Extending a CAT-5 cable with a switch

[grimm003]

After running cables today my ethernet cable is about a foot too short at best to reach from my router in my living room to my main computer in my bedroom. I cannot drill any holes to make the trip for the cable any shorter, so what kind of performance decrease would I experience if I used a hub that I have as an extender? I would only plug the two cables in it; the one from the router and the one to my computer.

[Ben333]

You probobly wouldn't notice the speed decrease. But what would be much better and not consume any extra power would be just a little thingy with two female RJ45 jacks. For the two cables. I can't think of the name for this device but I bet it can be found at radio shack...

[Jayws]

Ooh good idea, I'm not sure if those exist though... If not then just solder a short cable together with the long one and wrap in electrical tape.

Edit: Actually with a hub you could probably double your cable length... 50ft is the max I believe but if you think about it, two computers connected to a router/hub with a 50ft cable each are actually a distance of 100ft of cable apart. So with I hub I would guess there would be no loss of speed or very little.

[JamesXP]

soldering network cables might get messy.



I'm sure theres couplers.

[Ben333]

I am positive that they exist. I have one here in my room...
http://www.333networks.co.nr/docs/ocf/rj45females.JPG
Link (http://www.333networks.co.nr/docs/ocf/rj45females.JPG)

[Jayws]

Well don't blame me for thinking they didn't :P I've never seen one and logically it doesn't make sense to make a coupler for 2 cables that shouldn't exceed a certain length but I guess 2 shorter ones could... whatever, my point was though that something powered like a router or hub should prevent any degradation.

[Ben333]

And ask I said, not much of a speed loss and more power consumption... also a larger package. -OR- little to no loss, no power required, tiny package
And I think 200 feet is the max (don't quote me on that) but I've bought cables that are 100 feet long so I think that the max is 100 or longer.
EDIT: looks we are both wrong http://www.cat-5-cable-company.com/faq-maximum-length-cat-5-cable.html
But I was closer:beer: (and for those in that other thread, yea thats beer:santa2: )

[grimm003]

Cool, well thanks for the answer and the other option. I'll just use the hub until I get to a store that might sell a coupler.

[Jon]

Max length for CAT5 Is 100m. If it is anywhere close to this length, then adding a switch/hub (hub is fine for a 1-1 - no collision) can actually improve things (acts as a repeater).

Soldering is not advised as you will be forced to remove the twists in the cable which will degrade the signal (untwisting by 2" can drop a 1000mbps network to 100mbps quite easily - 100mbps is more tolerable, but still not recommended). As long as you're within the 100m, an inline coupler will be fine (and cheaper).

[Jayws]

Max length for CAT5 Is 100m. If it is anywhere close to this length, then adding a switch/hub (hub is fine for a 1-1 - no collision) can actually improve things (acts as a repeater).

Soldering is not advised as you will be forced to remove the twists in the cable which will degrade the signal (untwisting by 2" can drop a 1000mbps network to 100mbps quite easily - 100mbps is more tolerable, but still not recommended). As long as you're within the 100m, an inline coupler will be fine (and cheaper).

Now you tell us, after I make a butt of myself :bang head

[Jon]

Now you tell us, after I make a butt of myself :bang head

You were right about doubling the length by adding a hub/switch though...adding any type of repeater extends it to an additional 100m at the connection point :)

[michaelpi]

Yes the max cable lengths for normal cat5 is 100m or about 300ft. its fine to use a switch to extend it as long as its under the lengths

[Ben333]

I get couples free and would give you one for the price of shipping :)