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Ethernet Cable
Pretty simple question
Just got a Nighthawk AC1900 Smart Router - Before purchasing checked a review -
One reviewer suggested changing the CAT 5 ethernet cable between the router and cable modem to a CAT 6. After changing he noticed a significant increase in throughput.
Our cable co now provides 100mbits.
Thinking of changing mine to cat6
Thoughts????
Basically, if you are using a 100Mbps rated cable, it might not be the best choice. ISP usually over provision the speeds Up/Down specified. If your service is rated at 100Mbps Down and 100Mbps or less up, you'll lose a little. Cat6 would not lose that little amount. However if you ever upgrade your service Cat5 might not work well.
Here is some info on different cables : https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/differences-between-ethernet-cables/
Where you would really need the CAT6 if you have a LAN and tranfer files around or execute programs from another PC. Hard wired devices should have CAT6 as the Router itself is 1GB ports. Of course, wired to wireless devices or visa versa would not the the max. speed but will still be faster than if CAT5 were used to the wired devices.
Compared to everything else, upgrading to CAT6 is not usually expensive. It will also improve speed on long runs.
7 Replies
> Thinking of changing mine to cat6
What is it now, Cat5 or Cat5e? Changing a bad Cat5 cable to a good
Cat6 cable might help, but I wouldn't expect much gain from replacing a
good Cat5e cable. But it's a pretty cheap experiment to run.
> Our cable co now provides 100mbits. [Per second, not total, I assume.]
So, even if you were getting an amber LED for that port, suggesting a
100MHz link, you might not notice.
Thoughts????
Some people swear by the use of pixie dust in loudspeaker cables. Then there are those who like to have the copper crystals in their cables with the right orientation.
But it is highly unlikely that an Ethernet cable will make your internet go faster.
I guess there are snarky people in all forums - didn't feel these comments were necessary.
I'm simply asking if anyone has tried it -
The basis for the decision is there -
Cat5 has a certain bandwidth - speed - length etc.
Cat 6 has a higher bandwidth - speed etc.
The increased bandwidith of the modem (100mbps) COULD take advantage of the better cable -
In both cases - and all installations - the WAY it is installed has a big bearing (bends- kinks etc) - things pixby dust won't help
> Cat5 has a certain bandwidth - speed - length etc.
> Cat 6 has a higher bandwidth - speed etc.
Yes. Many of us understand that.
> What is it now, Cat5 or Cat5e? [...]
Still wondering.
> The increased bandwidith of the modem (100mbps) COULD take advantage
> of the better cable -
What, exactly, is your "the modem"? If your your (unspecified) "the
modem" has a gigabit Ethernet port, then either Cat5e or Cat6 should be
adequate (and I'd expect a short run of plain-old Cat5 to work just as
well). If your your (unspecified) "the modem" does not have a gigabit
Ethernet port, then any of this stuff should work as well as anything
else.
> [...] the WAY it is installed has a big bearing (bends- kinks etc)
Define "big". It's all unshielded twisted pairs; higher categories
mostly have more/better twisting. Crosstalk between pairs is generally
more important than disturbances caused the surroundings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ethernet_cables
