Which Network Extension Solution is Best for a 500ft Run from a Switch?

A network extension needs to be run to a location 500ft (152m) from the nearest switch.

Which of the following solutions would work BEST? (Choose two.)

A.

Cat 6 with a repeater placed in the middle of the run

B.

Cat 7

C.

Crossover cable

D.

Fiber-optic cabling

E.

Cat 7 with a patch panel placed in the middle of the run.

AD.

The best solutions for extending a network 500ft from the nearest switch are Cat 6 with a repeater placed in the middle of the run and fiber-optic cabling.

A. Cat 6 with a repeater placed in the middle of the run: Cat 6 cable is a high-performance Ethernet cable that can transmit data at high speeds over long distances. However, it has a distance limitation of 328ft (100m) before signal degradation occurs. Therefore, to extend the network to 500ft, a repeater must be placed in the middle of the run to boost the signal and ensure the transmission is clean and clear.

B. Cat 7: Cat 7 cable is a newer Ethernet cable that supports faster data transfer rates than Cat 6. However, it also has a distance limitation of 328ft (100m) before signal degradation occurs. Therefore, it is not a suitable solution for extending the network to 500ft.

C. Crossover cable: A crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable that is used to connect two devices directly. It is not suitable for extending a network over a long distance.

D. Fiber-optic cabling: Fiber-optic cabling is a high-speed data transmission technology that uses light to transmit data over long distances. It is not affected by electromagnetic interference and can transmit data up to 24 miles (40km) without signal degradation. Therefore, it is an excellent solution for extending the network to 500ft.

E. Cat 7 with a patch panel placed in the middle of the run: A patch panel is a device that connects multiple network devices together. It is not designed to extend the network over a long distance. While using Cat 7 cable may provide faster data transfer rates than Cat 6, it still has a distance limitation of 328ft (100m) before signal degradation occurs. Therefore, it is not a suitable solution for extending the network to 500ft.

In conclusion, the best solutions for extending a network 500ft from the nearest switch are Cat 6 with a repeater placed in the middle of the run and fiber-optic cabling.