cat6 Ethernet from modem to router

[Larrytf]

hey,

I have a bigpond modem connected to a Asus rt-ac68u router through a cat5 cable, would the signal be even slightly better if i can change that cable to a cat6 Ethernet cable??

thanks,

Nick

 

[PsyKhiqZero]

no in fact in many cases cat6 cable is the exact same cable as cat5e. The only difference is the certification process each go through.

 

[adamwinn]

hey,

I have a bigpond modem connected to a Asus rt-ac68u router through a cat5 cable, would the signal be even slightly better if i can change that cable to a cat6 Ethernet cable??

thanks,

Nick

Only if the run is VERY long. For any reasonable distance there is no discernible difference between Cat5e and Cat6.

 

[someguynamedmatt]

Unless you're running 100+ feet of cable, or are pushing the bandwidth limits of the Ethernet standards, there will be no difference.

I like to buy Cat6 cables because they tend to be higher quality (and often go through a more rigorous certification process) than the more widely used Cat5E, but there will be no speed difference between the two.

 

[dingo07]

Yes, the signal will be "even slightly better" with a CAT6 cable

if the modem is gigabit, the signal will be substantially better

 

[dingo07]

no in fact in many cases cat6 cable is the exact same cable as cat5e. The only difference is the certification process each go through.

this statement can be twisted out of context, let me clarify... the actual copper may be the same quality, diameter, etc, however the tpi are different as well as the connectors on each end.

 

[dingo07]

... but there will be no speed difference between the two.

not true...

read this

 

[someguynamedmatt]

The OP is looking for an interconnect between an ADSL modem and a router - I highly doubt that DSL modem is pushing 125+ MB/s of data over a hundred feet of wire through more EMI than what decent Cat5E shielding can handle. I'm going to take a guess that this is on a desk, or in a cabinet... not routed out the back of a 48U server rack with all 200 other cables and power lines. Even ADSL2+ can only push a maximum of 24MB/s regardless.

None of us ever said not to buy a Cat6 cable for this; like I said, I'd do it just for the more rigorous quality control, but it will not be the determining factor in transfer speed.

Hell, you could buy a few host bus adapters, a few small 2U servers, and link that ADSL modem to the rest of your hardware via Infiniband, but you're still going to be limited by the transfer rate of the modem itself. Even running a line from the router itself to a piece of gigabit-capable hardware will still be fine on Cat5E which supports 1000Base-T, though if you are REALLY pushing the effective limits of the gigabit ethernet standard, it might be worth considering for the minimal premium. No consumer-oriented setup is going to need 10G-BaseT capabilities.

 

[bill001g]

... but there will be no speed difference between the two.

not true...

read this

This is the standard confuse the issue with technical specs. Its like a salesman talking about all the benefits their tires have on snow and then still trying to sell them to someone who lives in Miami.

With cables the cross talk and interference number mean absolutely nothing unless you have that issue which is extremely rare. If you do not have a problem in the first place then there is no advantage.
You can talk about all the theoretical advantages you want but if you already get the maximum rate you can get a better cable can not exceed the maximum.

You always have to be suspect of people trying to sell you something. Cat6 cable was designed for transfer gig over 2 pair instead of 4 pair. That standard was never accepted so they pretty much have useless cable from the start but they still want to sell it.

It is mostly a pure scare tactic by the sales guys trying to convince you some magic problem exists, they would tell you the aliens would disrupt your signals if they thought you would believe it. Anyone who has actually used a TDR meter installing real cables knows how super low these crosstalk numbers are on even cat5e cable.

 

[DeauteratedDog]

I agree with bill001g and someguynamedmatt on this. Cat5e is extraordinarily reliable, even at 1 Gbit, even on runs approaching 100 meters. As long as it is properly terminated that is - problems are almost always with the termination, not the cable.