Ethernet Cable

[keyplus90]

Can we use any ethernet cable to connect router to the computer or it has to be a specific? Or in other words are they all same?

Thanks.

[ChuckFickens]

they are not all the same...

They come in loads of different colours :)

And lengths....

(sorry..... yes any cable will do)

[keyplus90]

Thanks for super quick answer. I have to connect my computer in my office on the other side of my back garden where router is in the main building. I tried wireless USB things but signals are never stable. Someone just told me that once signals go under open sky then they loose stability so cable would be better. I hope this would work better.

[ChuckFickens]

it's a load of rubbish about the open sky thing! but wireless is crap at going through proper (ie exterior) walls!

Wired would be a much better option..

very long pre-made ethernet cables can be expensive though, and may not the best solution for your problem.

it does depend on the distance involved... the maximum length for a cat5 cable is specified at 100metres (though, and the techs will kill me for this... I've got upto nearly 200m and it's worked ok)

[keyplus90]

My distance is apx 20m so I guess I would be OK.

[keyplus90]

And about price, I checked in PC world. �40 for 20m. But I just googled and its about �6 to �7 on average.

[ChuckFickens]

OK 20m is no problem...

and well done for not just buying PC world :)

keep in mind that running a cable neatly takes a lot more length than just running a cable.

Oh and cat5/6 cable is not rated for outdoors use, it will work fine, and will last for years but will eventually breakdown and need to be replaced.

[keyplus90]

Thanks for your answers.

[scotman]

Last time I bought one of those from Maplin it was approx �1 per metre

[squarebear]

Make sure it's not a crossover cable.

[ACtheTROLL]

if your office is 20m from house - presumably you have electrickery in there as well - how does that get over there

[tigersam258]

are you after a part-time job, AC? lol

[fo3nix]

As squarebear says, you can get crossover cables too.

Imagine the cables as being made of two wires, input and output. If you're connecting two computers together directly, you'd want the output of one to go to the input of the other. Thus, you want a crossover cable.

You want a regular cable (with no crossing) when using an old standard router, hub or switch.

However, most routers, switches and even computer ethernet ports these days are auto-switching, so it doesn't matter what cable you have, they'll adjust to work.

I find that prices range hugely. Never buy from somewhere like PC World, they're committing daylight robbery.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130678

About the cheapest you'll get it I'd think.

[SlackAlice]

Glad my wife doesn't read AB! She's trying to move me and my computer to the bottom of our garden. My defence is that the Ethernet cable will not work at that distance (about 25metres).

[keyplus90]

Thanks for all the answers from all of you. I have since bought 30M cable for �5.89 and put it through and my internet connection is simply flying.

Bundle of good advices there. Thanks for all that.