Is my Cat5 Too Long?

[Shadal]

Hi, having a problem...

I'm trying to run a cat5 between two buildings, the line is possibly just past the maximum length of 328ft, maybe closer to 350ft.

I have toned each line and each tested OK, the green wires had a slightly weaker signal, but otherwise no wires crossed, etc.

Here's the **questionable part**
the first 50ish feet of cable is Cat5e then the next 200+ft is the old unshealded Cat5 running through an underground conduit to the next building, then the last 5ft is again Cat5e before going into a switch. All connections between the different Cat5s have been sodered, so they're good.

So after plugging the cabe in, I cannot get the light on either the router or the switch to light up. Even if the cable is too long for a good signal, shouldn't I at least get a connection light somewhere??

Thanks
-Ben

[Train]

Slap a switch in the middle of the line if possible, that will take care of signal short fall.

[Shadal]

I just put a hub as close to the beginning of the conduit as i can (about 100ft back) still nothing...

[Sterling_Aug]

You may want to try a CAT6 cable instead. I found CAT5 cables will have connection problems around 75 feet or longer (the 328 geet limit is optimal, not actually practical).

Using a hub is the WRONG thing to use. Change it to a switch as already suggested. A switch adds an amplifier to the signal, a hub splits the signal and lowers the power.