WDS vs. Extend a wireless network

The cable from the Fiber Optic box on the outside of my house to the Airport Extreme Base Station (Router) is a black Cat 5e cable.

The cable from the Router that is spliced into the telephone cable that runs to the building in my back yard is also a black Cat 5e cable.

However, the telephone cable that it is spliced into is blue.

But it also is a Cat 5e cable.

Do the black or blue colors have any significance?

Or are they the same if they are both Cat 5e cables?

Does the splicing degrade (slow down) the transfer rate in any manner?

Even if they used a separate Cat 5e cable (instead of splicing into the telephone cable), would'nt they just use 4 of the 8 wires anyway?

My Fiber Optic Internet Service with my City is 40 Mbps.

So, isn't that the maximum rate that any files, etc. will transfer at?

Also, my 5+ year old desktop only has a maximum 100 Mbps speed anyway.

Even when I replace that desktop computer with one that has a maximum 1,000 Mbps, won't I still always be limited to the maximum of my 40 Mbps Internet Service?

Do the black or blue colors have any significance?

No

Or are they the same if they are both Cat 5e cables?

They both meet the minimum specifications for 5e

Does the splicing degrade (slow down) the transfer rate in any manner?

No, unless you are talking about very long runs...330 feet or 100 meters +

Even if they used a separate Cat 5e cable (instead of splicing into the telephone cable), would'nt they just use 4 of the 8 wires anyway?

All 8 conductors are needed if you want to attain Gigabit speeds (1,000 Mbps) on the network. If only 4 conductors are used, the maximum speed on that portion of the network will be Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps).

My Fiber Optic Internet Service with my City is 40 Mbps.

So, isn't that the maximum rate that any files, etc. will transfer at?

From the Internet, yes. But, if you are transferring / copying files on your local network from device to device, backing up, etc., the numbers speak for themselves. Gigabit file transfers will be much faster than Fast Ethernet transfers.....assuming that the devices have Gigabit capability.

If you do not transfer files, backup etc over the network much, then Fast Ethernet would probably be OK.

Also, my 5+ year old desktop only has a maximum 100 Mbps speed anyway.

Fast Ethernet will be fine for this, but chances are you might want to replace the desktop a few years down the road?

Even when I replace that desktop computer with one that has a maximum 1,000 Mbps, won't I still always be limited to the maximum of my 40 Mbps Internet Service?

Internet, yes. Unless you move up to a higher speed connection.

The wiring has already been done & my network is up & running.

They didn't really "splice" the 2 cables together.

They used those small "junction boxes" that use "punch down" connectors.

I assume that is better than just "splicing" the wires together?

My network will have my 5+ year old desktop, my IPhone 4s, & an iPad (3rd Generation) that is purchased but not yet received.

If I am transferring files wirelessly, etc between the iPhone 4S and the iPad, would that utilize the 1,000 Mbps?

Or is everything limited to the slowest device?

Since the router is connected to my desktop using only 4 of the 8 wires (the telephone uses the other 4 wires), would file transfers be limited to only 100 Mbps (download and upload) to / from the iPhone 4S & the iPad?

Or, would file transfers from either the iPhone or the iPad to the desktop be at 1,000 Mbps?

As a separate note:

My internet service is 40 Mbps - but that is both download and upload. One of the benefits of a Fiber Optic system.

If I am transferring files wirelessly, etc between the iPhone 4S and the iPad, would that utilize the 1,000 Mbps?

No

Or is everything limited to the slowest device?

The connection would be determined by the capabilty of the device. "N' devices connect at "n" speeds while "g" devices connect at "g" speed.

Since the router is connected to my desktop using only 4 of the 8 wires (the telephone uses the other 4 wires), would file transfers be limited to only 100 Mbps (download and upload) to / from the iPhone 4S & the iPad

Downloads would be limited by your 40 Mbps connection. The upload speed would be the same on your connection.

If you are asking about syncing between your iPhone, iPad, etc. with your computer over wireless, the speed on these wireless devices is limited to about 60-70 Mbps tops due to the operating system design and capabilities of the antennas in these devices.

If you sync these devices using the adapter/cable, I do not know what that speed might be. It is likely about the same as wireless.