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Mixing Ethernet Cables

Hello All,

I have a question about mixing ethernet cables of different ratings.  My house was wired 20 years ago with Cat 5 cable.  My listening room is in the basement which is two floors away from the router.  Wifi to my streamer has been OK but occasionally drops out so I would like to connect my streamer via ethernet.  Running a new cable (Cat 6a or Cat 8) from the router to the streamer would be very expensive (labor cost).  I can split existing Cat 5 in the basement with a switch and run a patch cord from the switch to the streamer.

Would running Cat 8 from the switch to the streamer be of any benefit given that the signal is only Cat 5 from the router to the switch?

Thanks.

ma128
Ag insider logo xs@2x
dbphd
1,628 posts
 

You might want to look into a Goggle MESH network. The nodes feed ethernet cable to the components. Our router is upstairs, the Mac Mini server that runs Roon core is downstairs; one streamer is upstairs, the other downstairs. The sound quality is excellent. The streamers are Ayre QX-5 Twenty and ultraRendu with Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC. Files Roon shows as 192/24 or DSD are played as that by the streamers.

db

erik_squires
16,056 posts
 

First, see if you can fix up your wifi.  Get a phone or PC based Wifi analyzer app, they are free.

Try to pick the least used channel.  If you can use 5 GHz that's usually less congested and higher bandwidth.

 

ma128 OP
10 posts
 

Thank you all.  You've been very helpful.

btscott
25 posts
 

Is each run shorter than. 100 meters or 328 feet? If so, cat5 is fine.

paradisecom
307 posts
 

Holmz and btscott are correct.  Just use the copper Cat5 and you'll be more than fine. 

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