IP Camera Long Distance Ethernet Test

Author: John Scanlan, Published on Aug 12, 2016

Many often ask about running Ethernet beyond its standard distance of 100 meters for UTP, especially when cameras are 400', 500' or more away.

Will it fail? 

How We Tested

We tested lengths of Category 6 and 5e cables starting at 1000' (~300m), down to 300' (~90m). Plugs were directly connected to both ends, with three tests performed:

  • Camera test: We first tested whether cameras would power up and maintain link with a switch, whether pings were received reliably, and whether we could access the web interface/live video. Cameras tested included: 720p, 1080p, 4MP, fixed, PTZ, integrated IR, 802.3af and 802.3at.
  • Laptop test: Next, we connected two laptops together via the length of cable to see if they maintained link and check connection speed using iPerf.
  • PoE test: Finally, we measured voltage and wattage using a PoE tester at the far end of the cable to see if power over Ethernet was being properly delivered over the length of cable.

Cat 6 (yellow, below) and 5e (blue) were both used to check for differences in performance due to category rating or simply larger gauge (23 AWG vs. 24 AWG).

See our results inside.

**** ***** *** ***** ******* ******** ****** *** ******** ******** ** 100 ****** *** ***, ********** **** ******* *** ***', ***' or **** ****.

**** ** ****? 

How ** ******

** ****** ******* ** ******** * *** ** ****** ******** at ****' (~****), **** ** ***' (~***). ***** **** ******** connected ** **** ****, **** ***** ***** *********:

  • ****** ****:** ***** ****** ******* ******* ***** ***** ** *** ******** link **** * ******, ******* ***** **** ******** ********, *** whether ** ***** ****** *** *** *********/**** *****. ******* ****** included: ****, *****, ***, *****, ***, ********** **, ***.*** *** 802.3at.
  • ****** ****:****, ** ********* *** ******* ******** *** *** ****** ** cable ** *** ** **** ********** **** *** ***** ********** speed ***** *****.
  • *** ****:*******, ** ******** ******* *** ******* ***** **** ******** *** *** *** ** *** ***** ** *** ** power **** ******** *** ***** ******** ********* **** *** ****** of *****.

*** * (******, *****) *** ** (****) **** **** **** to ***** *** *********** ** *********** *** ** ******** ****** or ****** ****** ***** (** *** **. ** ***).

*** *** ******* ******.

[***************]

Key ********

** *** ***** ** ****** **** *** ******** ***', ** found ******* *** ********:

  • ******** ***** ********* *** ******** ** ***' ** ******** ******* of ******* **************.
  • **** ******* *** **** ** **** ******* *******, ** *** properly ********** ***** * ***' ***** ******.
  • ********* ******* *** *********** ********* **** ***** **** **** ****** *** standards-compliant *******.
  • *** *** ******** ********* ** *,***' (*** ******* ****** ******), but *** ******.
  • **** *** ** *** * ********* ********* ** *** *****, with ** ********* *********** ******* **** ** *** ********.

What ********* ***

****** *** ** ** ** ****** **** **** (~***') ********* to ******/***-*** ********. **** **** ** ********* ** ******* *** ********** ***** (installed *****, **** ***** ***** ** ******) ** **** ** up ** *** ** ***** ******, ****** ** *** **** of ** ******* ** ****** ******* ******, ***** ****** *** often *** ****, ********* ******** ******** ** *** *****. *** **** ******* ** ***** ******, ******* ****** *** ********** **** ********* ***** *** ***** *** ** ***** ************ *****.

Note **** ** ******** ********* ********** ****** *** ***/*** ******** *** ******* *** **** ******** **********. This test was performed to see maximum distance possible, but by violating standards you assume risk of potential future performance issues. Distances over 100m are not tested for longevity, interference issues, etc., which have been properly tested in <100m cables.

*** ***** ******* ****** ***** **** **** *** ***'/**** *****, see *** ******: **** ** ****** *** *******: *****, *** ********* *** *** Examined.

