Choosing the Right Methods to Extend your Ethernet Cable !
Extending Ethernet Cabling (Infrastructure) has never been so important as the age of high throughput and growing demands for instant access to volumes of data for responsive communications has never been so important.
The modular implementation of IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard has been an agreed-to format for an electrical signal that is the backbone of this critical communication between devices on a common connected infrastructure (extending ethernet cable) and is most likely what you are starting with.
Choosing the best suited Ethernet cables and infrastructure can be stressful, especially in disperse or sealed areas due to access to the cabling or distance.
You would think Wi-Fi might be an option, but nothing beats the real security, stability and reliability of hard wired Ethernet cabling, leaving you with only one decent option: extending ethernet cable. This is also true as all fiber and WiFi always go back to copper Ethernet regardless……
Can you extend your ethernet cable, and by how much? Will it affect performance, and is there a safe way to extend your ethernet cable?
In this article, we present you with five easy methods by which you are extending ethernet cables and things to be aware of for selecting cable types.
Before you get started – you may want to learn about choosing the right type of cable. Click on the image below to see.
Can An Existing Ethernet Cable or Internet Cable Be Extended?
The answer here is yes, but it’s not as simple as just joining two ethernet cables together – although it can be. (LAN Cable Extension/ Extending Ethernet Cable)
Ethernet cables are specifically designed to work over a maximum distance of 328 feet or 100 meters (IEEE 802.3 specs). Beyond that, the signal begins to weaken, and the overall speed and reliability of the network connection begin to drop as well.
With that in mind, you can still extend your twisted pair ethernet cable by joining two cables together. Simply wire both sides with standardized RJ45 male connectors, and join them with a female/female RJ45 coupler.
However, there are several ways you can extend your ethernet and break the 100-meter limit with various ethernet extender methods.
Top 5 Ways How to Extend Your Ethernet Cable Distance
There are five most common ways to extend an ethernet cable, depending on your specific needs:
Inline RJ-45 Couplers:
If the total distance is under 328 feet or 100M – you can easily extend your RJ-45 modular jack Ethernet cable with an inline RJ-45 female to female coupler. Inserting both male RJ-45 ends of both cables can loosely bridge segments together. This is OK for a cheap Chinese home solution, however it can introduce performance issues through loose pin connections, EMF or impedance changes to the wiring. Also the most important issue is you cannot go beyond the 328 feet / 100M overall distance for the connected Ethernet segments.
Ethernet Network Switch/Hub:
LAN Ethernet hubs or switches are designed to electrically retime the Ethernet signals to go another 328 feet / 100M and provide additional LAN port connections for your network. While they’re mostly used to create additional Ethernet connections in an office environment, you can use them to increase your cable length without affecting performance. Ideally, you would use network switches to cover distances smaller than 200 meters, placing the device between two cables. The only downside to this method is that you require an AC electrical outlet to connect a new Ethernet hubs or switch. This can get expensive if you don’t have that existing where you need it, are limited to by distance or impossible due to outdoor remote location.
Wireless WiFi :
If network security is a non- issue, you can leverage wireless spectrum with antennas designed for your distance goals as long as they are at least 30 feet above the ground to avoid the loss of performance from the microwave funnel zone reflecting back of the ground.
**** Please keep in mind anything you put into the air is easily intercepted and can be unencrypted ****
Things like WiFi Pineapples can clone your WiFi AP MAC addresses and be a man in the middle to capture and un encode your traffic, passwords, and anything your WiFi is putting out.
WiFi can span distances up to 27 miles with the right antennas and clear line of sight with no obstructions like buildings, trees, but also can be greatly affected by heavy rain and snowfall that can degrade signals to useless. So always consult with a WiFi expert that has had lots of experience and can offer performance guarantees.
Ethernet Extenders:
Ethernet Extenders make it possible to extend your LAN Ethernet Network up to 2.74km (9,000 feet) leveraging existing copper wiring, new wire, barbed wire fence, landscape wire, coaxial wire or twisted pair wiring – typically only 1 pair needed.
Typically throughput starts at 1.8Gbps and degrades over extreme distance past 2,000 feet. They achieve this by converting Ethernet signals to a 1-pair Telecom signal and then reverting them back to Ethernet on the other end of the run.
