Performance loss over 25m with cat6

AsianSpaceman

AsianSpaceman

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 9, 2019
Messages
299
Reaction score
103
Hey everyone, im 90% sure this is the right area to ask this, but if not then admins please let me know. Also, i know its a simple question and lots of info on the net, which I did read up on, but honestly just need an answer from the great people on MyBroadband :)

Anyway, moved into a new place, fibre router downstairs, pc upstairs. Basic use of streaming and such is totally fine using a little wifi dongle, playing games (mainly warzone but also a couple others) causes ping spikes, which im certain is actually just packet loss from using wifi through the walls and floor. Planning to run a cat6 cable with trunking/channel raceways to the pc upstairs, measuring it comes to about 23m. So im going to buy a 50m cable from takealot just so that I got extra in case I move the desk around, plug into a little switch then into the pc. So, questions:

1. Its just a 50mbps line, so at a length of 50m would there be any signal interference or would I still be getting those ping spikes, etc? Or can I expect a solid connection with full line speed as if it were a 1.5m cable?

2. Would the takealot cable be okay? Or should I look at spending a little bit more per meter and get like a 35-40m cable made?

3. Any specific type of cat6 needed?

Thaaaaaaaanks :)
 
Messugga said:
Cat6 is rated for 10gbps at 100m. You'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Perfect, thanks.

And WRT buying from takealot? I read in the comments of 1 cable (out of the very few 50m cables they have) that a couple people said it was poor quality, the cover of the cable splitting and getting drops, while other say its fine.
 
AsianSpaceman said:
1. Its just a 50mbps line, so at a length of 50m would there be any signal interference or would I still be getting those ping spikes, etc? Or can I expect a solid connection with full line speed as if it were a 1.5m cable?

2. Would the takealot cable be okay? Or should I look at spending a little bit more per meter and get like a 35-40m cable made?

3. Any specific type of cat6 needed?
Click to expand...

If its decent cable 50M distance will deliver the same speed as 2M. Just so hard to see what your buying from takealot and to be safe just buy a 30M as you only need 23M https://www.takealot.com/category-6-network-cable-30m/PLID41213191/description here is one on 80% discount.... https://www.takealot.com/baobab-cat6-networking-patch-cable-30m/PLID69279847/description

The 2nd link could be made of flex cable as it says its a patch..... Neither say if its copper, solid, CCA so really hard to say what you going to get, but hey they just over R100 and almost anything will work for you. No need for a switch upstairs as you can go straight to the PC. Terrible descriptions on takealot, and there should be some form of control.
 
AsianSpaceman said:
Perfect, thanks.

And WRT buying from takealot? I read in the comments of 1 cable (out of the very few 50m cables they have) that a couple people said it was poor quality, the cover of the cable splitting and getting drops, while other say its fine.
Click to expand...
That's such an arb question. Takealot sell **** that other people make. If you buy garbage, you'll get garbage. Same as any other retailer. Just don't buy a product with bad reviews?
 
yogidabear said:
If its decent cable 50M distance will deliver the same speed as 2M. Just so hard to see what your buying from takealot and to be safe just buy a 30M as you only need 23M https://www.takealot.com/category-6-network-cable-30m/PLID41213191/description here is one on 80% discount.... https://www.takealot.com/baobab-cat6-networking-patch-cable-30m/PLID69279847/description

The 2nd link could be made of flex cable as it says its a patch..... Neither say if its copper, solid, CCA so really hard to say what you going to get, but hey they just over R100 and almost anything will work for you. No need for a switch upstairs as you can go straight to the PC. Terrible descriptions on takealot, and there should be some form of control.
Click to expand...
So yeah this is the exact reason why I ask about the cables on takealot as they give very little in the description.

Reason for switch is just so that I have that expandability in case I move anything else up or get any new devices that can use an ethernet port.

But thanks for the links and info, much appreciated!
 
I think you'll be wasting your money on CAT6.
CAT5 is rated for next to no loss* for up to 90m.
I would rather go CAT5 shielded if you are concerned about interference.

Regardless, the quality of your crimping and no severe kinks, twists or binding would define the overall quality of the install.
 
swakop_toe said:
I think you'll be wasting your money on CAT6.
CAT5 is rated for next to no loss* for up to 90m.
I would rather go CAT5 shielded if you are concerned about interference.

Regardless, the quality of your crimping and no severe kinks, twists or binding would define the overall quality of the install.
Click to expand...
Will have a look into this too thanks :)
 
swakop_toe said:
I think you'll be wasting your money on CAT6.
CAT5 is rated for next to no loss* for up to 90m.
I would rather go CAT5 shielded if you are concerned about interference.

Regardless, the quality of your crimping and no severe kinks, twists or binding would define the overall quality of the install.
Click to expand...
Cat5e is gigabit. Cat5 is 100mbps only so definitely not the one to get.
 
yogidabear said:
If its decent cable 50M distance will deliver the same speed as 2M. Just so hard to see what your buying from takealot and to be safe just buy a 30M as you only need 23M https://www.takealot.com/category-6-network-cable-30m/PLID41213191/description here is one on 80% discount.... https://www.takealot.com/baobab-cat6-networking-patch-cable-30m/PLID69279847/description

The 2nd link could be made of flex cable as it says its a patch..... Neither say if its copper, solid, CCA so really hard to say what you going to get, but hey they just over R100 and almost anything will work for you. No need for a switch upstairs as you can go straight to the PC. Terrible descriptions on takealot, and there should be some form of control.
Click to expand...

100% certain those will be CCA cables. Pretty much all the cable Takealot is selling right now is cheap CCA.
 
I think standard CAT5 is obsolete anyway.

You'll be fine with CAT5e. As mentioned above just make sure your crimps are solid, get yourself boots too if you're concerned about aesthetics.
 
+1 for going to communica buying 50-100m of cat5e or if you really want then cat6 cable and the applicable rj45 jacks with a cheapie crimping tool.

Did this early this year and never looked back. Few youtube vids and you will be alright. Your first 1 or 2 crimps are crap but after that you should be solid.

You can also avoid cables being to short or having to deal with too much slack in loops or in the roof.

If you not doing gb speeds or moving large files internally on your network then cat5e should be fine. If you really want to futureproof then cat6.
 
Last edited:
I’m using cat5e for the same reason And a slightly longer distance. Gig line and working perfectly
 
Just watch out for kinks as I’ve very recently had to replace my cable and after inspection realized that it most likely a kink that caused my drop in speed. Very visible kink
 
I use Cat5e shielded. Around 75 meters and no loss.
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys got a 30m cat6 (was on special for like R130) and picked up some trunking at builders warehouse, if the cable isn't good enough I'll just get a better quality one somewhere else.
 
You will be fine dont worry. CCA, thin cores unless they made the cores from PVC it will work for what you need. Just dont kink it like Smokey mcpot :) Ping your router and post back here when happy.
 
Is there any reason NOT to use cat6? Or anything I need to do differently using cat6 vs cat5e?
 
SAguy said:
Is there any reason NOT to use cat6? Or anything I need to do differently using cat6 vs cat5e?
Click to expand...

No, other than the wires are typically slightly thicker and thus require cat6 plugs, which may be an issue for you. Solved by spending the... 5c or so each for appropriate plugs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X