PoE ** ****'

** *** *****, *** ********** **** **** * **** *,***' box ** *****. ********** * *** **** ***** ** **** with *** ****** ** **** ******, ** *** *** **** voltage ******** *** ****** *** ***** (**-*****), *** ******* *** the **** ** ******* **** ** *******, *********-********* *********.

**** **** *** ******* *** ******** ** ******** ******* ** longer ***** ****, **** *** ** *** **, ** ***** to ********** *** ******* **** *** ** ********. ***** ******* were ********** ** **** ****, **** ******* ********** **** *** at ***' ** ** ** *,***', ***** ** *** ***** below:

******* *** *******/******* ***** ******** ********, ** **** ****** ** maintain * **** ** *,***', ****** *** ** *********** ** data *******. ******** ***** **** *** ********** ***** ***' *** shorter (see *****).

Video ******** ** ***'

************, ** **** **** ** *** ******** ********* ** ***' on *** ****** ******, ************ *** ******(**-*********-*).

***** ******* ** **** ****** *** *******, *********-********* ******* *** nearly *********, **** ** *** ********** *****. ** *** ** frame ****, **********, ** ***** ****** ** **** ******, *** or *****.

*******, **** **** **** *** ******** ** **** *** ******, with ****** ****** *** ********** (**** ** ***'). ************, ****** resolutions *** ********** *** ********* **** ****** ** ********** ******, as ********* ****** *** ** ***** **** ******* *** *******.

Reliable ** ****** ***** ** ***'

**** *******, ** **** **** ** ******* ******* ******* ******* ***** at ***' ********. **** ******** ******* *******: ****, *****, ***, fixed, ***, ********** **, ***.*** *** ***.***. *** ******* ****** at **** ******** **** ** ******* ***** *** ** ****** on ***** *******.

PC ** ** ***** ** ***'

** **** **** ** **** *** *** ** ***' ******* on **** *** ** *** *, **** ** ******* ***** and **** ********* ******* ******** ******* *** ***. *******, ****** were **** *******, **** ***** * **/*, ****** **** *********** for **** ***** *** ** **** *****.

Cat * **. *** **: ** **********

******* *** ****** **** ***** *** ****** *********, ** *** no ********* ********** ******* *** * *** ** ** *** tests. ** **** *****, *** * ******* ***** ***** **** Cat ** ** **** ********* (***'+), *** ** ** **** did * ****** ** ** ******* ** *** * *** not **.

Comments (34)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

08/12/16 12:17pm

*** ***. **** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** Camera **** *** ********* ** ** **** *********. * ** not **** ******* **** ****** ******* **** ******

Furong Qiu

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/13/16 03:05am

*** *** (*******) ******** *** ******* ******** *** ********* ********* to ********* *** *********** ** *** **** *** **********. **** IPVM *** **** *** *** (*******) ****** ********* **** *******.

Undisclosed Integrator #6

In reply to Furong Qiu | 08/13/16 02:42pm

******* **:

***** *** *** **** ******* * *** ** ** ** the ***** (***** *******) *********? * **** **** **** ***** things **** **** ******* **** ** ** ****** ******.

***** ********** ** ** ***** ******* *** *****/******* *** ** a *********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 08/13/16 04:21pm

* ****** **** ** *** ******** ******* ** *** *** usa ******* ******* ** ** ******** **** ******* ** ***** to **** **** ******* ** * *********.

@****. *** ****** ******* *** ******* *****? ** ** ** competition ** ** ******** *** ** **** ***** ****. *** me ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/13/16 06:52pm

**** ** * **** ** ******* ********. * ***'* **** this ** **** **** * ********** ** ******** ************ *********** implementations.

*****'* *** ** *********** ********* **** ****** *** ****** ******** runs.

*, * **** ***** *** ******* **** ******** ******* *********** for *******. **'* *** *********** *** **** ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to John Honovich | 08/14/16 12:11am

* **********. ****** *** *** *************. :)

german bravo

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 08/26/16 02:41am

***.*******.** ** ***** *** ****

Undisclosed Manufacturer #8

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 02/03/17 08:24am

***** ******* ****** ******* **** **** ********** **** ** * good ****.
********* **'* **** **** ****** **********. ********** ***** ** ******* cables ** ****.

