Is the length of the digital cables important?

We all have lots of cables at home. All kinds of cables for different use. Cables for audio, video, to connect to other devices, to transmit data, to connect to the internet… The list is endless. Generally, cables are usually short in length and in the same room. Although, there are also longer cables. That is when the doubt arises. Does its length affect its performance?

Index of contents

Is the length of the digital cables important?

First of all it is important to know that there are analog cables and digital cables. Depending on the type of cable, there will be differences. For example, in the case of analogue, older cables so to speak, differences in their quality can be noticed if they are used over long distances. The greater the distance, the greater the problems. Therefore, the quality is reduced when it is further away. Therefore, it was always recommended to use short analog cables, to avoid connection and quality problems. The cables were also required to be as thick as possible to ensure higher quality.

In the case of analog cables there is a clear relationship between length and quality. Is the same true for digital cables? We explain below.

Digital cables

Fortunately, in the case of digital cables, the problem of distance has been rectified. In theory, there is no such problem. The main difference lies in the signal. How? In this case, the digital signals are distributed in packets. In contrast, analog signals are transmitted by waves. This means that the digital signal reaches its destination with the same quality. If the signal comes, it has come, and that means it is good. And the type of cable that makes the signal arrive does not affect at all. Therefore, you do not care if you have a cable of 3 euros or one of 50. Because it will not influence the quality of the signal.

Of course, in some cases the distance can affect. On some specific types of cables, there may be problems with distance. For example, in the case of an HDMI cable. The maximum length allowed in this type of cables is 15 meters. Why 15 meters? Because from this distance quality problems with the image begin to appear. Or there may be image cuts.

They are not the only cables with a limitation. Also DisplayPorts have a limit. In their case they can reach a maximum of 5 meters. There are also VGA cables. From 10 meters they begin to lose quality. Even USBs have a maximum recommended length. This length differs in type from the USB cable. For USB 2.0. there is a maximum of 5 meters. In the case of USB 3.0., it is reduced to 3 meters. Even shorter is in the case of USB 3.1. What is the distance in this case? It is only 1 meter.

Therefore, we can see that in the case of digital cables many of the problems present in analog cables have been overcome, although in some specific types there are still certain problems. There are still limits on some of them, so at certain distances the length still affects. Although these are “isolated” cases and it is not the general norm for this type of cables.

Is there any solution?

There is a way to solve this problem, so that the distance can be extended without loss of quality. Thanks to this shape we can achieve that the cables achieve a greater distance. What is this shape? It's about using converters. Currently there are USB to Ethernet converters or HDMI to Ethernet converters. Thanks to them you can reach distances of 40 or 50 meters. All this without losing quality. So it can be a good option if you need it.

Therefore, we can conclude that the length continues to affect some cables. The good part is that it plays an increasingly less determining role, especially compared to analog cables. Presumably, the importance of length and distance will decrease with time. What do you think? Do distance and length play a determining role?