What is the maximum distance for a horizontal cabling run without degradation?

The correct distance for a horizontal cabling run without significant signal degradation is indeed 90 meters. This standard is set forth in the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standards, specifically TIA/EIA-568, which governs commercial building cabling. The 90-meter maximum distance is crucial because it allows for the optimal performance of the cabling system, ensuring that data transmission rates are maintained and that attenuation and other factors do not impair the signal quality.

When horizontal cabling, such as Category 5e, 6, or 6a, is installed, it is typically run from a telecommunications room or closet to the work area outlets. The 90-meter limit includes the entire length of the permanent link, from the patch panel in the telecommunications room to the outlet where the end device is connected. This design consideration ensures that the signal remains within acceptable performance parameters defined by the standards, thus supporting high-speed data transmissions typical in modern networking environments.

While other distances may be mentioned, such as 50 meters or more than 90 meters, they either fall short of the performance standard or exceed the optimal limits that can lead to degradation in the signal.