cat 5 or cat 6 cable length

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Rule of thunb in the telecom industry is about 80 feet. this is constantly broken of course to acomodate customer needs.
Cat5, 5e and CAT6 are BASICALLY the same but the CAT6 costs more than CAT5e so we sell CAT6. I would recommend using CAT5e orCAt6 doesn't really matter. Some people will compain about throughput and speed (usually after reading a few magazines) but when tested, it takes a very fine eye to see differences if the cable is built and dropped properly.

The maximum distance between networking devices (hubs, switches, routers, repeaters, etc.) or between a network device and an end node (server, workstation, printer, etc.) using UTP (whether Cat5 or Cat6) is 100 meters (or approx. 300 feet) (NOTE: patch cords between a switch and a patch panel and between the wall data port and the computer, are included in this length). This is a standard and is the maximum distance (if installed to standard) over which rated throughput can be guarenteed.
Whether to use conduit or not is determined by local fire codes. Commercial fire codes for most US communities state that you must either use conduit or use the more expensive plenum-rated UTP when running cable through walls and open air spaces above a ceiling.

Cat5 vs. Cat6: There is a FAQ page regarding CAT 6 on the TIA website at his url: http://tinyurl.com/i26w

TIA is the standards organization that maintains all the network cabling standards. Right now, the best bang for the buck appears to be Cat5e UTP cable.

I had the same question a couple of years ago and have installed a pair of Cat5 cables running from one building through a conduit under the road and to another building ... my guestimate is 300+ feet and it works. One cable connects to a switch and connects 3 users. The other cable is for backup in case the rats or elements get to the first cable.

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