Paul Charles

08/12/16 12:19pm

***** *** **** ***** -*- **** ******

Undisclosed Integrator #2

08/12/16 01:17pm

***** "**** **" *****. * **** * *** **** **** to ** ****** **** **** ******. **** ** **** **** look **** ***** *********** *********.

Thumbnail inpicture gert molkens k2

Gert Molkens

IPVMU Certified | 08/12/16 01:57pm

*** ******* ** **** ***** ****** ***** ***** **** **** and ********* **** ***'*. *****'* ** ********* **** ** **** work ** *** ** ****** ******.

****'* *** ******* ** *** *********: ****** **** ** ***** reliably ** *** ***** ** ****.

* **** **** **** ****** **** ******* ******* ******* **** fine. *'** **** **** * *** ** **** ****, **** time ** **** ** *** *** ****. ****'* *** *******, you ***** **** **** ** **** ** *** *** ** the ******

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Gert Molkens | 08/12/16 02:20pm

*'** **** ****** ****/*** ****, ** ****, *** * ***** it's ********** ***** ** *** ********** ******.

**** ** *** ** **** **** **** ** *** ******:

Note **** ** ******** ********* ********** ****** *** ***/*** ******** *** ******* *** **** ******** **********.**** **** *** ********* ** *** ******* ******** ********, *** by ********* ********* *** ****** **** ** ********* ****** *********** issues. ********* **** **** *** *** ****** *** *********, ************ issues, ***., ***** **** **** ******** ****** **

Undisclosed Integrator #3

08/12/16 02:30pm

**** ***** ** ***** **** *** ***** *** *** *****?

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 08/12/16 02:50pm

**** *** **** ***** *******, **** *** ***** ********** (*** stranded), *** **** ** ** *** / ****** *** *** Cat5E ** ***** / *** ***.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to John Scanlan | 08/12/16 03:53pm

**** **** ** ************* *** *** *** *** ** *** bigger ****** ** ****** (*******: ** *** *** ***** **** *****?) ** ** ****** ** **** ** * **** ** average ** ***** ******* **** ***** ***** *******.

Undisclosed #4

08/12/16 03:07pm

***** *******! ***** **'** *** **** **** ** *** *****, it ** ***** ** *** * ********* ****** ****** **** of **** ** **** ** *** *****. * ***** ********** that **'* ********* *** ***** *** ****. **** ****, ***** have **** * *** ***** ***** ** **** * ***' run *** **** ******* ** ****** ** ******* *********.

Undisclosed #5

08/12/16 03:19pm

****** *** *** ****. *** ******* ** **** ***** ** my *****, *** ******.

*********** ** *********** ******** ********* - *** **** ** *** Distance?

***** *** **** ******** **** *** ***** * ******'* **** been ** ***********.

*** *** *** * ***** ********? ** ***** ** *********** to *** **** * ****-*** *** ***** ***.

*** *** ****, *** ******* ********** *** ******** **** ******* out **** ***' ** ********* *** ***'* ******* *** ****** by ***.

****** *** ***** **** ** **** ****. ****'** ****** ********* to ****** ***** *********, ***** *** *** ****** ** ****** each **** * ********* ***** ******. **** ****** ********* ** left ** ** *** ***.

********* ******* ** **** **** ***** ********* *******, ***** **** point *** *********** ******* ***** ******* ** ***** **** *** interface *** ** ****** **** *** ******* ****** *** *** link *****.

**** ** *** ** *** **** ****** **** ******** ********* either *)********** (** ******) ** *) ******** ** ** *** ends, ***** ***** *** **** *******.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 08/12/16 03:55pm

** *** *** *** * ********.

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Ethan Ace | 08/13/16 08:42pm

**** ** ***** ** ** * ******** ***** *** ******* much ***********, ** ******* ** * ********* **** ***** ******** push ******* *** *** *** **** **.

