Max length of LAN cables ? or help with antennae

steveinspain · 26 Sep 2009 at 16:46

Just how long can a LAN cable be ?
I am struggling with my network and either need to run 100m of LAN cat5 exterior or get some directional antennae, of which I know nothing.
Having just tried the 100m or LAN, I get nothing, so guess I need 2 antennae and what else ?
Anyone able to offer any assistance - this thread may help explain further my problems..

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18046135

Cheers all !

Liquidfox · 26 Sep 2009 at 17:14

93m is the max for Cat5, longer than that and you'll need repeaters

steveinspain · 26 Sep 2009 at 17:40

Can you tell me more - where can I get repeaters, and do they need mains power ?
Can I not run some sort of antennae, as I have a clear line of sight ?

Cheers for the help - this has done my head today..

K.C. Leblanc · 27 Sep 2009 at 12:29

You don't see many repeaters arround anymore. But a smal switch would do the job, they do however need power.

As for arials this might be worth a look.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WokFi

Another option would be fibre, but this is probably over kill what what you're trying to achive.

steveinspain · 27 Sep 2009 at 16:04

Please explain more about switches - what sort of switch - I do have power half way up the mountain, but know nothing about switches - do OcUK sell them, and of so, what is it I am looking for ?
Thanks for the link K.C. - am off to take a look now !

Liquidfox · 27 Sep 2009 at 17:08

Something like this, you'd put it in at around 75m.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-099-NG&groupid=46&catid=1453&subcat=1473

Cable A goes from your PC to the Hub @ 75m.
Cable B goes from the Hub @ 75m to your destination at 100m.

The hub needs mains power. Your only other alternative would be some kick ass antennas

Aod · 27 Sep 2009 at 17:57

Liquidfox said:
93m is the max for Cat5, longer than that and you'll need repeaters

well, it's 93 meters with an additional 3 meters of patch cable on each end - the maximum unboosted cable length is still 100 meters

steveinspain · 27 Sep 2009 at 18:00

Liquidfox - you say that 75m is about the right distance - is that pretty fixed, or might it be extendable...?
Either way, that seems like pretty good news to me, so I'll give it a try I think - Many thanks !

steveinspain · 27 Sep 2009 at 18:03

Another question - how can one boost the signal - is that what a switch does ?
Are there more powerful switches/hubs or boosters ?

Liquidfox · 27 Sep 2009 at 18:08

You can put the hub anywhere up to the 93m mark, although i'd recommend doing it before then to reduce risk of interference.

A hub/switch boosts the signal back to maximum, so in theory you could have 90m of cable, then a hub/switch, then another 90m of cable

steveinspain · 27 Sep 2009 at 18:12

Cool - what about having 2 hubs, if my run is over 180m - it is roughly 200m, but that is pretty much a quess - so 1 at 70m, another at 140m - would that also be possible ?

This help really is much appreciated !

Zarf · 27 Sep 2009 at 19:01

steveinspain said:
Cool - what about having 2 hubs, if my run is over 180m - it is roughly 200m, but that is pretty much a quess - so 1 at 70m, another at 140m - would that also be possible ?

This help really is much appreciated !

yes, that would be fine, if you've got power at both those points.

Have you tried taking all the equipment and a laptop up to the antenna to test whether shortening the cable length will actually work?

K.C. Leblanc · 27 Sep 2009 at 19:11

I will say at this point to clarify, switches and hubs are almost interchangable terms. They do the same job, these days hubs are almost unknow, you will be buying a switch.

jakspyder · 28 Sep 2009 at 03:37

hubs and switches arnt the same :/ a hub is a multiport repeater that will send the same stuff down every channel where a switch only sends the packets down the intended route :/

steveinspain · 28 Sep 2009 at 06:28

So, it looks like I'll be ordering a hub or switch, maybe two then - Thanks all for the help !
Zarf - as for taking the laptop and all the stuff up the mountain - no, i haven't, as it has been pouring for days - we have no road to the house left, retaining walls to little fields that have survived for a hundred years have collapsed - A good idea, but maybe one for a sunny day..!

Nick1881 · 28 Sep 2009 at 11:16

Could make your own pringles can antenna. Google will show you, personally I would rather have a wired connection though.