Ethernet Cable Price Stable
Summary
500 feet of Cat5E cable costs the same today as it did 5 years ago.
This despite the massive increase in the cost of copper. This is good
news for those seeking to wire their homes or businesses for
high-speed data in a secure manner.
Specifics
In May of 2003, 500 feet of solid PVC Cat5E wiring from Cables To Go
cost $54.84. In April of 2008, nearly 5 years later, the same cable
cost $57.24. This is a slight increase (about 4%), but in 2003
dollars this is equal or lower in cost.
This is particularly noteworthy since the cost of the copper at the
heart of Cat5E cable has risen dramatically recently. Copper is now
sow valuable that thieves are stealing it out of the ground in major
cities to resell it for scrap. Either the margins for cable have
dropped or the cost of copper is only a small portion of the cost of
the cable so the price hasn't been affected.
Either way, this is good news. Wired networks (instead of wireless
ones) are fast, stable, and secure. With a wired network it takes
physical access to your network (or breaching a firewall, which is
tough) to get into your network. It is good news for all who value
the safety and speed of their networks that bulk high-speed cable
remains inexpensive.
Further Reading
For more on wiring up a high-speed home network for video and data,
read my writeup on Personal Media Networks.
For information on measuring the performance of your network, read Measure Your Network's
Performance.
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