Ethernet Extenders come in RJ-45, Phoenix contact wire, Coaxial, and other custom connector standards. These solutions are available in outdoor waterproof and Plug and Go so no requirement for any programming or setup.
PoE (Power Over Ethernet) versions are Fantastic options for installing video surveillance, wifi access points, access controls, PoE lighting and any other DC powered devices you can think of.
It is not uncommon to find coaxial and twisted-pair copper cables in the network infrastructure of a building. Especially considering that modern IP cameras support coax cables
What Is The Maximum Distance For An Ethernet Cable?
A single run of ethernet cable is designed to work at a maximum distance of 100 meters, or 328 feet. You can acquire commercially available single-piece Ethernet cables that are longer than 100 feet, but using them can result in various issues, like reduced performance and loss of signal. This is particularly true for older Cat5 cables, which are limited to 100 Mbps.
However, you can place a network switch, or some other kind of ethernet extender, between two 100-meter cable runs to extend the overall reach.
| Category | Frequency | Max Data Rate | Max Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat 5 | 100MHz ~ 350MHz | 100 Mbps | 328′ / 100m |
| Cat5e | 100MHz ~ 350MHz | 1,000 Mbps / 1 Gbps | 328′ / 100m |
| Cat6 | 250MHz ~ 550MHz | 1,000 Mbps / 1 Gbps | 328′ / 100m |
| Cat6a | 250MHz ~ 550MHz | 10,000 Mbps / 10 Gbps | 328′ / 100m |
| Cat7 | 600MHz | 10,000 Mbps / 10 Gbps | 65′ / 20m |
| Cat7a | 1000MHz | 40,000 Mbps/ 40 Gbps | 65′ / 20m |
| Cat8 | 2000MHz | 25 Gbps or 40 Gbps | 65′ / 20m |
To go beyond the distance limits for traditional Ethernet – use an Enable-IT Ethernet Extender Solution. These kits can go up to 1.5Gbps and use existing wiring up to 3,280ft / 1 km.
Does Extending Your Ethernet Cable Affect Performance?
For cable runs shorter than 100 meters, or 328 feet, your performance is not affected. However, extending your cables beyond 100-meters would result in bandwidth deterioration and eventual signal loss. This happens due to the increase in the cable’s electrical resistance (10 ohms per 100 meters of Cat5e cable), which only increases with length.
Albeit digital, in copper twisted pair cabling, ethernet signals are still just electric impulses sent through a cable, which naturally makes them susceptible to electric resistance. As a result, they degrade over long distances, especially in low-quality cables with incredibly thin wires (which increase electrical resistance).
Extending your ethernet cable past manufacturers’ recommendations (100 meters) will significantly affect performance due to increased electrical resistance. The further the signal is pushed, the further it will degrade, leading to total signal loss. Higher-grade cables make a better choice for longer runs, so using Cat5e, Cat6, or even Cat7 gigabit ethernet cable is highly recommended, even in home environments.
Extend any ethernet cable beyond the limits with Enable-IT solutions !
The benefit of buying an Ethernet Extender from Enable-IT because our equipment leverages high throughput telecom signals over any wire – including coax, barbed wire fence, etc. Enabling distances unheard of in the industry. There are Ethernet Extender Solutions available that can extend this distance limit out to 9,000 feet or 2,743 m.
The industry uses are endless – as everyone has a need for extended Ethernet many times in their lifetime and sooner than later the need will arise and we are ready when you are to help select a solution.
Diverse Industry customers include the US, UK and Canadian Military; NASA; Aerospace manufacturers; Nautical Infrastructure (Marinas, Mega Yachts, Cruise Ships,Port facilities, US Nuke sub fleet, etc); Video Surveillance and Security Specialists; Advanced Telecommunications companies; Extreme Mining Operators; Global Construction Enterprises; Commercial Agriculture companies; major Healthcare providers; Live Entertainment, Broadcasting, and News agencies; Extreme Retail/POS organizations; Long-Distance Education Companies; International Hospitality Companies; Elevator manufacturers, digital signage and much more.
