Written by Don Schultz, Senior Technical Consultant for trueCABLE, Fluke Networks Copper/Fiber CCTT, BICSI INSTC, INSTF Certified
So, I purchased a 1,000-foot box Cat6 Ethernet cable You intend to run the entire box from your home to your barn or guest house. “This would be great!” You are thinking. “I can finally move that annoying person to another part of my property, and they can surf the Internet all day… without bothering me!” You say to yourself.
Don’t pack your bags for your relatives yet. You have some calculations and installation to do! How far can you run Ethernet cable? Is there a minimum length for an Ethernet cable? trueCABLE technicians are often asked about the distance limits between Cat5e and Cat6. Would you be surprised to know that category is not the primary factor in Cat5e range or any specific category for that matter? There are some notable exceptions based on application speeds that may impact Cat6, Cat7, or Cat8 distances and we will cover them. Suffice it to say that the main limiting factor is what the copper can physically handle electrically. This means that parameters like ambient temperature come into play – when temperatures rise, the length of Cat5e (indeed any class cable length) becomes shorter.
Be prepared to throw a value of 328 feet (100 m) out the nearest window, or at least understand that the often quoted distance number of 328 feet is burdened with a lot of hidden errors and caveats. Life is never simple, is it?
Ethernet cable distance chart (simplified)
Hah. We seem to have a common denominator – 328 feet is the maximum “channel” length for an Ethernet cable no matter what. So don’t get any ideas. cat6a It will have the same maximum length as an Ethernet cable Cat6. Basically, 328 feet is just the starting point. You have to go shorter from there.
There is no specified minimum Ethernet cable distance in the ANSI/TIA 568 standard.
Before we go too far down the technical rabbit hole, we need to define what a channel is. An Ethernet channel is the complete end-to-end communications path from your router/switch to something you use like a computer. Of course, there are variations on this topic, but suffice it to say that from powered device to powered device, the maximum possible Ethernet distance is 328 feet under ideal conditions when you’re not looking to push the maximum edge-state speed of Cat6, for example Example.
There are ways to connect devices that are very far away, but they don’t use the same piece of cable; There is more than one. This idea makes use of energy Ethernet switches That “renews” your signal. We won’t talk about this specific method for this blog, so assume there is no “enhancing” equipment to help expand your communication channels.
One patch cord used for the entire connection (channel)
Here is an example of a very simple channel, which connects to a typical home WiFi router and transfers to a game console:
A simple patch cord is used for the entire connection
In the example above, the cable with RJ45 connectors (also called plugs or ends) are attached to both ends of the cable. This example boils down to two things:
Ethernet patch cable. By definition, an Ethernet cable that has RJ45 plugs on both ends is considered a patch cable. Since there are no other devices or cables in the mix, this Ethernet patch cable acts as a complete communications channel.
To the typical DIY designer, this is how most compositions would look. A large number of people assume that an Ethernet cable is present RJ45 jacks On both ends and this is how Ethernet cables are supposed to be connected to your stuff. Why? Well, most people didn’t see anything different or understand what they were looking at even if they did.
Are there restrictions on how long a patch cable can be separated from solid copper material? Oh yeah, because patch cords are made of stranded copper conductors which automatically results in additional signal degradation beyond what happens with solid copper conductors. To complicate matters, conductor gauge is another factor to take into consideration, as most patch cords in recent years use 26AWG and 28AWG stranded copper conductors. This maximum length will be anywhere from 50 feet (28AWG) to 279 feet (24AWG) with the 26AWG in the middle at 223 feet.
It is not recommended to build an entire cabling system out of patch cords, especially if you intend to run cables from room to room or outside. 8P8C connectors (also known as RJ45) are fragile and most patch cords cannot handle outdoor conditions.
If your connection:
Exceeds 50 feet or requires multiple extension cords to be connected together to get from A to B Goes from inside to outside and extends from one part of your building to another, especially through walls/floors
…Then you should take advantage Solid copper Ethernet cable. This changes the rules and gives a great deal of flexibility.
Permanent ties and structured cabling systems
When we refer to a “permanent link,” it means a permanently installed Ethernet cable, usually located inside walls. These permanent connections are made using solid copper Ethernet cable, and are terminated from Primary Wall Socket > Primary Wall Socket or Patch Panel > Primary Wall Socket.
