Ethernet Cable Help

[EdTheGreat]

Hello,

Apologies in advance for my abject lack of technical knowledge and inevitably getting terminology wrong.

I've just upgraded to Sky Gigafast and was getting just over 500 mbps according to internet speed checks.

Unfortunately I live in a bungalow, though, and the router was installed right in the corner of a bedroom on a outer wall, meaning that my front room (other side of the bungalow) wasn't getting great signal.

After reading that it should be positioned centrally, I decided to move the router to a little table in my central hallway but needed a longer ethernet cable, so bought the following from Amazon...

"Veetop 5m/16ft CAT8 Ethernet Cable 40Gbps 2000Mhz High Speed Gigabit SFTP Lan Network Internet Cables with RJ45 Gold Plated Connector for Use of Smart Office Smart Home System iOT Gaming"

The internet worked but after doing a test, speeds had dropped to around 90 mbps and after plugging the old cable back in, I realised that was the issue.

Phoned Sky who offered to send me a 5m cable for free. They sent me a 2m cable and then, when I phoned back, said they don't do 5m cables. Which was helpful.

So then, after some research, I found something on this forum saying to order a RJ11 - RJ11 cable so duly ordered the following from Amazon again...

"RGB Networks Ltd Super High Speed ADSL 2+ Cable Telephone Extension RJ11-RJ11 10m Cat5e BT Broadband up to 10 Times faster than Standard Phone Cable Gold Plated Connector Premium Quality (10m)"

Have just plugged it in and the internet won't connect with it, so clearly incorrect as well.

Before I weep or possibly throw my router against a wall, can anybody advise me on exactly what I need to get for this to work? Should add that I have one of the Sky Q hubs which I believe was the latest model until the Max Hub came out recently.

Thank you in advance for any help that you can offer.

[TimmyBGood]

@EdTheGreat 

RJ11 to RJ11 wouldn't be appropriate for FTTP: that's for ADSL/FTTC/G.fast (copper connections)

Any Cat5e or above cable can carry gigabit data: there's no need to use Cat 8 (and the extra weight of 'better' cable can actually cause jack plugs to slip)

[EdTheGreat]

Thank you very much for the swift response @TimmyBGood. Honestly I didn't know the significance of the different cat cables until after I'd ordered the first one.

So if I order a cat 5e cable that should work pretty much? One final question, in your opinion is it worth spending more money on a better cable? Not sure if it will have a significant impact on speed or not.

Thank you again.

[TimmyBGood]

@EdTheGreat 

Personally I use Cat5e but watch out for anything described as 'CCA' (copper clad aluminium) as those shouldn't be given a Cat grade at all and really aren't very good.

[lettice]

As mentioned above, there really in no point getting cat 7 or above from what you describe as your use case for the cable onyour network.

Cat 5e or cat 6 will work well.

I have just upgraded to Sky Ultrafast + and from theONT, have a cat 6 15m cable to my Sky SR203 WAN Ethernet port.

Works great.

I have used cables from Utility  Clarity cables via Amazon, many times and they are well built cables. 
Would expect to pay around the £8-10 mark for a 5 or 6m cat 6 cable..

[Doc5907]

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@lettice wrote:

As mentioned above, there really in no point getting cat 7 or above from what you describe as your use case for the cable onyour network.

Cat 5e or cat 6 will work well.

I have just upgraded to Sky Ultrafast + and from theONT, have a cat 6 15m cable to my Sky SR203 WAN Ethernet port.

Works great.

I have used cables from Utility  Clarity cables via Amazon, many times and they are well built cables. 
Would expect to pay around the £8-10 mark for a 5 or 6m cat 6 cable..

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Hi @lettice  sorry to jump on an old thread. I'm also looking at a long Ethernet from my soon to arrive Sky max (500mbps) to ont. 22metres should be okay for ideal placement of my hub.

Can I just confirm the one below is the one you got.

Ultra-Clarity cat 6 22m 

As you seem happy with it, will try myself.

Thanks

[lettice]

@Doc5907 

Yes that's the one.
Mine was 15m.

Lovely well built cables and it's been totally reliable for me.

[Doc5907]

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@lettice wrote:

@Doc5907 

Yes that's the one.
Mine was 15m.

Lovely well built cables and it's been totally reliable for me.

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Nice one, thanks !

[Doc5907]

Just one more thing @lettice . Do you happen to knowbthe diameter of the cable. Planning to buy These and wondering whether 6 or 8mm is suitable.

Thanks

[jamesn123]

@Doc5907 Ethernet cables typically range from 5.5 to 6.5mm. The listing you posted claims the cable is using a 5.8mm PVC jacket so you would think the 6mm clips would be fine. 

[Doc5907]

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@jamesn123 wrote:

@Doc5907 Ethernet cables typically range from 5.5 to 6.5mm. The listing you posted claims the cable is using a 5.8mm PVC jacket so you would think the 6mm clips would be fine. 

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Hi @jamesn123 

Thanks, yes I saw that but it also shows on third picture down a measurement of 6.1mm so a little contradictory 🙂

[jamesn123]

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@Doc5907 wrote:

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@jamesn123 wrote:

@Doc5907 Ethernet cables typically range from 5.5 to 6.5mm. The listing you posted claims the cable is using a 5.8mm PVC jacket so you would think the 6mm clips would be fine. 

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Hi @jamesn123 

Thanks, yes I saw that but it also shows on third picture down a measurement of 6.1mm so a little contradictory 🙂

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I would say thats pretty consistent with the Amazon product page experience 😂

[lettice]

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@Doc5907 wrote:

Just one more thing @lettice . Do you happen to knowbthe diameter of the cable. Planning to buy These and wondering whether 6 or 8mm is suitable.

Thanks

---

I fit mine with those. mine are round rather than square.

They are are flexible, so a few mm give.

I just measured one of mine that the cable sits within and the gap is 5mm, they are flexible, so the cable should fit nicely in a 6mm one.

[Doc5907]

Great thanks @lettice 

As well as the long cable, I'm also getting a couple of shorter ones from Ultra Clarity which are on sale at the moment 😊

[Doc5907]

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@lettice wrote:

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@Doc5907 wrote:

Just one more thing @lettice . Do you happen to knowbthe diameter of the cable. Planning to buy These and wondering whether 6 or 8mm is suitable.

Thanks

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I fit mine with those. mine are round rather than square.

They are are flexible, so a few mm give.

I just measured one of mine that the cable sits within and the gap is 5mm, they are flexible, so the cable should fit nicely in a 6mm one.

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@lettice  the 22m cable arrived and looks solid and good quality . The cable clips seemed a little on the tight side (don't want to damage cable hammering in) so ordered some 10mm ones, it's only a few quid so not worth sending the others back.

Thanks for the recommendation 👍