Ethernet Cables and How They Work. An Ethernet cable is one of the most popular forms of network cable used on wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices together within a local area network, like PCs, routers, and switches. Given that these are physical cables, they do have their limitations, both in the distance that they can stretch and still carry proper signals, and their durability. Cat5e Snagless Shielded STP Ethernet Network Patch Cable Green Protect from EMIRFI interference connect network adapters, hubs, switches, routers, DSLcable. I/51TrxS0VqAL._SL500_AC_SS350_.jpg' alt='Ethernet Patch Cable Colors' title='Ethernet Patch Cable Colors' />This is one reason there are different types of Ethernet cables to perform certain tasks in particular situations. What an Ethernet Cable Looks Like. Theres a picture of a few Ethernet cable ends on this page. It resembles a phone cable but is larger and has more wires. Business Cards Mx 4 2 Serial To Usb more. Both cables share a similar shape and plug but an Ethernet cable has eight wires and a larger plug than the four wires found in phone cables. How to Wire a Patch Panel. Dell Gpu Installation Kit on this page. Internet connections are common in high density usage areas, such as office buildings and businesses where employees in multiple offices. How to Make a Network Cable. The steps below are general Ethernet Category 5 commonly known as Cat 5 cable construction guidelines. For our example, we. Ethernet cables, of course, plug into Ethernet ports, which again, are larger than phone cable ports. An Ethernet port on a computer is accessible through the Ethernet card on the motherboard. Ethernet cables come in different colors but phone cables are usually just grey. Types of Ethernet Cables. Ethernet cables normally support one or more industry standards including Category 5 CAT5 and Category 6 CAT6. A crossover cable is a special type of Ethernet cable specially designed for connecting two computers to each other. By contrast, most Ethernet cables are designed to connect one computer to a router or switch. Ethernet cables are physically manufactured in two basic forms called solid and stranded. Ethernet Patch Cable Colors' title='Ethernet Patch Cable Colors' />Solid Ethernet cables offer slightly better performance and improved protection against electrical interference. Theyre also more commonly used on business networks, wiring inside office walls, or under lab floors to fixed locations. Stranded Ethernet cables are less prone to physical cracks and breaks, making them more suitable for travelers or in home networking setups. Limitations of Ethernet Cables. A single Ethernet cable, like an electric power cord, has a limited maximum distance capacity, meaning they have an upper limit to how long they can be before signal loss called attenuation happens. This is due to their electrical transmission characteristics and is directly affected by interference around the cable. Both ends of the cable should be close enough to each other to receive signals quickly, but far enough away from electrical interferences to avoid interruptions. However, this alone doesnt limit the size of a network because hardware like routers or hubs can be used to join multiple Ethernet cables together within the same network. This distance between two devices is called the network diameter. The maximum length of a single CAT5 cable, before attenuation occurs, is 3. CAT6 can go up to around 7. Keep in mind that Ethernet cables can be longer but they might suffer from signal loss, especially if there are other electrical appliances that the cable passes by. Note Ethernet cable length is a little different if youre talking about thin, 1. The former should be no longer than 6. Also consider that a short cable may suffer from reflection. However, some users have reported no problems with cable lengths as low as even 4 inches. Several different types of RJ 4. One type, designed for use with stranded cables, generally is incompatible with solid cables. Other types of RJ 4. See Is It Safe to Run Ethernet Cables Outdoors Alternatives to Ethernet Cables for Computer Networking. Wireless technologies like Wi Fi and Bluetooth have replaced Ethernet on many home and business networks.