Meraki MX Switch Limitation on Cable Length Beyond 100 Meters – Alternatives Without Fiber or Repeat

[PraveenJ]

Hello Meraki Community,

We are experiencing an issue with Meraki MX switches where connections to end devices fail when the cable length exceeds 100 meters.
I understand that Ethernet standards typically recommend a maximum of 100 meters, but in our environment, extending beyond this distance is necessary. Unfortunately, we cannot implement fiber, repeaters, or additional hardware solutions at this time.

Could you please clarify:

Is this limitation inherent to Meraki MX switches?
Are there any configuration-based solutions or Meraki-specific features that can help in such scenarios?
Can you share any official documentation or guidelines regarding maximum supported cable lengths for MX switches?

Thank you for your assistance!

[alemabrahao]

No, this is not a limitation of the switches, it's a limitation of the Ethernet cable itself.

Standards for cable distance recommend that Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a cables have a maximum cable segment run length of 100 meters or 328 feet. The cable distance specifications are part of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) standards. When recommended cable distances are exceeded, then signal loss may occur. If segment runs must exceed twisted-pair cabling specifications, a repeater or switch could be added. Solid cable, such as Cat5e solid core cable, is normally used for covering longer network cable distances. To construct these cables, four pairs of twisted wires are used which are either shielded or unshielded, depending on the level of protection needed. The most common cable type is unshielded, which is commonly referred to as UTP.

[PhilipDAth]

This is an inherent limitation in the Ethernet standard, which affects all network manufacturers.

There are several contributing factors, but one of them is something called "bit time".  Once you cross over 100m you exceed the maximum time allowed to transmit a bit of data.

You can resolve this using something that travels faster than an electron through copper - a photon of light travelling in a glass-like fibre.

It sounds like your core issue is insufficient budget to resolve this issue.  You have correctly identified several solutions - using fibre or adding another switch to give you another 100m.

Is a WiFi bridge link an option?

No matter what, the solution will involve spending money.

[alemabrahao]

I believe that fiber optic cabling is cheaper than investing in new equipment to make the interconnection. 🙂

[Mloraditch]

Depends on the quantity of SFP ports needed. If it's 2 or 3 drops sure maybe, also depends on how far things need to be.

[alemabrahao]

Yes, but initially he doesn't need to invest in Cisco/Meraki SFPs, which we know are extremely expensive.
You can find much more affordable options that are fully compatible with Cisco/Meraki.

[PhilipDAth]

A pair of media converters would do it.

[KarstenI]

You already got great answers how it is defined and how it is supposed to work. Beside that, I know of environments where they run cables of about 130-140 meters and it works (but these were cables of very good quality and one connector in between). And this was a "let's test and hope for the best before we spend much more money" approach that could have failed. So, based on your needed length, you could just try it. But for length beyond that, I would not try it and directly go for the installer to get new fiber links.

[txhomer]

We've used this GameChanger cable between a Meraki MS225 and a MR76 a few times and so far it's worked. I think we have 1 run that's 190m. Related links below.  It's kinda crazy it works.

https://paigedatacom.com/gamechanger

https://youtu.be/ZY48KUAZKhM?si=zYvtT2xARw4jrNYx