How Ethernet Works

Each device in an Ethernet network has an Ethernet card, more commonly known as the NIC (Network Interface Controller). These devices are referred to as nodes, and they talk to each other using protocols. In the context of networking, a protocol is a language of communication between connected devices. Nodes communicate through frames, chunks of information that nodes send as short messages. Frames carry information that a node is sending to another node. If protocol is the language, frames are the sentences. The Ethernet protocol specifies the set of rules for constructing frames, and each frame has a destination and a source address to identify the sender and receiver of a frame. No two nodes have the same address. The devices are connected to each other through Ethernet cables, also referred to as the medium.

Signals tend to attenuate as they travel through a cable. Some signals may even get lost if the cable is too long. To retain quality, the signal needs to be amplified. In an Ethernet network, these amplifiers are called Repeaters. Repeaters, or signal boosters, are electronic devices that amplify and then retransmit a signal. These repeaters are installed at certain intervals in an Ethernet network.

Colliding Signals

A common problem in Ethernet networks is the collision of signals, which happens when two or more computers send data at the same time. The CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) effectively deals with this network dilemma. With Carrier Sense, the computer checks whether the wire is being used before it sends information, which is applied when many computers use the same connection, thus the Multiple Access. When the devices in a network send information at the same time, this information will collide and will not be sent successfully. Collision Detection is the ability of the devices in the network to detect that other devices have also sent information to other devices. When this happens, said devices will wait for a random amount of time, then try resending the information.

Ethernet Cables

Ethernet cables bind together all the devices in a network. There are currently two types of Ethernet cables available: Twisted Pair and Fiber Optics. The type of cables used determines the performance of the network.

Twisted Pair Cables

Twisted Pair Ethernet cables are made of copper wires twisted in pairs and bundled together in a plastic cover. The ends of the cables are sealed in an RJ45 connector. Twisted Pair cables have been around since the beginning of Ethernet networking, and they are classified according to several categories.

The first cable used in an Ethernet network was the Category 1 cable, which was widely used in the 1970s. Also known as the coaxial cable, this cable is composed of twisted telephone wires wrapped in a plastic jacket. Subsequent iterations had improvements in frequencies and performance. However, it was not until 1995 when there was a significant leap in frequency and speed. Category 5 cables have a frequency of over 100MHz and a much faster speed of 100Mbps. It was not long before the Category 5e or Cat 5e cable was introduced, pushing the speed to 1Gbps. The Category 6 cable came out at the beginning of the 21st century. Running at 250MHz, Cat 6 cables can deliver data at 1Gbps over 330 feet and can go as fast as 10Gbps at over 150 feet. Cat 6 cables also have shielding to reduce interference. An enhanced Cat 6, the Cat 6A cable runs at 500MHz, delivering 1Gbps over 330 feet. Category 7 is next in the cable ladder, with a higher frequency of 600MHz and outstanding performance of 10Gbps over 330 feet. To enhance the isolation, each pair of wires is shielded, and another shield covers the entire bundle of wire, further reducing interference. The Cat 7 cable was enhanced to Cat 7A, which carries 1GHz at an astonishing speed of 40Gbps over 165 feet. The list is getting longer, with the latest addition to the group, the Category 8 cable, running at the highest frequency of 2GHz and a speed of 40Gbps. Cat 7 and Cat 8 are mainly used in server rooms and data centers, where top-grade speed is required.

Fiber Optics Cables

Nowadays, fiber optics has been taking the limelight in the networking field. Made of fiberglass, fiber optics can deliver much better performance than traditional copper wires. Fiber optic cables can handle 10Gbps of data over long distances of 1000-6000 feet. This eliminates the need for signal boosters. Fiber optics are also immune to interferences, unlike copper cables, since they carry light instead of electricity. The signal is therefore more reliable in fiber optic cables.

Benefits of Ethernet

Ethernet is still widely implemented all over the world, despite the rise of wireless communication. With newer technology developed over time, Ethernet continues to cater to the needs of most networkers, especially their need for speed. Ethernet is also more reliable than its wireless counterpart. Since data travels through cables and not thin air, there is less chance for interruption from radio frequencies and other signals. Reliability, efficiency, data security, and faster speeds are just some of the many benefits of an Ethernet network, which is still widely used in today’s networking spaces.

