Cable length exceeding 200 meters available.
Cable length exceeding 200 meters available.
I've been contacted by a racing club asking if I can establish a network from one club room to the race tower, which is 175 meters away. They mentioned a limit of around 100 meters before performance issues arise. I checked YouTube and search engines for details on Cat5e or Cat6 distances, but found no clear information—most sources suggest slower speeds. This isn't a major concern since data transfer won't be heavy. They're interested in receiving lap times from the tower's ELS system to display on a computer for everyone to review. They're open to alternative ideas but prefer not to invest heavily. I considered purchasing a Cat5e cable and testing 200 meters using RJ45 connectors to see if it would work.
For that project, use optical cables. About 100 meters of Cat 6 or 7 works well; beyond that it’s unreliable. Optical cables are cheaper than high-end copper wiring. If you can’t use SFP switches or adapters, place Ethernet switches every roughly 90 meters. Make sure they’re weather-resistant and have a power supply. EDIT: You might also consider budget-friendly 100 mbit switches, but go for 1 Gbit ones if possible, especially those with PoE ports for stronger signals.
I considered using mobile phone data for transmission, but the ELS system needs a network connection between computers. The software runs on one machine, while others must link to it to access the needed data for display.
Consider testing it using a direct link, reducing network speed to 100 Mbit/s, and employing CAT6e cables. Purchase cables in bulk and install your own connectors to cut costs.
Setting this up requires significant effort for optimal performance. Directional Wi-Fi antennas might help. Linus conducted a test covering a substantial range—probably over 200 meters—but it wasn’t inexpensive. Poor weather could disrupt the connection or increase latency.