Consider your needs and budget, then choose between standard, gigabit, or 10Gbps Ethernet based on speed requirements.
Consider your needs and budget, then choose between standard, gigabit, or 10Gbps Ethernet based on speed requirements.
You're new to Ethernet cables—focus on quality and compatibility. Look for a 20-meter cable with good performance, especially for high-speed internet. Ensure it supports the required bandwidth (like 50 Mbps upload/download) and has proper shielding to avoid interference. Check the cable type (Cat5e or higher) for better reliability in your setup.
A simple cat 5a or cat 5e cable works fine. Correction: Cat5e was the typo. Appreciate the fix from @mariushm.
He refers to cat5e. Even the most affordable cat5e cables can handle 1 gbps. Cat6 works well up to 10 gbps over 55 meters, though I’d limit it to around 30 meters for that speed. Cat6a supports 10 gbps up to 100 meters. It’s unlikely you’ll find ready-made cables rated below cat6. If you can, opt for something not CCA—those are budget-friendly ethernet wires using aluminum with a copper coating instead of solid copper. The drawback is they’re less efficient (higher resistance) and more prone to issues over long distances (over 20 meters or so). Many Ethernet cards default to “green mode” to save power, which reduces signal strength. This can cause decoding problems for the other device if it’s trying to send data with weaker signals. You can fix this by turning off power-saving settings in the card’s configuration, but investing a bit more upfront in a quality cable is usually better, especially for longer runs.
In short, a Cat5e cable without CCA protection works fine. To confirm it isn’t CCA, check the label or manufacturer specs. Another common version is Cat5. If you’re unsure, look for the CCA rating on the packaging.
There isn't another version name... it's either a solid copper core (a single thick wire) or "stranded" (multiple thin copper wires wrapped together). The cable sleeve should indicate CCA. If you purchase the cable and connectors separately, you can verify by stripping the insulation and gently scratching the wire to expose the copper. Aluminum tends to curl when it burns, so a gas lighter could also serve as a test tool. Retailers of electronic parts or networking gear usually provide proper cables, even with datasheets or specifications. For instance, Digikey offers around 700 cables after filtering (15–40 meters, cat5e to cat7): https://www.digikey.com/short/54r3cbr9 You can review the datasheet for details on the wire type used. For example, the cheapest cable listed here mentions AWG 24, stranding 7, 0.20 mm ± .02 mm, bare copper, but it doesn’t confirm CCA compliance. In practice, after about 20 meters, even CCA cables should work, as that’s a reasonable distance.
Only fifty on a fiber link? Does this seem like the cheapest option? I thought as a UK resident I’d expect costs in the low hundreds.
Other options exist for 1GB, but they exceed my budget. I’ve relied on an LTE plan with a router for years and still only get around 10Mbps. A 50 Mbps upgrade is a noticeable boost for me. It’s roughly 40 GBP per month in South Africa.
Is this the right type of cable? It looks like a patch cable, but I’m not sure. Do you have any details about its purpose or usage?
The site isn't functioning properly for me, likely due to filters or security measures blocking access from my region. If it supports 5e, it can handle up to 1 gbps as mentioned, no matter the wiring type. A "patch cable" refers to any Ethernet cable with factory-installed connectors on both ends.