*** ******** ****** ** ***** ** **** **** ***** **** on ** ***** *** ****** *** ******** **** ***** ******* as ****. *** **** ***** ******* *******, ** ** ******** legally ******** ** ****** *** ****. ;)

Bruce Cisne

IPVMU Certified | 08/15/16 02:17pm

**** **** ***** ******* **** ****** ***** ******* **** **** though *** ***** ** *** ****** ** ****** ******** *********. Our ***** ********** **** ********* **** ** ***** ** ******** cameras ********* ** *** **** *** ******. ** *** * junior ***** ******** ** ******* **** *** ****** **** ** a ******** **** ******* ******* ******** *** ***** ******* ****** of *******. *** **** ******* ** * ****** ********* *** draw ***, ** ****, **** *********** ****** ********.

*** ******* ** **** ** ************* *********, ***** ******* * report **** *****, ******* *** ********* *** ****** **** ** can ********* ****** ***** ****** **** ********** **** ********. *** TIA/EIA ******** ** ***** *** * ****** *** *** *** to **** ******* **** ** *** ** **** *****'* **** it ******.

Thumbnail usa shield

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Bruce Cisne | 08/15/16 03:21pm

******** **** *** ******, *****, *'* **** ** ******** ** your ******* ***** **** **** ***** ***** ************** ** ******* exceeding ***** ****** *****. ** ** ****** ** ******* ** there **** ****** ****** "****** ******** ********". ******* **** ** a **** **** **** *** ****** ***** *** *** ****** know. ******* ***** * *** *** *** ******* ****'* ****** always ** ******** ******* ********* ***** ***** ** **** ******* of *****, ** **** ********, ********* ** ********** ** *** technician/engineer ****, *** *** ***** ** * ******* ***** * test. * *** **** *** *** *** ******* ********** ***** without ***** ****** ****, *** ** *****'* ****** ******* *** is ******** ** ** * ******** ******* *** ******** *********** from *** ***** ****** *********.

**'* *** **** ***** ** **** **** ********* *** **** beyond ***** ***** *** ******* **** **** ** ****** ** always ** **. **** **** **** ** ****** ***** *** as * ************ **** ****** **** ****** ** ** **.

Robb Larsen

In reply to Luis Carmona | 08/15/16 04:21pm

******. * ***** *** ******* *****, "*** ********, ** **** you're *******, **** *****; *** ********** *******'* ** **** ********."

*** *******, ****** *** *******.

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Bruce Cisne | 08/15/16 05:25pm

*** ******* ** **** ** ************* *********, ***** ******* * report **** *****, ******* *** ********* *** ****** **** ** can ********* ****** ***** ****** **** ********** **** ********.

**, *** *** ******* ** **** *** *********** ** *** there ********** ** ****, ** ** ******* **** ** * question ** *** *********** ******** **** ** **** ******* **** if **** *** ** **** ** *** **** *******.

*****'* ****** **** **** ****** **** * ****** **** "*********" (and * *** **** *********** ** **** *** ****) ***** to "*******" ****** ** *** ************** ******, **** **** ** considered. ****-**-**** ******** *** ** ***** ** ******.

*** ************* ***** *** ********* ******* ***** **** ******; ******** yourself ** **** * ***** ** **** *** ******... ********, some ***********, *** **** * ****** *************** (******** **-*****), ** a **** **** ** ** ********** **** *** ********, *** something *** ****** *******.

******* ********** ** ***; *** ******** **** *** *** ****** agree **** ***, ** **** ******* ***, *** *** **** confidence **** *** ****** **** ** ******, **** ****'** ** their *** *** ***** **** *** ********** **-**** **********.

******* **'* *** **** *** **** ** **** *** *** properly ******** ** *** ************, ** **** **** *** ** there ***** **** ********** ******* ****, *** **** * ****** down *** **** *** *** *** ******** ****...

** **** **** "****" **** **** ***** *****,************** **** ****, *** ** *** ***** ******* **** **** factual *********** **** ******* **** ****.

