Cables for connecting devices
Cables for connecting devices
Hi there! It's great you're getting started with the forum. For your setup, you'll want a reliable Ethernet cable that can handle the distance between the main unit and each room. Look for cables rated for Gigabit Ethernet, preferably with a shielded twisted pair for better noise immunity. If you're planning to run multiple cables, consider using a crossover or a switch to simplify connections. Let me know if you need more details!
Cat5e can handle up to 1GbE or 2.5GbE over 100m, while Cat6 offers up to 5GbE or 10GbE over 100m. Cat6a reaches up to 10GbE for 100m. For wall mounting, use solid-core cables; patch panels need stranded ones. Avoid touching CCA (copper clad aluminum) at all times. This setup isn't specified by standard, isn't long-lasting, and can't cover large distances or power over Ethernet.
Cat6 and Cat6a cables support 10 gbps over distances up to about 50 meters. Cat6a extends this to 100 meters, matching the theoretical limit of Ethernet. Cat5e offers the lowest speed at around 1 gbps and can reach up to 2.5 gbps with compatible network cards. For shorter runs—5 to 10 meters—some cards might handle up to 5 gbps. It’s usually better to choose Cat6 or Cat6a, as the price gap between Cat5e and Cat6 is minimal. Avoid CCA cables, which use aluminum instead of copper; they’re cheaper but often lag in performance and may cause issues over long distances. The encoding remains consistent across speeds, so 5 gbps isn’t officially supported beyond 100 meters. In homes, shorter runs usually work well, making it easier for devices to communicate at higher speeds with fewer errors.
I verified everything carefully, Cat6 supports 100m at 5Gbps but only 50 or 55m for 10Gbps. There could be tighter standards for UTP versus STP cables to achieve full performance, though. The NBASET site mentions 5Gbps up to 100m is possible with 5e or 6, which seems contradictory.
Thanks for your responses. They really assist. Right now cat 5 seems appropriate for my needs, but I'm planning to upgrade the cables later. I don't have a NAS yet and am still exploring options, just starting out with devices like Xbox and PlayStation via cable instead of WiFi. I considered cat 6 and found some reels on Amazon, but I'm not sure what to look for since they seem a bit inexpensive and the quality isn't great.