How to extend cat5 cable?

Question

Hi all.
I need to extend a cat 5 cable over roughly 200m to conncet a single computer to our network.
The cable has been run but cant see the network, i guess this is because of the distance.
I put a power pack at the beginning of the cable in the hope this would help ... It didnt.
Can i put a switch halfway down the line to overcome distance. Does this switch need to be PoE?

Andy

Answer 1

Technically yes, a POE switch at the 100M (half way) should be able to make the entire link work. If there is power (power outlet) at the mid point, then you can use a regular network switch. Mind you, that depends on using good quality Cat5e or Cat6 cable. Remember, outdoor cable must be outdoor rated. Using regular indoor cable will deteriorate real quick outside, and fail very quickly.

Other solution is a wireless bridge between the two points, provided you have line of sight between the two "bridges"



EDIT: There may be other solutions where one can send Ethernet signals at reduced speeds over regular "copper wire". These adapters give long distances (1km), but not at 100mbps (but still 10mbps or better). These are called "Extenders". There are Ethernet to fiber optic cable (can go over 1km, but expensive to install), there is Ethernet to Coax (RG-6 - same as cable TV cable):

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged-Extender/dp/B00AMCKN80/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1443212270&sr=8-5&keywords=ethernet+to+coax

which can go 2.4km

This one:

http://www.amazon.com/Kit-NV-202EKIT-HyperXtender-Ethernet-Extender/dp/B0067N3C4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443212408&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=ethernet+extender

will do up to 3km over regular copper wire (again, at slightly reduced speeds, but better than nothing and faster than wireless)



Good luck

Answer 2

use coupler to extend cable.



As long as the total wire run is "short", that is, way under the limit will will be OK with a coupler. I'd guess you are well under 100 meters.



Worst case is it does not work and you have to pul a new cable. but I've used couplers on short (100 foot) runs and they work fine.

Answer 3

100 meters (328 ft) is the max before it will need to be connected to a Switch/PC



That right there is called a Segment or Collision Domain... and you can only go up to 5..



Router----(max 100 meters)----(Switch/PC {first segment})-----(100 meters)-----------(second segment)



And no you can't use a Ethernet Cable Coupler... as max is always 100 meters.

Answer 4

just to add to the above - I don't want PoE

is there a switch option that will do the job that doesn't need a power source as the area to put a join in will prove a pain to get a supply

andy.

Answer 5

you cant unless you buy 2 repeaters at about 75m to be safe...

ALL copper cables have a MAX distance of about 100m (i never go above 75m for cable length) POE is only required if you are trying to power a device over ethernet. in which case your max length would be limited to 50m (max)



for long distances (over 100m) its recommended to use fiber optics (they can EASILY have 80km cable lengths with no issues)

Answer 6

You may need to look into a wireless solution in this case.