Is It Worth Using A CAT8 Ethernet Cable between The nbn FTTP NTD and My Router?

noddypiper on 02/10/2022 - 09:53
Last edited 02/10/2022 - 13:04 by 1 other user

Hi, I am getting the FTTP NBN connected next week.
I need to supply an Ethernet cable to connect the box to the router as it will probably be about 10m away.
The NBN installer will only provide a short cable.

I currently have my entire home wired with cat 7 cables via a network switch, cat 8 is now available so would this make any difference from the NBN NTD box to router?
I have a spare 10m cat 7 cable but wanted to know your thoughts on whether I should buy a cat 8 or would it make any difference.
I am going onto a 1000/50 plan.

Thanks

Computing Broadband FTTP nbn

Comments

  • apsilon on 02/10/2022 - 10:10
    +14

    Cat 6 is sufficient, not sure why you bothered with using proprietary cat7 rather than sticking with standards.

    • noddypiper on 02/10/2022 - 10:24
      -2

      Hi, I used the cat 7 because I have some rooms which are approx 30-40m from the switch.
      I'm a computer novice but from what I read cat 7 was going to be better over the longer distance.
      I could be wrong but my speeds etc have been fine.

      • boomramada on 02/10/2022 - 10:37

        Why not upgrade to fiber?

        • noddypiper on 02/10/2022 - 10:39

          I am getting fire to the premise installed, the Ethernet is needed to connect the modem/router to the NBN box.

          • bazingaa on 02/10/2022 - 14:10
            +4

            @noddypiper: I think above comment is about using fibre within the house instead of cat7 :D

          • Leo Getz on 03/10/2022 - 22:59
            +1

            @noddypiper: Please, premise is not singular for premises never has been, never will be.
            Sorry, bug bear of mine, not you.
            This has become kind of common IT language that is grossly incorrect.

      • apsilon on 02/10/2022 - 11:21
        +8

        I'm afraid you got upsold on something unnecessary that's not a ratified standard. Cat 6 will do 1Gbs to 100m, 10Gbs to 55m. Cat6a will do 10Gbs to 100m. Therefore a 10m cat6 patch lead is capable of handling 10Gbs in your scenario, almost certainly more than your router/switch and devices can handle.

        • noddypiper on 02/10/2022 - 11:23
          -5

          Thanks for the info, they work fine, so I'm happy and didn't pay more than a cat 6 cable.

          • apsilon on 02/10/2022 - 13:08
            +7

            @noddypiper: That's odd, cat7 costs notably more. The cable, the jacks, patch panels etc are all higher cost.

            • smashman42 on 02/10/2022 - 15:54
              +4

              @apsilon: Probs Cat5E with a sticker on it?

              • apsilon on 02/10/2022 - 16:05
                +1

                @smashman42: Could be anything. Most people aren't going to check so could be 5e or 6, could be fake cat7 (I've haven't come across it with ethernet cable but it's common on electrical cable from dodgy suppliers), could be an installer that realised no one actually wants cat7 so just wanted to get rid of it or could be genuine and just well priced for whatever reason. Who knows and if it works as intended then it's not an issue regardless.

  • SBOB on 02/10/2022 - 10:10
    +8

    would this make any difference from the NBN box to modem/router?

    None at all. Save your $

    For a 10m run across the floor you could use anything from cat5e/cat6 upwards.

    Not sure why you'd wire a house with cat7 either, but that's another topic :)

    • noddypiper on 02/10/2022 - 10:24
      -2

      Hi, I used the cat 7 because I have some rooms which are approx 30-40m from the switch.
      I'm a computer novice but from what I read cat 7 was going to be better over the longer distance.
      I could be wrong but my speeds etc have been fine.

      • Void on 02/10/2022 - 22:39
        +2

        Cat7 isn't actually a thing. Cat6 is perfectly fine even for 40m runs at 10Gbps.

        • NigelPearson on 03/10/2022 - 07:59

          Category 7
          Cat7 can also support 10 Gbps, but laboratory testing has successfully shown its ability to transmit up to 40 Gb at 50 meters and even 100 Gb at 15 meters. The newer “Class F” cabling can support frequencies of up to 600 Mhz. That said, Cat7 has not been approved as a cable standard for telecommunications.
          Cat7 offers extensive shielding to reduce signal attenuation and is relatively stiff in comparison to previous generations of cabling. Both individual pairs are shielded, with an additional layer of shielding over the entire cable. The shielding needs to be grounded and Cat7 also requires special GigaGate45 (GG45) connectors to take full advantage of higher performance features.
          All in all, Cat6a can perform just about the same as Cat7 but at a lower price point. Most of our AV and IP surveillance customers opt for Cat6a STP or Cat6a FTP. Both offer shielding from alien crosstalk and interference around high voltage lines.
          Cat7 is suited for use in datacenters and large enterprise networks.