Numerous networking devices expand a network like switches, hubs, and ethernet splitters. The simplest among these devices is the modest ethernet splitters. Ethernet splitters are inexpensive, minuscule network devices that split one Ethernet signal into two. These are also one of the most uncomplicated networking equipment, which does not require a power supply and no special buttons or status lights on its body. This tiny device is pretty straightforward, consisting only of three ethernet ports, two on one side and one on the other side. Some types have a short ethernet cable with an RJ45 connector on one side and two ethernet ports on the other side.

The splitters have been in use in the networking space for a long time, but many can still set them up properly. Contrary to what most people think, ethernet splitters should always come in pairs. Making a direct connection from one end of the splitter to the router and then connecting two devices to the two ethernet ports on one side simply won’t work. There’s a proper way to set-up ethernet splitters in a network for them to work perfectly.

The Proper Setup

Ethernet splitters are useful in connecting two devices in a different room from where the main signal is coming. They help save cables, network wall outlets and provide reliable connections in most cases. As was mentioned previously, ethernet splitters come in pairs. One splitter merges two signals from a device (in most cases, the router), and one unmerge the signals into two lanes, allowing two devices to be connected.

You have a router in Room A, and you have two computers in Room B, but you only have one ethernet wall jack in each room. In this case, you take one splitter, connect two cables to the router, connect the other end of the cables to the splitter, and then connect one end of the splitter to the wall jack in Room A. This is where the two signals from the router are merged into one. Next, take the other splitter and connect the side with one port to Room B’s wall jack. Room A’s merged signal will now be unmerged back into two, and now you have two ethernet ports for the two devices in Room B.

As you can see, one splitter is used to unsplit two signals and another one to split them, which is why the splitters should always come in pairs. The number of cables and number of wall jacks is also reduced as there is no need to add another ethernet wall jack in each room and no need to use two cables in between these jacks. This is just one of the simple scenarios where ethernet splitters serve their purpose best.

Do Ethernet Splitters Reduce Speed?

Perhaps the common question when using ethernet splitters is, “Will it slow down the connection?” The answer would depend entirely on the type of network where the splitters are used. Ethernet splitters are based on the rather old 100BASE-T standard or more commonly known as Fast Ethernet, which carries the 100Mbps nominal traffic rate.

In a Cat5e ethernet cable, there are 4 pairs of wires, which means a total of 8 wires in one cable. In Fast Ethernet, only two pairs out of four are utilized; the other two pairs are just sitting there, unused. The splitter will take two 100Mbps signals from a router, which means two ethernet cables, and merge them on one end. These signals will then be unmerged into two 100Mbps signals on the other end. Each port on the receiving end of the splitter can therefore carry a max speed of 100Mbps. To answer the question then, if the splitters are used in a 100Mbps network, no, they will not slow down the connection. However, if your router can provide a speed of 1Gbps and you use a splitter in between, then the speed will be greatly reduced to 100Mbps, theoretically. In this case, the splitters did reduce the speed, and the connection will be slower.

Pros and Cons

Ethernet splitters may come in handy in certain circumstances, but they have a lot of drawbacks. For one, they can only provide a maximum speed of 100Mbps per ethernet port. In a network that can provide more than 100Mbps, the resources won’t be fully optimized due to this limitation. Moreover, the number of devices you can connect to is limited to just two, so if there are more than two devices connected, ethernet splitters will not be the best option. In addition, if you only have one remaining ethernet port in your router, it would be impossible to use the splitters at all; some sacrifices have to be made. Furthermore, although they reduce the number of cables to connect two networks, two splitters are still required for the setup to work.

On the other hand, ethernet splitters offer a few advantages. They cost a lot cheaper than other networking equipment, and they don’t require an elaborate setup. Furthermore, unlike most network devices, they don’t need any software or configuration. Ethernet splitters are an ideal option in home networks where there are fewer devices connected, typically, a maximum of two devices in one room. If you’re content with a 100Mpbs connection and only have two devices to connect, then ethernet splitters are the best way to go.

Ethernet splitters have been around for ages, but simple as they are, there isn’t much improvement to overcome their limitations. They’re still based on the aging Fast Ethernet standard that may no longer be as significant in today’s demand for faster speed. Although they have their own set of pros, they still simply won’t a viable option in most cases. With today’s technological advances, there’s still a lot of hope for the future of ethernet splitters. Some genius might just be able to raise it to a Gigabit Ethernet standard.