***'** **** *** ******** ** * **** **** *** ********** relationship **** **** ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

08/15/16 05:41pm

*'* **** **** ****** *** ******. **** ***'* ****** ** answer ** *** ********.

** * ************, *** * *** **** **** ** ************* * ******** ************, ***** ******** *********.

* **** *** * **** ** ***' ** *****'* **** because * *** * *** ******* * ****** ** **** distance ******* ************* ***** ** * ******** ********** ** ********.

He **** ** ****** **** ****** ******** ********* ** *** ******* ***.

justin kozak

08/16/16 03:00pm

********* **** **** *********, *** ***** **** ** **** ******* with **** ****. *** *** ** **, *** **'* ******** not * **** ****.

Thumbnail mecontrolxxlusertile

Brandon Knutson

In reply to justin kozak | 08/16/16 03:45pm

**'* **** ***** ***** ** * ***** ****, ** ***** until ** *****'*

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Brandon Knutson | 08/16/16 04:49pm

**'**, ** **** **** ******* *** *******?

Undisclosed Integrator #6

08/17/16 09:32am

**** ** *** **** ** **** ***** ** ** ***** one ******* ******** **** ***** ***** ** (****** *** ***) geared ** ****** *** *** ****** **********.

*** ***** ** ** ****** (*** ****** **** ) *** this **** *****. *** ************ ** ********* ** ** **** the *** ***** ********** ** *********** ** *** *** *****: These *** *** ***** *** ***'* ****** "**** ****" **** switches.

** *** **** ** *** ****** **** **** ** ** way ********** >*** ***** *******. *** ********** ** * **** one: **** ***** ** **** **** *** *** ***** **********. If ******* ** ***** *** ************* ****** ** *** *** article *** ** *********** ** ****** ** ********** ** ****.

Thumbnail craig.portrait

Craig Mc Cluskey

08/17/16 06:35pm
***** *** *** ***** *** ****, *** ********* **** ** links ** *** *******. **** ***** *** * **** ********* for ****** ** *** ******.

Geoff Collins

11/08/16 05:56am

**** *********** *****/**********.

** *** ******* ***** *** ********* *** ********* ** *** only *** ** **, ** *** ** ** ******* * recently ********** ** * **** ********** ***** ******* ** *********, 4 ** *** ******* **** ***** ***** **** ** ****+ that **** *** ******* ** ***. ***** ******* *** ********* been ******* *** * ****** ** ****** **** * ** one **** *******.

Thumbnail img 1014

David Johnson

11/08/16 02:46pm

*'** **** **** ** **** ***** * **** ************ **** marginally ******** **** (***+) ****** **** *** * ****** ** months *** **** ******* **********. *'* ** ********** ** ****** out **** ******* ****** *** ******* ** ***** ** *** physical ************ ******** ****. *** ***/*** ***** ****** **** **** a ***** **** ****** *** ********* *** ******* ******* ** work ** *** *****. *** ** ******* * ***** ****** to ******* ********.

Robert Shih

SavvyTech Security | In reply to David Johnson | 11/08/16 03:19pm

******* **** ** ******** ********** *** **** **** ***** ******* have **** **********, * ***** **** ** ******* ** ****** to **** **** **** ****** ******* **** ******* *** *** distances *** ****** ** ***** ****.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

02/02/17 07:17pm

**** ** ***** ****** **** *** *** *** *** **** an ********* ******* ***** **** *** *** ********, *** ******** developed *****. **'** *** * ****** ***** ** ******* **** occasionally ******** *** *** ** **** ****** *** ****'* **** up ***** * ****** ****** **** ******** ** *** ******. We **** ******** * ****** *** * ****** ** *** instance.

** ******* *** * **** *** *** **** **** **** were ***** *** ** *** **** *** ***** *** ****** 360ft *** *** ***** ****** *****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #8

02/03/17 08:59am

****** *** *** ****.
***. ******* ******* ******* ******** ** **** ****?
****** ***** **** ****** *** **** ***** ***** **** *****??
**** ******** ****** ** **** ***** *** ******** ******* ** theory.

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