Gaming on a PS4 can be the best gaming experience if the console is connected with a LAN cable to the internet. Not just on the PS4, but on other gaming consoles as well, if you have the right local area network cable to connect with the internet, you will have a seamless and high-speed connection. There are several types of LAN cables out there that you can use with your PS4. For example, the Cat6 and 6a twisted-pair Ethernet cables are the most ideal ones with data transfer speeds reaching up to a maximum of 10 GBit/s. Using these cables with a PS4 is easy. The steps are simple and easy to troubleshoot in case of an error.
Read on to find out the steps needed to use a LAN cable to connect a PlayStation 4 to the internet.
What is a LAN Cable?
Let us start with the basics. Once you know what a LAN cable is, you will easily understand how you can use it to connect your PS4. ‘LAN’ stands for local area network, which is any network of computers and other electronic devices connected locally in the same building or room. And the cable that is used to connect LAN networks is called a LAN cable. There are several types of cables used for this purpose and these networks are established across all kinds of offices, workplaces, schools, etc. Category 6 and the Augmented Category 6 of twisted-pair ethernet cables are the best options available.
These cables feature 4 conductors that are twisted together tightly to contain EMI and other kinds of interference. Conductor pairs of cable can be terminated in RJ45 connectors and keystone jacks. But the cable that connects a PS4 and with a WIFi router or ethernet switch has RJ45 connectors on both of its ends.
RJ45 connectors are 8P8C modules that make it possible for the 8 individual wires of the LAN cable to be connected to electronic devices. Simply put, it provides the interface for the transfer of data.
LAN Cables for PS4
As we mentioned earlier, the best cables for PS4 are the Cat6 and Cat6a cables. Both of them have a maximum speed of up to 10 GBit/s over 50 meters and 100 meters, respectively.
Cat6a cables have thicker conductors that allow for faster data transfer speeds as compared to the Cat6 cables. The type of cable you will use with the PlayStation 4 will have a huge influence on the type of experience you will have. So let us take a detailed look at both of these cables.
Cat6 Cable for PS4
The Cat6 cable has 233 AWG conductors that are quite sufficient for providing a fast enough connection speed for the PS4. The bandwidth capacity of the cable is a whopping 550 MHz. If the cable is made from pure copper conductors, you can use it for PoE applications.
Pro Tip: If you still haven’t bought the ethernet LAN cable, buy it from your nearest store with 100% pure copper conductors.
Cat6a Cable for PS4
Cat6a is not too different from the Cat6 cable. Except that they are slightly better in every aspect. Also important to mention here is the fact that while these cables may have slightly different features, in theory, the differences are hardly noticeable when used with the PS4.
What we mean by that is that you can use any one of the two cables at the appropriate length, and they will perform almost identically. Once the cables are run at long lengths, that’s when the difference will become noticeable.
Cat6 cable will perform as good as the 6a at up to 50 meters. But beyond that Cat6a will maintain up to 10 GBit/s speed over 100 meters whereas the Cat6 only 1 GBit/s.
EMI: Should You Worry About it?
EMI stands for electromagnetic interference that reduces the performance speed of ethernet cables. It is caused by the flow of electric current via a wire. LAN cables are also electric cables but with LOW voltage. The EMI produced in them is particularly detrimental to signal transmission. But you should not worry about it. It is handled quite well by tightly twisting conductor wires in pairs and protecting them with a fil sheath or a wire mesh known as shielding.
How to Use a LAN Cable with PS4?
Using a LAN cable is the easiest bit. We have summarized it into 4 easy to follow steps. Just follow them and have the best gaming experience on your PS4.
Step 1
Buy a good ethernet LAN cable from any store near you. You can also buy it online here. When you buy the cable, be sure to check it is terminated on both of its ends with the RJ45 connector. If you buy the shielded cable, it will cost a little more but will perform much better.
Shielded versions of both Cat6 and 6a are available online and in stores. You can easily find ethernet cables near you.
Step 2
Once you buy the cable, examine the backside of your gaming console and the WiFi router or ethernet switch. The back side of both devices will have a large port with a keystone jack in it.
You will connect one end of the cable to the Keystone Jack on the router or ethernet switch and the other end to the PS4.
Step 3
Once the connections are inserted, it is time to run a test. Turn on your gaming console and the other device. Connect your screen to the console and at this point, you should see the screen indicating that an ethernet connection has been established.
If not, use the good ole’ method of disconnecting and connecting again. This should work now and you will see the green indicator light blinking.
Step 4
The 4th and last step is to run the test again and start using the cable. You now have a faster and more reliable internet connection on your PlayStation 4 using a LAN ethernet cable. Dominate and enjoy your games.
How to troubleshoot a LAN Cable?
If for some reason, your LAN cable is not working properly, there are certain tests that you can run to diagnose the problem.
It could be possible that the problem is in your other devices or the internet connection. To check that, use another cable and connect it. If it works fine, the problem is with the cable.
Now the most common problem that a LAN cable faces is with the RJ45 connectors. If the 8 pins of the connector break or snap, the connections do not work. So closely examine the connectors and make sure all 8 pins are intact on both connectors of the cable.
In case a pin is broken, you will need to chop off the connector and terminate it once again, with better connectors whose pins don’t break.
Final Thoughts
In short, the phenomenal PS4 requires a phenomenal LAN cable such as a Cat6 or a Cat6a to provide the ultimate gaming experience. Not only can you dominate in gaming, but you can also enjoy the experience whether you win or lose if the internet connection is solid. Get a good cable and happy gaming.
