Router question
 

When running a router when do you notice a speed drop on the computer....for example...My computer is about 80 feet from my router. I'm not using wireless, i custom installed a Cat5 cable...but my computer is running a hell of alot slower then the one in the family room.....Any suggestions??

are you using a store bought CAT5 connection, or did you attach the male connector yourself?

I have a friend that does the connections...he is a professional.

Try another cable? See if you get the same results.

I am a professional too, that is why I stopped making cables, they make much better ones at the factory. I am willing to bet you have a hi-resist open on one end of one conductor

Like Vitasoy said, try another cable (store bought this time) and see if it helps.

Yeah try another cable...You should be find too about 100 meters

The hell with what everyone else says.
I say try a new cable.:glugglug

This is what I do, and I do them all the time.

Run CAT5 cable between router and workstation.

Terminate both ends of the cable with a CAT5 RJ45 female connector.

Buy 2 CAT5 (or 6 if you wish) patch cables and connect RJ45's to the router and NIC card as applicable

Ok Pro's is there any value to using the new cat6???

well, as they say, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and since there are no CAT 6 connectors (that I am aware of anyway) I don't really see the point.

to be honest, I buy all of my materials at a wholesale supplies warehouse and they don't even offer CAT6 . . . . I only see that at CompUSA, or Frye's, or other retail stores, so I think it is just a marketing ploy.

I have not figured out what the difference is. A tighter twist? Better grade of copper? Prettier colors available for the insulation?

My "real" job is designing cabling systems, preparing RFPs, budgets, etc.... and I have 7 years of installation experience behind it. That said, I feel qualified to answer your question.

Baddog, there are Cat 6 connectors, but neither Cat 6 cabling nor connectors (jacks) are required for this. Cat 5 was developed for future applications, and I usually only recommend it for higher tech, higher spending companies when doing complete systems.

Though this short length should be fine with "homemade" patch cables, as has already been said, you shouldn't do it. Factory made cables are recommended. One nicked or kinked wire in a cable assembly can have very negative results on packet loss which converts to lower speed. Factory made cables are tested for not only continuity and correct wiremapping, but for other things relevant to data transmission such as signal to noise ratio, cross talk... etc.

The current "standard" is Category 5e, which basically allows increased performance in complete channels (end to end connectivity) over straight "Cat 5".

Anyfuck, if it is working at all, at this low distance, I'm guessing it is something else, maybe a flakey port on the router switch. A connection will not be (noticably) slower because of length at these distances because the standars were written for a maximum channel length of 100 meters, which you are in no danger of ever nearing.

Try a new, manufactured cable, if that doesn't work switch ports.

Basically Baddog, Category 5 and Category 5e are tested to 100 Mhz (Category 5e providing more headroom) while Category 6 is tested to a minimum of 250 Mhz. While it started out, and still is largely a marketing ploy, there is a difference and new buildings, in my opinion, should be cabled to Category 6 specs