When setting up internet-connected devices in our homes or offices, cabling is one thing we don’t pay much attention to, if at all. Yes, we ensure that we get one end of the cable into one device and the other into an access point, but beyond that, we rarely give cabling much thought.

Have you ever wondered how long your cable should be and whether its length affects your connection?

In this quick-and-simple guide, we’ll discuss various Ethernet cables, with a special focus on how the cable’s length affects your internet connection.

Let’s dive in:

Understanding Ethernet Cables (and Types)

Simply put, an ethernet cable is the most common type of network cable used to connect two or more devices sharing files and an internet connection.

Although nothing about Ethernet and how they function is confusing, deciding which ethernet type is suitable for your needs can be confusing.

Let’s demystify ethernet cable types and detail which ones are suitable for which operations.

When looking at ethernet cables, you will find them labeled cat followed by a number or a number and letter. The cat indicates category, while the number following it shows the specification version used by the cable.

A higher number in an ethernet cable mainly indicates the cable supports faster speeds and higher frequency expressed in megahertz. That enables the cables to support faster connections and higher bandwidths.

Let us briefly discuss ethernet category types.

NOTE: Since this is a quick starter guide, not a comprehensive ethernet guide, we will skip all ethernet categories and discuss the most common (Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6a, and Cat 7)

1: Ethernet Cat 5

Cat5 ethernet cables, although at this point obsolete, allow network speed of up to 100 Mbps. They are rated at a frequency of 125 MHz and act as a replacement for ethernet cat 3. Unless you already have an existing ethernet cat 5, please do not use this type because it’s slow.

2: Ethernet Cat 5e

The next category is ethernet cat5e, which means enhanced ethernet cat5. Although there is no physical difference between Cat 5 and Cat 5e, the Cat 5e cable can reject unwanted signals between the communication networks.

Cat5e also supports faster speeds—125 Mbps—than its predecessor and comes at a low cost. Therefore, you may find the cat5e cable used regularly.

3: Ethernet Cat 6

The Cat 6 cable is a better and a modern improvement of the Cat 5 and Cat 5e. Cat6 cables are wound tightly and outfitted with a braided shielding that protects the twisted pair of wires inside the cable from electrical interference from outside sources that disrupt the normal flow of data in a cable (crosstalk).

Cat 6 cables also support higher speeds of up to 10Gbps to a length of 55m. However, the Cat 6 cable is expensive compared to its Cat 5 and Cat 5e counterparts.

4: Ethernet Cat 6a

The augmented version of Cat 6, Cat 6a, is an improvement of the Cat 6 cable.

This cable standard can support twice the maximum bandwidth of Cat 6 cables while maintaining higher transmissions over long distances.

Cat 6a Ethernet cables are more durable and less flexible than Cat 6 due to more robust shielding, which helps them prevent crosstalk better than Cat 6.

5: Ethernet Cat 7

By default, Cat 7 ethernet cables are a better version of the Cat 6 and Cat 6a cables because they support higher bandwidths and faster transmissions over long distances using the latest Ethernet technology.

The Cat 7 cables are capable of reaching up to 100Gbp at the range of 20m. The cables also have effective shielding, helping block noise and crosstalk in the communication channels. The Cat 7 cable uses a modified GigaGate45 connector that’s compatible with RJ45 Ethernet ports.

Although the Cat 7 cable is a much better choice and more capable than preceding ethernet cables, it can be challenging to acquire because of its use of the modified GigaGate45 connector, a proprietary technology.

NOTE: There are other ethernet cable categories, but we will not dive deep into that for now. You can use external resources to learn more about ethernet technology and its various uses.

Now that we have ethernet categories out of the way, let dive into the question:

Does the Length of An Ethernet Cable Matter?

The simple answer to that question is NO: The length of an ethernet cable does not significantly influence network speeds, especially with modern cables and networks!

However, that doesn’t mean you can connect one end of an Ethernet cable to one corner of the globe and the other to your device and expect it to work the same way as a connection connected directly to a router a stone throw away from you.

In simpler terms, there’s a limit to what the length of the cable can be. Although there is no defined limit to what the size of an ethernet cable can be, longer cables can cause some reduction in latency.

This reduction is mainly because of the distance a signal has to travel within the cable. The further the travel distance, the higher the chances of interferences occurring. That is very unlikely to notice, especially if you are comparing two cables together.

