Essential Ethernet Equipment - Buying Guide

Check out a host of Ethernet related products at very competitive prices: cables, Cat 5, Cat 6, Cat 7, routers, Ethernet switches, RJ45 connectors.

Ethernet IEEE 802.3 Includes:
Ethernet introduction Standards Ethernet data frame structure 100Mbps Fast Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet, 1GE 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 10GE Single Pair Ethernet, SPE Ethernet cables How to buy Ethernet cables How long can an Ethernet cable be Routers, hubs, switches - the differences Ethernet switch How to buy best Ethernet switch Ethernet industrial switch Power over Ethernet, PoE Ethernet splitter Carrier Ethernet Ethernet Products Shopping Page

Ethernet is used for virtually all local area networks and their interconnections. Accordingly leads as well as connectors, Ethernet cabling and additional items like Ethernet hubs and Ethernet switches are all very useful.

On this page there are many Ethernet products linking to Amazon - it is not necessary to select the items in the links, there are many other items you can browse when you link over to Amazon.

Check out these products as they will provide an ideal solution in many situations as well as being very cost effective and with swift deliver, although check each offer.

Note: Electronics Notes receives a small commission on all products sold via Amazon, but this does not cost you any extra.

Ethernet cables

Ethernet cables are used in ever local area network, and often short 1 metre of thereabouts patch cables are used for linking computers to routers, switches, printers and the like. These cables are cheap and widely available.

Cat 6 Cables:

Cat 6 cables are now the most widely used Ethernet cables. They have taken over from Cat 5 - Cat 6 and Cat 5 are virtually the same cost in most instances, so it makes sense to buy the higher performance Cat 6 cables.

List of Cat 6 Cables to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
Cat 6 cable 0.5 metre 1.5ft		Buy it on Amazon
Cat 6 cable 1 metre		Buy it on Amazon
Cat 6 cable 2 metres / 5 ft		Buy it on Amazon

Cat 7 Cables:

Although Cat 6 cables are possibly the most widely used, Cat 7 cables are now firmly established on the market. For comparatively little extra, these Cat 7 cables, with their higher spec are often the natural choice.

List of Cat 7 Cables to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
Cat 7 cable 0.5 metre / 1.5 ft		Buy it on Amazon
Cat 7 cable 1 metre / 3 ft		Buy it on Amazon
Cat 7 cable 2 metre / 6 ft		Buy it on Amazon

Cat 8 Cables:

With Cat 8 cables not available ont he market, many will want to invest in these as they are newer technology and will offer the highest speeds. They are still backward compatible and will operate with Cat 5 / 6 / 7 systems.

List of Cat 8 Cables to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
Cat 8 cable 0.5 metre / 1.5 ft		Buy it on Amazon
Cat 8 cable 1 metre / 3 ft		Buy it on Amazon
Cat 8 cable 2 metre / 6 ft		Buy it on Amazon

Ethernet switches

Ethernet switches are used to route data to different points. For example where a variety of peripherals are located on a local area network, an Ethernet switch will be used to connect them to the remainder of the network.

Switches come in a variety of types: unmanaged, managed, with PoE (Power over Ethernet), etc. The different types of Ethernet switch are given below.

Unmanaged Ethernet Switches

List of Unmanaged Ethernet Switches to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
5 Port Netgear Gigabit Ethernet Switch (Unmanaged)		Buy it on Amazon
8 Port Netgear Gigabit Ethernet Switch (Unmanaged)		Buy it on Amazon
5 Port D-Link Gigabit Ethernet Switch (Unmanaged)		Buy it on Amazon

Ethernet Switches with PoE

Power over Ethernet is a scheme whereby power can be supplied by the Ethernet switch over the Ethernet line to provide power to peripheral devices. It is particularly useful where it may be difficult to get power to a device, or where it is easier to powervide power over the Ethernet line, rather than have an additional power supply for the peripheral. For example, PoE is often used for remote security cameras, etc.

List of Ethernet Switches With PoE to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
Netgear 5 Port Gigabit Etherent switch with 4xPoE ports @ 55W each		Buy it on Amazon
Netgear Smart Managed 16 Port PoE Switch		Buy it on Amazon
Netgear Smart Managed 26 Port PoE Switch		Buy it on Amazon

Ethernet Splitter

A splitter is a small device that has three Ethernet ports: two on one side and one on the other. The splitter relies on the older 100Base-T standard and as a result each pair of Ethernet splitters only channels two cables. An Ethernet splitter can split a single Internet connection to create extra connections and this allows two devices to share a single Ethernet signal, reducing the number of Cat5 cables you need when connecting two networks.

List of Ethernet Splitters to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
RJ45 1 to 2 Port Ethernet Adapter Splitter, 1 Male to 2 Female, suitable for Cat 5, 6, 7		Buy it on Amazon
RJ45 Ethernet Splitter Cable 1 Male to 3 Female Suitable for Cat 5, 6, 7.		Buy it on Amazon

Ethernet Installations

It is often convenient to buy the cable and connectors, either free connectors for making up cables of the required length or wall mounting sockets and plates for installation into offices and buildings.

Ethernet cable

It is often useful to be able to buy Ethernet cable to install Ethernet lines in a house, office, etc. The cable can be bought in a variety of lengths on reels or ina box ready for installation and later connection to a socket or other connector.

List of Ethernet Cable to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
Blue 500ft Bulk Cat6 Full Copper Indoor LAN Ethernet Cable Wire UTP		Buy it on Amazon
Black 500ft Bulk Cat6 Full Copper Ethernet Cable 23 AWG		Buy it on Amazon

Ethernet RJ45 connectors

List of Ethernet RJ45 Connectors to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
Cat 6 RJ45 Cable Ends / RJ45 Crimp Connectors: Pack of 100		Buy it on Amazon
Cat 5, 6 RJ 45 Connector Gold Plated Pack of 100		Buy it on Amazon

Ethercon connectors

RJ45 connectors work well in most applications, but in some professional applications such as audio / video for events, etc, more robust connectors may be needed. Ethercon connectors have been developed for instances like these.

List of Ethercon Connectors & Cables to Buy
Product description	Image	Product Link
Neutrik NE8MC Ethercon Cable Connector (2 Pack)		Buy it on Amazon
Neutrik NE8MC Ethercon Cable Connector Black (4 Pack)		Buy it on Amazon
Flexsoft Stage Quality Ethernet Cable 15 feet / 5 metres with Ethercon Style Connectors		Buy it on Amazon

Note: Electronics Notes receives a small commission on all products sold via Amazon, but this does not cost you any extra.

There are many different items of essential equipment that are needed when using and setting up various forms of local area network, from linking a computer, printer, etc to a router to more complicated local area networks of many computers, printers, servers, switches and other items of Ethernet equipment. Having a good selection to buy will help the right purchase to be made.