Can I run a 60m LAN cable?

[envy14tpe]

So my issue is that I live in a furnished apt with internet provided by landlord but the internet isn't fast enough for me. It's decent internet (9ping on speedtest) but I like speed(currently download is 5Mb/s, prefer at least 20Mb/s). I have been using a "powerline ethernet bridge", which essentially transmits internet through the house wires, and the device plugs into the outlet; then has a LAN cable coming out of that which I plug into my desktop. I have found that if I use an outlet in my room the download speed is 3Mb/s, however if I run a 30 m cable to living room and use an outlet there then the speed increases to 5Mb/s, I guess cuz it's close to the source.

So finally, my question....can I connect a LAN cable from the router in the hallway and run it into my apartment; and cuz the distance is far, connect a second 30m LAN cable to continue running it to my room where the desktop is located?

Is this possible? Essentially transmitting over 60m of cable.

 

[USAFRet]

60 meters is fine. Official max distance is 100 meters (but people have gone farther with it).
Ideally, you'd want just a single cable from the router to your desktop.

But...the router appears to be in a common area, the hallway, and not inside your apartment. Correct? Then it would be up to the landlord if you are allowed to do that.

 

[Hawkeye22]

The ethernet spec calls for cables no longer than 100 meters, so you are good.

 

[Unolocogringo]

For a single cable with no connections the max is about 100m.
If you are using a switch for the connection you will not have any problems.

 

[envy14tpe]

60 meters is fine. Official max distance is 100 meters (but people have gone farther with it).
Ideally, you'd want just a single cable from the router to your desktop.

But...the router appears to be in a common area, the hallway, and not inside your apartment. Correct? Then it would be up to the landlord if you are allowed to do that.

It's ok to run a cable. 4 apartments use the one router. Also, landlord is ok with me running a cable, as others have done this before.

At the stores I only found 30m cables. I wasn't sure if they even made 60m cables. I guess I could keep looking. Do you know if the distance (say...20m or 50m) has an impact on the download speed? I know some cables have limitations. I believe HDMI cables are limitied to 15m.

 

[Shaun o]

The max length Cat 5e cable is about 100M before signal loss may be experienced, through leakage or RF interference.

 

[envy14tpe]

If I can't find a long enough cable, then I'll have to find something to connect the two cables. Does anyone know what the device is which connects two LAN cables?

derrrr, just found it by googling.

 

[Hawkeye22]

You can use an ethernet coupler, but I don't recommend it.

http://www.amazon.com/Ziotek-RJ45-Coupler-F-F-Straight/dp/B000BSLW8U

 

[envy14tpe]

Thanks for all the feedback. We had a planned power outage in my area, and it did something to the router...so gotta wait for house internet to be restored then I can try my luck at feeding a long ass cable through my apartment. In the meantime I have tethered my phone to my desktop, so I can survive for now.

 

[manofchalk]

Different Ethernet revisions support different distances, but something like CAT 5e or 6e should be able to run 60m just fine.

Length of the cable wouldnt affect performance in any way unless your running over the max amount, which is when the signal will start to degrade. Electricity moves at effectively the speed of light, 60m isnt going to make a difference.

You could run a 30m cable from the router into a switch, which then runs into your machine. It will effectively extend the cable length, while also allowing you to plug in more devices to the switch. Otherwise I think that coupler Hawkeye suggested should be fine.
Chances are if you looked up how you could just splice two Ethernet cables together yourself, never done it before myself but I have heard it isn't too difficult.

 

[envy14tpe]

My understanding of the metric system is poor. My distance is not 60m.

Instead, I need to run a cable more like 25m. And, I have a 15m cable already so I have to look for a 30m cable or I will by a second 15m cable and an ethernet coupler to connect them.

Splicing sounds way more fun, but I don't want to flush $20 down the toilet if I screw up.

 

[USAFRet]

My understanding of the metric system is poor. My distance is not 60m.

Instead, I need to run a cable more like 25m. And, I have a 15m cable already so I have to look for a 30m cable or I will by a second 15m cable and an ethernet coupler to connect them.

Splicing sounds way more fun, but I don't want to flush $20 down the toilet if I screw up.

A single cable would be the right way to go. A splice only increase the possibility of an error. Small, but increased.
(and you can never have too many cables around. well, almost never)

 

[envy14tpe]

I bought a 30m cable and it was just long enough. Now I am getting 50down /10up speeds.

New question: If three cables are plugged into router will the internet adjust for each? It's 50 down, so that would be shared. If one person is using it heavily will it affect the others or will the others cause the heavy user to decrease?

 

[manofchalk]

Depends on how your router distributes bandwidth, it might place priority on someones who's gaming or maybe whoever is torrenting. It comes down to your router and settings.

 

[envy14tpe]

Depends on how your router distributes bandwidth, it might place priority on someones who's gaming or maybe whoever is torrenting. It comes down to your router and settings.

Ok. I have no control over the router (landlord). I just don't want to affect others due to my usage. I play online games, but I don't think that's a bandwidth hog; and I try to keep torrents to at night when people are sleeping.