What cable do i use

[a_Jhawk]

ok i got another computer and i want to connect it to the linsys router do i use regular cat5 cable or cat6. here is a image i made to describe.

the sad computer wants to be connected but doesnt know what cable to use. (the green is the cable that i want to add).

 

[El0him]

What do you hope a Cat 6 would do for you that a cat 5 won't do?

 

[a_Jhawk]

I thought there was a differnce between the two. but here i but it like this.

REGULAR ETHERNAT CABLE OR CROSSOVER CABLE?

 

[El0him]

Yes.. there is a difference but it won't do any good for you...

switch to pc.. regular just like the other cable.

 

[folken]

Cat6 would just give you higher speeds at greater range, such as getting a gigabit connection well over 100ft.
Cat5 is just fine if your router just has a 10/100 switch (probably does) and your wire run is less than a couple hundred feet.

You will want to use a regular patch cable, not a crossover.

 

[sokos]

OK so if I m making a netcafe (lan gaming) for a friend, he has 50 PC's, what cabling should i get? All PC's have Gigabit onboard ethernets (Nforce4)

FTP - SFTP?
Cat5 - Cat6?

 

[folken]

It would depend on what switch you get (gigabit or not) and how long the runs are.
If you are going to have a gigabit switch and none of the runs will exceed 100ft or so Cat5e would work just fine. If you will have runs much longer than 100ft go for Cat6.
If you arn't going to have gigabit Cat5e could carry 10/100 signal up to 300ft or so.

 

[sokos]

thanks folken, yes it's a gigabit one (i m looking for the switch now but that we'll discuss in another topic)

The cable guy asks for FTP or SFTP cable, what do i tell him?
Maximum distance of cable is 40 meters.

 

[folken]

The different kinds of cable are:
UTP - Unshielded Twisted Pair
FTP - Foiled Twisted Pair
STP - Shielded Twisted Pair

I suppose there could be an SFTP (shielded foiled twisted pair) but I can't say that I've heard of it. All of those are just different levels of shielding. For 40 meter gigabit runs the most inexpensive approach would be Cat6 UTP. Going to FTP or STP cable can be very costly but if you have the bucks go for it though

If there are high interference emitting devices around (large electric motors or power systems) you may need to get FTP or STP to combat it. Either one should be fine so go with the one they will charge less for

One more word to add to the mix here is Plenum. If any of the wires are going to be following heating ducts or other things that might get warm you will need to get Plenum rated cable. Unfortunatly that stuff is very expensive, but to fit safty regulations you will probably need it. It is cable that wont emit any harmful fumes when heated and is more resistant to burning.