How to make ethernet cables longer

Looking to extend your existing Ethernet cable, or bypass the maximum length limit without sacrificing performance? You'll be happy to know that there are several ways to make your ethernet cable longer.

Maximum length of Ethernet cable

Standard Ethernet cables use copper wires to send data signals from one end to the other. But the farther the electrical signal travels, the more it degrades. Therefore, all Ethernet cables have a maximum length, beyond which you risk poor performance or complete loss of connection.

With few exceptions, almost all types of Ethernet cables are set to a maximum length of 100 meters. For example, Category 6 (Cat-6) cable can only sustain 10Gbps speeds for about 55 meters. They still work up to 100 meters, but you only get 1Gbps up to 55 meters. Likewise, the maximum length of Cat-8 cable is only 30 meters.

But you are not bound by these length limits. You can use equipment such as network switches and media converters to go beyond 100 meters.

Network switch: reliable power supply

A network switch is one of the better and more reliable ways to connect Ethernet cables or bypass the 100-meter length limit. While switches are primarily used to provide additional Ethernet connections on the network, you can also use them to extend the length of cables as they regenerate data signals.

Consumer grade network switches are very simple to operate. You just plug the incoming ethernet cable into one port and the outgoing cable into the other. The only downside is that the switch needs power, so you'll need a power outlet to install it.

With each switch, you can extend the length of the Ethernet cable to its maximum limit, which, as mentioned earlier, is 100 meters in most cases. So with just one switch, you can have 200 meters of Ethernet connection. However, you must ensure that the network switch has the same data transfer speed as the Ethernet cable.

Media Converter: Go Away

Another device that can be used to extend an Ethernet connection is a media converter. It usually has two ports - one for the ethernet cable and one for the fiber optic cable. The device converts Ethernet signals to fiber optic signals on one end, and converts fiber optic signals to Ethernet signals on the other end.

Fiber to Ethernet media converters are useful when extending Ethernet connections over long distances. Multimode fiber can travel about 550 meters, and singlemode fiber can travel for miles.

Ethernet Couplers: Best for Small Projects

While network switches and media converters are great for getting around the 100-meter limit, if you just want to extend short cables, you only need an Ethernet coupler. This is one of the easiest ways to connect two ethernet cables and get an overall longer cable. As the name suggests, an Ethernet coupler is a simple device with two female RJ45 connectors that plug into one end of each cable.

Unfortunately, couplers are only useful when the total length of the two Ethernet cables is less than 100 meters. If you go beyond 100 meters, you risk degraded performance or a complete loss of connection.

While you can use multiple ethernet couplers to connect multiple short ethernet cables, this is not a good idea. By increasing the number of couplers in an Ethernet connection, there is a greater chance of failure or loss of speed.

Another important detail to keep in mind before picking up an Ethernet coupler is the type of cable you're connecting. It's best to group together ethernet cables of the same category. Also, if the cable is shielded, you should get a shielded coupler. Otherwise, you will face performance issues due to shielding losses.

Everyone's network requirements are different, and at times, you may find yourself running an Ethernet connection over 100 meters. In this case, it is better to choose a network switch or media converter for a secure and reliable connection. Or, if you just need to extend relatively short cables, you can always use an Ethernet coupler.