Until an ethernet cable reaches over 100m in length, the effects are hardly noticeable as most Ethernet cables can run over 100m with no issues. That will significantly depend on the type of Ethernet cable you are using and the maximum bandwidth supported.

For example, if you run a Cat 5 or Cat 5e cable for less than 100m, you will notice no speed change. However, if you increase the length to more than 100m, the speed can drop significantly to maybe 10-15Mbps from, say, 100Mbps.

To summarize, depending on your ethernet type, anything less than 100 to 110m in length will hardly affect your speeds. However, keep in mind that you will experience higher latency over large distances.

Conclusion

To conclude:

There’s no defined way of saying at what length an ethernet cable will experience problems.

Hence, when deciding which Ethernet cable to use, go with a modern option, and consider your budget and the network structure you’re using.

Thanks for reading—and have fun cabling your devices.

In this article, we put light on the best Ethernet cable extenders, especially for Linux OS users. Rest assured, you will not lose connectivity, quality of speed, or face transmission issues when using the following items. But first, let’s go through the Buyer’s Guide.

A Buyer’s Guide to Hassle-Free Connectivity

Here are some things to add to your checklist before heading out to purchase the best Ethernet extender!

Material Used

When expanding your Ethernet connection, you must know there are many nooks and crannies the extenders will come across. So, choose a connecter that has a durable structure. Often thickened PCD and plated or shielded wires are a way of guessing whether a device is worth looking into or not. Mostly nickel-plated, copper wiring couplers work well, as they provide unhindered data transmission.

Speed of Transfer

The more, the merrier. When stuck between two couplers, it comes down to transfer speed. Get the one that offers the highest rate of data transferring range.

Patch Cables

These are a great way to save your computer from port damage, which may result from manhandling them with repetitive cable changes.

Cable lengths with extenders matter

When considering network expansion, the cable length is always a major factor. The longer cable you opt for, the more impact it will have on speed. Couplers with high-end materials and shielding will be less prone to such issues.

RoHS Compliance

The reason your network cable extender must be RoHS compliant is solely for safety. RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) opposes the use of hazardous materials in the construction of electronic devices. This also makes sure there is little to none corrosion build-up when pairing the Ethernet cables.

Let’s take a look now at the top Ethernet extenders. Keep in mind, we focussed only on products that work great with Linux.

1. UGREEN RJ45 Coupler Ethernet Cable Extender Female to Female

Who knew the best would come so cheap? Ranking first in our top 5 list is the Ethernet cable extender from UGREEN. This device sure is small but excels many others in strong signal maintenance over greater distances.

If your wire falls short and cannot reach an intended place, the connecter comes with sturdy ports with copper-plated tentacles to keep wires firmly connected. The tiny infrastructure is made from nickel-plated contacts and a snap-in retaining clip, which makes sure that the device remains corrosion-free for a very long time.

The ABS material encasing the ports are flame retardant and stable. Even if the wires come under tension, the connection will stay up without affecting connectivity.

Speed-wise, this Ethernet cable extender speeds up to 10 Gigabytes! The UGREEN coupler is an 8P8C female to female Ethernet coupler jack, which runs well with Cat7, Cat6, Cat5e, Cat5 networks. The high range of compatibility means that you will not be facing any driving installation issues.

UGREEN is RoHS compliant. It is also compliant with the TIA/EIA 568-C.2 and meets the category 6 performance. With universal compatibility, guarded performance, and superior construction, this is an excellent coupler to tend to wire shortage issues. The entirely wireless device design gives you control over the Ethernet cables at both ends, adding to user convenience.

Buy Here: Amazon

2. UGREEN Ethernet Extension cable Network – Male to Female Connector

Next is another UGREEN variant, only this time, they have added a patch cable. UGREEN manages to take second place, with its wide variety of patch cable Ethernet couplers. These are available in 1.5Ft, 3FT, 6FT, and 10FT options for you to choose from.

This Ethernet cable extender is another worthy contender to extend your Ethernet connectivity. It has the added advantage of saving your computer from the constant plug and pull of wires as they provide you with one constant cable end.  When the UGREEN is in place, you just need to plug in the coupler once. Hence, saving your computer’s port from the expected risk of wear from constant port changes.

