Cat6 Cable Length Limit

A hardware repeater must be used for every 300 feet of Cat6 cable.

Cat6 cables are used for networking computers and telephone systems. The format uses an Ethernet connection capable of transmitting voice and data at 155 MB per second.

Length Limit

A Cat6 cable can be anywhere from 300 to 330 feet long without a loss of signal quality. If the cable is longer than this, the information being transmitted could suffer annihilation. Install a repeater for lengths extending this limit.

Repeaters

Many technicians prefer to use an Ethernet switch or hub as a repeater; this is generally used every 300 feet or so of Cat6 cable being installed.

Longer Runs

If you have a run of cable going over 600 feet, your best option is likely a fiber optic connection installed underneath the ground. With this setup, you only need a media converter at both ends of the fiber optic cable as opposed to having a hub stationed at every 300 feet of a Cat6 cable.

References

• Tech Faq: Cat6
• Locker Gnome: How Far Can I Run CAT 5e Or CAT 6?
• Lanshack: Category 5 / 5E & Cat 6 Cabling Tutorial and FAQ's