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+--- Thread: What would be the best Ethernet cable to use for my Linksys Router N300? (/thread-149326.html)
What would be the best Ethernet cable to use for my Linksys Router N300? - deafeningbelieve268 - 04-28-2014 05:29 PM
Its going into my Asic Block Erupter...
P.s. Does it really matter?
- Sean - 04-28-2014 05:38 PM
No, it doesn't really matter, just by one that's going to be long enough.
- Ben - 04-28-2014 05:45 PM
Cat6 or Cat5e is the way to go, try to go for the best so you don't have to upgrade later. I use Cat5e with all my networking gear and I get blazing fast speeds.
- Colin - 04-28-2014 05:49 PM
Any ethernet cable haha. They will all do the same function as you want it to do.
- dan - 04-28-2014 05:57 PM
The cable is only a part of the circuit.
Here is how it works,
Most Ethernet connections today are 100 Mbps fast Ethernet using CAT5 UTP cable. Gigabit Ethernet is 1000 Mbps using CAT6 or CAT5e UTP cable and devices.
Ethernet connections are determined by the speed of the port and the cabling. The connection speed will always negotiate to the speed of the slowest device.
For example if you have CAT6 Ethernet cable connected to your router which has Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) ports, and it is connected to a old PC with a 10 Mbps NIC (network interface card) then your connection speed would be limited to 10 Mbps.
In order to achieve Gigabit LAN speeds, all devices in the connection need to be Gigabit. This would include the LAN ports on the router, the network interface cards in both devices and the cables connecting them.
You can always mix faster Ethernet cables and devices to slower networks, However as was said the network will default to the slowest link.
Remember, this is only the local LAN speed. Internet (WAN) speed is determined by your ISP. For example a 3 Mbps DSL connection can only provide 3 Mbps even if connected to a Gigabit Ethernet LAN network.
That being said,
Your Linksys Router N300 does have Gigabit rated ports, and In reality there is not much difference in price nowadays, so a CAT5e or CAT 6 cable would be my choice.
You can get a good quality 14 foot CAT5e cable from Amazon for around $5.50 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TH7GVE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001TH7GVE&linkCode=as2&tag=excharge-20
A good quality 14 foot CAT6 Ethernet cable runs about $8 at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JFN4M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002JFN4M&linkCode=as2&tag=excharge-20
Either will work for your application.
Note: Both CAT5 and CAT6 Ethernet cables can be run up to a maximum of 100 Meters (328 feet) between active devices. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6_cable#Maximum_length
Good Luck.