jetsjetsjets
join:2007-01-06
Midland Park, NJ
| Cat 5 or Coaxial
Is it better to have a long run of coaxial cable or Cat 5 cable? I would guess it would be around 50 feet.
I would come into the house off one split and go right into the cable modem and then 50 feet of Cat 5 to my router - OR - I would run 50 feet of coax from the split to a modem and then 3 feet of Cat 5 to the router.
Thanks.... |
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GeekNJ
Premium
join:2000-09-23
Waldwick, NJ
1 edit | Cat 5 would what I would suggest. Cable has a loss over distance (however minimal) and Cat 5 is fine for 300ft.
But in your case, it likely doesn't matter much so I'd say do what is easier. |
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jaa
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13 | reply to jetsjetsjets
I suggest keeping the modem and router together. Makes troubleshooting easier. |
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jefe
Premium
join:2001-05-19
Northport, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to jetsjetsjets
I agree with jaa.
If you use quality RG-6 the loss over 50 feet will be negligible. If the signal level coming in to the house is mid-range within spec, there will be no difference whatsover in the performance of the cable modem before the 50' coax extention or after it.
Run the 50' of coax and then look at the signal your modem is getting. If it's in spec...you're done. |
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dmbt
join:2002-12-03
Basking Ridge, NJ
| I personally would recommend using CAT 5 cable, first, its a lot thinner and flexible, and there would almost no loss in signal. You could always add a switch at the endpoint and have more than one computer connect in. This is what network cable was made more. Also, if you ever switched to dsl or FIOS, this solution would still work, you just replace the modem.
Anyway, my recommendation is to use CAT 5. |
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jaa
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
 ·Optimum Online
 ·Vonage
| Adding a switch at either end of the cat5 would not permit an additional computer to be connected.
If you switched to DSL, you would need to run twisted pair to the location of the new modem - regardless of where it is.
If you got FIOS, you would have to run cat5 from the ONT to your router.
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NOTHING justifies terrorism. We don't negotiate with terrorists. Those that support terrorists are terrorists. |
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dmbt
join:2002-12-03
Basking Ridge, NJ | I mean, keep the modem where it is, and run cat5 to the computers your going to be using. Therefor, it does not matter what kind of ISP your using. |
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jaa
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
·Optimum Online
·Vonage
| Computers do not connect to his modem - they connect to his router. He already has cat5 run from his router to all computers. Router is not moving. Question is whether to put modem near cable connection and run cat5 to router, or put modem near router and run RG6 to cable connection.
Either way works. "Usually" you keep the modem and router in the same location so you don't have your networking equipment spread through the house. Makes it easier to go one place to troubleshoot and only need one source of power/single UPS if desired.
The cat5 goes directly from the modem to the WAN port of the router - no switch.
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NOTHING justifies terrorism. We don't negotiate with terrorists. Those that support terrorists are terrorists. |
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