subject: Ethernet Cable - A Buying Guide [print this page] When you're about to hook up a new item to your network or internet connection or when you're starting to install a brand new home or office network, you'll likely have your mind filled with various items and tasks. But one thing you may overlook - but shouldn't - is the Ethernet cable. What type of network cable you use will have an impact on your network speed, connectivity and much more. Simply put, you need to ensure that you get the right cable for the right task or else you'll risk a slower connection than you may be paying for. Here are some steps to keep in mind.
First of all, figure out just what your connection speed is. These days, speeds reaching one gig aren't uncommon in the least but it will take a serious Ethernet cable to handle that kind of connection. If you're operating a 100 Mbps connection, you'll be able to use a Cat-5 or Cat-5e cable with no problems. Faster connections than that will require Cat-6 cable to be used. If you're only connecting voice data or very slow connections like 10Mbs, Cat-3 may work for your needs. Once you know the speeds you're connecting at, you'll be able to take the next step.
Length is vital when connecting a network or buying an Ethernet cable, and it's important that you take the steps needed to measure your cable needs. This is because longer cables will allow the signal they're carrying to degrade. In other words, shorter cables are faster and carry a cleaner signal. If you're looking at distances of around one hundred metres or more, Cat-6 is the best option. Cat-5e is best for shorter distances of below one hundred metres, while Cat-5 is really only worthwhile in short spans of ten to twenty metres at most.
If you have a large amount of Ethernet cable to run you may want to consider buying in bulk. If you do, you'll save a good bit of money on the cable itself but will need to purchase the connector ends and the tool used to secure them to the cable. This is the best option when you're installing large networks, otherwise you'll probably want to stick with purchasing pre-measured lengths of cable with the ends already attached. It saves money on buying a long Ethernet cable In short, to get the best results from your network or internet connection it's important that you know just what you need in terms of cable.
by: Jay Smyth
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