What is the maximum length at which Cat5e cables can deliver 1 Gbps?

The maximum length at which Cat5e cables can effectively deliver data at a speed of 1 Gbps is 100 meters. This specification is based on the standards set for Ethernet cabling, which dictate that distances longer than this may lead to a degradation in performance due to increased attenuation and interference, which can negatively impact data integrity and transmission speeds.

The 100-meter limit includes both the horizontal run (the cable run from the patch panel to the wall outlet) and any additional cable length that may be present in a connected device or patch panel, ensuring that the total does not exceed this maximum distance. Keeping within this limit allows for reliable high-speed data transfer, supporting the needs of modern digital audio networks like DANTE, which often rely on stable and high-bandwidth connections to function adequately.