This is a multi-shielded Cat 6 Standard extension cable constructed with a gold-plated connector, aluminum mylar foil, and a tinned 8 wire copper shielding. It is so much better than the Copper-clad Aluminium (CCA). It sits in sync with Category 6 TIA/EIA 568-C.2 Standard.

What’s more? the UGREEN extender allows high upload download speeds with up to 550 MHZ of speed data. High-speed data transfers are possible with patch cable connectivity that connects UTP, FTP, and STP Cat 6 Ethernet Cable.

As for compatibility, the universal application of this RJ45 extension cable connect all LAN network components to any operating system or other external devices. However, it does rip the user of control over cable choice at both ends.

Buy Here: Amazon

3. Ruaeoda Ethernet Extension Cable

This Ethernet cable extender comes with a long cable as well. So, you wouldn’t have to worry about gathering cables to extend your system. Like the previous extender, this one too is a saving grace for your computer’s ports.

It is constructed from a premium aluminum mylar foil and tinned copper braid shielding. The 8 wire multi-shielded Cat6 standard sits well with Category 6 TIA/EIA 568-C.2 standard. The major advantage of the shielded patch cable extenders is that they provide an extension cable that is easy to locate in hard to reach areas.

As for data transfer speeds, the extender offers high-speed downloads and uploads till 550 MHz of bandwidth. So, for all server transfers, cloud computing, or online high definition streaming, this cable exhibits immaculate functionality.

As for compatibility, this Ethernet extender has a universal application. The LAN network components of RJ45 connect to all OS of PCSs, servers, routers, PoE devices, and much more. Its patch cable aligns with UTP, FTP, and STP Cat 5, 5e, and 6 Ethernet patch cables. So, yes, LINUX will support this patch cable Ethernet extender. It can also support Voice over Internet (VoIP) and Power over Internet applications.

It surely is a cheaper alternative than its previous lookalike. But know the cable is rubber encased which doesn’t scream weatherproof and can be subjected to wear and tear.

Buy Here: Amazon

4. Ethernet Extender Kit by Tupvaco – 2PC

The two-piece extender kit by Tupvaco is a VDSL Broadband Repeater Booster Bridge. It carries the ability to accentuate network cable range limit by 328ft (100m) up to 7000ft over a phone line, or an already set up LAN network cable, by utilizing the only 2-wire pair in phones or Ethernet cable.

It can join remote devices, such as PC, computer, server hub, VoIP phone, IP camera, modem, and routers to the main Ethernet/internet data sources. All you need to do is plug it all in and press play. This out of the box ready device has no driver installation or tackle any software installation complexities.

As for monitoring its workability, LED indicators monitor status and DIP switch with a selectable 30a/17a profile, SNR margin, and data rate link activity.

Another reason to like Tupvaco is its broadband signal boosting capacity. In which only 2 twisted copper wires are used in Cat 6, Cat5, RJ45 network that works great on all operating systems. With a data transfer rate of 10 megabytes per second, it is worthy of recognition.

Buy Here: Amazon

5. Ethernet Coupler, PLUSPOE 2 Pack Extender Adaptor Female to Female – 2 PCs

Lastly, we have a 2-piece set of PLUSPOE couplers. It is an RJ45 Coupler Extender perfect for extending your Ethernet network. It showcases fast speed ranging up to 10 GIGABITS for connecting a cat7/Cat6 Ethernet cable. Furthermore, the nickel-plated contacts and a snap-in retaining clip promises a secure corrosion-free connection.

As for compatibility, the 8P8C female to female Ethernet coupler jack is compatible with Cat7, Cat6, Cat5e, Catt5 cables. This tiny piece of equipment does not require download for your OS as well.

These extenders are high performance RJ45 inline jack couplers and manage to meet Category 6 performance per TIA/EIA 568-C.2 standards. They are also RoHS compliant. Its robust and durable structure promises unaltered connectivity extension.

If you aren’t a fan of patch cables and like a more concise version, this is a great option. The device itself has some weight to it, that is preferred by some users. However, it is known for disbanding with wires and slowing down the internet speed.

Buy Here: Amazon

Closing Thoughts

All things considered, it’s always wise to have an Ethernet cable extender. They come in handy when you face connectivity issues -especially when you are setting up a workspace. The products mentioned above are the best Ethernet cable extenders available today. They clear out wire shortage hurdles and also make sure that your Ethernet’s speed stays unaffected. Thus, your work’s efficiency isn’t challenged. That’s all for now. Thank you for reading!