I've got a cheap ethernet shield knockoff (wiznet W5100). I was wondering if anyone tested how far away from router this works? I tried first with ~10m cable and it didn't work, then with ~2m and that works (both cables work fine with PC). I'm using my USB as power source so that might be the problem (no 9V at hand, and not sure about connecting this to 12V since i heard it gets really hot).
My project could come quite close to 100m cables, so if that won't work i should be looking for a solution.
Check to see if the spec sheet of your shield mentions anything about cable length.
I would have thought it would be according to the Ethernet spec which is around 100m.
Depending on speed, one can "cheat" and use an Ethernet switch as a sort of "booster" to get some extra length.
Just limit the "cheat" to one switch, i.e. don't go putting 3 in a row and expect to get 300m.
What cable are you using?
For short runs, one can get away with cheap Chinese cables, but when it comes to long runs, use something proper like Belden (or equivalent) CAT-5 cable.
JimboZA:
I wonder what it would be in a shield, if anything, that would affect the distance?
Assuming the shield is the limiting factor, then several things could cause problems:
In the main Ethernet chip the physical layer driver could be underpowered and not give out the correct levels (doubt it though).
The differential "receiver" could have a low dynamic range (surely they would have tested it thus doubt it).
The transformer (in the RJ45 connector) could have too much insertion loss, crappy coupling, too much DC resistance in the windings or just plain old impedance mismatches.
Again I doubt it as it's a "HanRun" and these are widely used so if there was a problem with the magnetics, there would be lots and lots of posts all over the net about it.
I would go with the cable being of a sub-standard quality.
