 350). They also have some cable, called "Media Twist" that channelizes the pairs within the sheath, so that even with extreme kinks & twists, the pair-pair spacing remains constant.

To terminate DataTwist cable (or MediaTwist), they have a special, cheap tool for splitting the pair for termination. If the place sells Belden cable, it should also sell (or give away) the tool that goes with it.

It's great cable, but if you're not used to the bonded pair, it can slow ya down a little.

FWIW

Scott