Here is a simple example of a permanent connection and the beginning of a Structured Cabling System:
A simple permanent link created using a solid copper Ethernet cable
Permalinks are typically used to:
Commercial installations, new residential installations, retrofit installations by DIYers who want flexibility and clean-looking installations (like you!)
Permanent ties use 22, 23, or 24AWG solid copper Ethernet cable in accordance with ANSI/TIA 568. Permanent ties may be up to 295 feet long at 68°F and begin as raw, unterminated cable that must be cut and terminated by the installer.
I am waiting! Where did the 328 feet number go? The solid copper portion of your fixture, when combined with two wires on both ends, adds up to a maximum allowable 328 feet. Note that this depends on the ambient temperature and gauge of the copper wire to reach the ideal maximum of 328 feet. A lot for 328 feet, right? Please see Calculate the total channel length of an Ethernet cable for success For the charts to know all this.
Of course, female-to-female contact is completely useless because the contact is not yet complete.
Combine permanent ties with patch cords
The permanent link becomes part of the channel when you connect Ethernet patch cables to complete your connections at both ends.
Here is an example of a conduit containing a permanent link and patch cords:
Simple universal conduit with permanent connection and patch cords
amazing! Well, things get more complicated. Take your imagination with me on this. In this example above, there is a permanent link installed from your living room to the remote bedroom where you can access your bedroom The wifi is always terrible. You know that room I’m talking about! On either end of the permanent connection are female keystone plugs. This link is considered “permanent” because you have no intention of transferring it again.
From each keystone socket there is an Ethernet patch cable to connect a device that is getting power. On one end, the patch cable plugs into the WiFi router you got last holiday season. At the other end of the far bedroom, there is a second extension cable that connects the other key socket to the gaming console.
Have the rules regarding the maximum length of an Ethernet cable changed? no. End to end, including patch cables, how long is an Ethernet cable? You’re still limited to 328 feet in the best case scenario. Remember that we are not only dealing with factors like temperature, but also with the gauge of the patch cord. This means you can have different shapes like this:
The chart assumes 68°F with a 295-foot solid copper permanent connection
Frequently asked questions
Will shielded Ethernet cable help to get more distance?
Yes and no. Shielded Ethernet cable It is better at dissipating ambient heat, so protected permanent connections can be longer at a given temperature but the maximum of 328 feet still exists. However, shielding does make a difference in patch cord connector size or if you want it to be shorter due to higher speeds (like 10G in Cat6 for example).
What happens if you decide to run an Ethernet network beyond 328 feet? Will the cable simply stop working?
It would be nice if things were cut and dry. If you decide to exceed the maximum Ethernet lengths listed here, your results will vary based on application speeds, ambient temperatures, and so on. You may only see a few dropped packets here and there or you may only achieve 1 Gbps when you were expecting 5 Gbps. This is where cable quality, termination quality, and EMI/RFI can start to play big roles. You can be sure that no matter the scenario, the reliability of your cable operation is compromised!
Why is solid copper Ethernet cable versus stranded copper Ethernet cable able to go further?
This is known as the “skin effect.” Stranded copper conductors are manufactured using very fine copper wires as thick as a human hair. For an electron riding through a conducting wire, the spaces between each human-sized strand of hair could be like a Grand Canyon. Quite simply, solid copper has more surface area for electrons to settle on. See Solid vs stranded Ethernet cable For more information.
I need to go 500 feet, but the Ethernet cable can’t reach that far. Is there an alternative?
Absolutely, and it doesn’t have to be complicated to get around this (in fact, in many cases it’s much more straightforward for about the same price and with much less effort). Fiber optic cable is the ideal long-distance cable, designed for high speeds and long distances (or really high speeds over shorter distances) that far exceed the speed of copper Ethernet. See Cat7 vs Cat8 vs Fiber Optic Cables: The Definitive Guide (2024) Easy to read with video on this topic!
summary
Depending on the limits and other rules, you can see a large number of ways to run Ethernet in your home or business despite the maximum length of an Ethernet cable. The path you take is often customized depending on budget, skill level, environment, and more.
So, this is it. A potentially confusing topic made easier to understand!
Happy communication!
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