How to extend ethernet using network switches.

What is the maximum wire distance for an IP camera?

  Before you jump into installing an IP CCTV camera system, you need to know about the cable distance restrictions, which are different to those of an analogue camera.

  Is there a maximum distance you can run a category 5 or 6 cable for IP cameras?

  The short answer is yes but it varies with the network speed you are working to. As most NIC’s are 100BaseT there is a 90 metre rule for Ethernet cables. Actually it is a 100m rule but most work to the 90m as it allows for patch cables and connectors either end of the run.

  This distance restriction is due to the time it takes a packet to travel along a piece of wire, which is something locked down by physics and can’t be changed as detailed in the Ethernet?IEEE 802.3 standard (Communications Engineering).

  Cat 5 – 100BaseT (100 Mbps) 100m range

  Cat 5e – 1Gbps (1000 Mbps) 75m range

  Cat 6 –? 1.2Gbps (1200 Mbps) 100m range

  How can I go beyond 100m ?

  Fortunately we are not limited to a 100 metre radius from the switch. The distance can be extended in several ways and the most common is by installing additional network switches before the 100m limit, which gives us another 100m to play with. This also means we can reduce the number of home run network cables to the core switch.

  Another way of extending beyond the 100m limit is to use an Ethernet Extender, which is an in-line device that can give significantly more distance. These are useful in applications where adding a switch is not possible due to the cable path. A good example is across a car park in a conduit buried for 200 metres. You can’t simply dig it up to put a switch in.

  If you want to know more about these options, please either add a comment below or email us.

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