I'm looking to run about 150 feet of Cat-5e cable from my house to my mini-house to get some internet.

I'll probably just run it from my server in my house to my computer in my mini-house. I'll leech the internet off the wireless connection that the server has to my router.

I don't want to go wireless, it's too unstable and inconsistent. And it'd cost just about as much, so there's really no point in it, all I'm getting for the same cost is more inefficiency.

So, what kind of cable should I get? I've been looking on newegg, and all the cables I've found that are 250 feet have reviews saying that they won't even pick up a signal after about 50 feet.

I've also looked at some cat6, does anyone know about cat6? I also read that it has much, much more range than cat5. Do I need a special card or anything? I have 4 ethernet cards in my server right now, and I really don't want to replace that many.

Any thoughts?

If you're going to run about 150 ft. I'd suggest getting a small repeater and sticking it halfway through the cable. Really, cat5 will do for just about any network cat6 is just a tiny bit faster and longer.

Thanks.

I believe the limit is 100 meters for cat 5, maybe more for cat 5e or 6.

To get cheap cable, find your local buisness that has a network that is renovating and ask for some leftover cable. Usually it comes in spools in boxes- my local university gave away a couple boxes when they had leftover.

Of course you will have to crimp that yourself.

As for Cat-6 cable: it uses the exact same Ethernet card. The same RJ-45 connector even.

CAT5e UTP. monoprice.com probably has the best deals. You don't need a repeater, because the max distance before performance depredation, due to attenuation, is 100 metres, not feet. If you plan to run it along side power lines, or if you have any somewhat high powered radio transmitters, get STP cable.

STP is more difficult to terminate, due to the shielding. I think you might have to ground it as well.

STP is more difficult to terminate, due to the shielding. I think you might have to ground it as well.

Yes, it is a lot more difficult to terminate. No you do not have to ground it. You need to use special RJ45's, which also extend the shield to the jack, and make it a lot easier to terminate. If you use UTP in an enviroment where you should have used STP, you are going to be very very sorry you were too lazy to terminate SPT, and ran UTP instead.

Also too, there are also special RJ45's for CAT6. If you do decide to run CAT6, make sure you do not use RJ45's meant for CAT5. If you do, your cable will not only be out of spec, but the connectors will not get a good grip on the insulation, and the conductors will slip, and loose contact with the copper in the connector. The only reason why you would want to use CAT6, is if you want to have 10GB Ethernet in the future. Even then, it's kind of a gamble, because, even though CAT6 is suppose to be able to handle 10GB Ethernet, when the specs get finalized, it's possible that it may require a different cable type.

I once encountered a business that tried to save money on their network infrastructure, for their new office, and had everyone spend all day making CAT6 patch cables. They used RJ45 connectors designed for CAT5. I discovered this after half their drops weren't working. The people they had doing the work were really pissed off at the people setting up the infrastructure, after I told them that they could have gotten enough CAT6 patch cables, that were made within spec and work, for like $.80 a piece.

Another thing to pay attention to, is that there are two different conductor core types for all Ethernet cable. You have stranded/braided core, and solid core. Likewise, there are also two different RJ45 connector types, for each core type, as well. Make sure you get the correct type, else your cables will go bad prematurely.

Yes, it is a lot more difficult to terminate. No you do not have to ground it. You need to use special RJ45's, which also extend the shield to the jack, and make it a lot easier to terminate. If you use UTP in an enviroment where you should have used STP, you are going to be very very sorry you were too lazy to terminate SPT, and ran UTP instead.

Also too, there are also special RJ45's for CAT6. If you do decide to run CAT6, make sure you do not use RJ45's meant for CAT5. If you do, your cable will not only be out of spec, but the connectors will not get a good grip on the insulation, and the conductors will slip, and loose contact with the copper in the connector. The only reason why you would want to use CAT6, is if you want to have 10GB Ethernet in the future. Even then, it's kind of a gamble, because, even though CAT6 is suppose to be able to handle 10GB Ethernet, when the specs get finalized, it's possible that it may require a different cable type.

Yep I poorly worded it when i said same RJ 45 connector, what I meant was that it goes in the same port just fine.


Another thing to pay attention to, is that there are two different conductor core types for all Ethernet cable. You have stranded/braided core, and solid core. Likewise, there are also two different RJ45 connector types, for each core type, as well. Make sure you get the correct type, else your cables will go bad prematurely.

Really? I use the same ones all the time for either cable type.

Really? I use the same ones all the time for either cable type.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10513&cs_id=1051305&p_id=180&seq=1&format=2
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10513&cs_id=1051305&p_id=179&seq=1&format=2

Yup. It will work, with mix matched connector types, but the cable won't be able to withstand as much tension/abuse, that it would be able to otherwise. Not a too big deal if the cable is going to be sitting behind drywall for its entire life, but if you want to do the job right, you should make sure you use the correct type.

IIRC, the difference between the two is that the stranded connectors have three teeth per contact. Each tooth is slightly hooked, so that it will burrow in between the stranded wires, and get stuck in them. If you use it on solid core, the teeth will just smash themselves on the conductor, and won't hold it in place well at all.
Solid core connectors have two teeth, that are kinda like long razor blades. Each tooth is canted slightly to opposite sides, and the dig into the insulation, causing the solid core conductor to be wedged between the two blades. If used on stranded core wire, it could slice some of the wire strands.