          • apsilon on 03/10/2022 - 09:31
            +2

            @NigelPearson: I would assume they mean it's not an actual standard which is correct.

  • rainbowunicorn on 02/10/2022 - 10:51
    +4

    Cat6 will work, cat6a if you imagine we'll get more than 1Gbps internet in the future, but keep in mind you'll need the matching 5-10Gbps equipment like switches and devices.

  • bmxr on 02/10/2022 - 13:14
    +1

    Cat6 is fine. Our whole house was wired with Cat6 when we got FTTP last year and we get 1Gbps to all wired ports from our FTTP. Even in the man cave 50m from the router.

  • bobbified on 02/10/2022 - 14:26

    I've got a 1000/1000 FTTP connection on Cat6 cables and that works fine. Speed tests at the router result in figures very close to 1000/1000.

  • AndyC1 on 02/10/2022 - 19:07
    +1

    Yes CAT 8 is a good cable if you have more money than sense.

    CAT 5e is the best cable for the price for speeds up to and including 1GBit. Above 1GBbit it depends on the speed and interference you have as to which CAT x to get.

  • jv on 02/10/2022 - 20:30
    -1

    No

  • BobD on 03/10/2022 - 07:23

    I get 2.5G from my desktop to my router and it's running on Cat 6 with cat 5e terminations. The length would be about 30m. The cabling was done by the builder before I bought the house.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/10/2022 - 10:02
    +3

    Cat 6 is more than enough for anything served by our liberal hobbled NBN

    • pegaxs on 03/10/2022 - 10:14
      +4

      No no no… Labor is in power now, we have to blame Labor for everything wrong with the NBN. They have been in power for a few months and it should all be fixed by now…

  • FairDeal on 03/10/2022 - 10:55
    1. Your max NBN download speed is 1Gbps.
    2. Unlikely you actually get 100% of this bandwidth at all times.
    3. HIGHLY unlikely that any remote host you are communicating with on the internet will give you anywhere near a dedicated 1Gbps connection.

    Even cat5e would meet your requirements and been a LOT cheaper PLUS convenient as you can easily buy cheap patch cables of any length at your local Bunnings or Officeworks stores.

    So the REAL question is why o why would you cable your house with expensive and none ratified cat7 that now also requires you have to buy expensive and difficult to source GG45 or TERA patch cables?

    I find it very strange that you now post this question asking about a SINGLE cat 8 patch cable but did NOT post a question here about whether you should wire your WHOLE house with unneeded/expensive/none ratified/none standard cat7! 😵‍💫

    Cat speed and distance comparisons:

    Cat5e - Up to 1Gbps speed,100 MHz bandwidth, 100 meters distance.
    Cat6 - Up to 10Gbps speed, 250 MHz bandwidth, 55 meters distance.
    Cat6A - Up to 10Gbps speed, 500 MHz bandwidth, 100 meters distance.
    Cat7 - Up to 10Gbps speed, 600 MHz bandwidth, 100 meters distance.

  • LFO on 03/10/2022 - 11:35

    Google says:

    Is Cat8 Ethernet overkill?

    Most home network equipment cannot operate at Cat 8 speed, so Cat 8 cable is overkill. Because it's much faster than most people need, Cat 8 cable is best suited for data center applications.

  • silenthillrocks on 03/10/2022 - 13:38
    +2

    Why bother with cat 8. Cat 9 is where it's at.

  • noddypiper on 07/10/2022 - 21:00

    Not sure if anyone can help.
    We had FTTP done today and the Wi-Fi speeds are good, the Ethernet speeds haven't changed from the FTTN we previously had.

    We have restarted the router etc, have high speed cables throughout the house, but Wi-Fi is about double the speed of the hard-wired Ethernet.

    • apsilon on 08/10/2022 - 10:15
      +1

      Without knowing the network design, devices involved and speeds being achieved (and how you're measuring it) along with what you're expecting it's basically impossible to say other than make some guesses. Recommend you get someone in to investigate if you feel it's wrong.

      • noddypiper on 08/10/2022 - 11:27

        Thanks, I have looked into it further. The network adapter says 100Mbps and not the 1Gb as expected.
        I have checked other devices, and they are getting full speed.
        I have the router going to a network switch, most devices are getting full speed.

        I suspect dodgy cables, the hunt continues.

  • FairDeal on 08/10/2022 - 09:30

    Dear oh dear where do you start with this…. this thread has prompted me to remember a phrase that my late father used to use:
    "You've got more money than brains"

    • Oofy Doofy on 27/11/2022 - 21:59

      Cat 8 is cheap. Yes Cat 6 is cheaper, and substantially cheaper per metre at that, but Cat 8 isn't "expensive" as such.

  • FairDeal on 28/11/2022 - 09:01

    Or just go Cat 100 and you're future proofed for the next 1000 years 😉

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