[NTLUG:Discuss] is it bad cable?

[Mark Bickel]

> From discuss-admin at ntlug.org Fri Aug 17 13:34 CDT 2001
> From: "m m" <llliiilll at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [NTLUG:Discuss] is it bad cable?
> List-Archive: <http://www.ntlug.org/pipermail/discuss/>
> Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 18:31:19

jc wrote:
> I just move one of my box one corner to another in a room.
> change a longer cat5 cable. and network connection become bad.
> I have tried to ping to (and from) other boxes, it always lost some packets 
> (25%-100% lost).
> Is it the cable problem? or is cable bad or too long (about 50', I think 50' 
> should be ok).
> note: it worked fine before I move it, did not change any configutation, the 
> only change is cable.

CAT-5ethernet should be good for at least 100 meters.the EIA/TIA-568 standard
for ethernet LANs specifies a maximum horizontal run of 90 meters, which is
295 feet. So if your NICs and hub/switch are OK, distance shouldn't be a problem.

A more likely culprit is the _path_ the cable takes. Does the cable run parallel
to AC wiring? Does it run over a flourescent lamp ballast transformer or other
source of a large electromagnetic field? Sharp bends or kinks in the cable can
also cause problems. Also look for loose or dirty conections.

Mark.Bickel at ericsson.com