400 ft CAT 6 outdoor wire runs - repeater or router needed?

[tangoddess]

Hello,

I am running CAT 6 wire in my property, in a conduit, to different locations within the property.

One of the runs is about 400 or 500 ft and the other run is about 300 ft.

I will be connecting IP Cams at the end of these runs, at the fences of my property.

I am not that smart on IP technology, or not that smart generally but I believe I should put some sort of repeater or a router along the way, like at the mid points?

Does anyone know what hardware I need and have any recommendations on model/unit.

I also have electricity 110V/120v in the conduit, would that be of any help in powering up the cameras?

Thank you
Tan

 

[razel]

Those are long runs. Yes a simple switch midway or 3/4 of maximum allowed distance will 'refuel' those packets so that can do farther. However do keep them as far as you can running in parallel to AC wires like the 110v/120v. Ethernet cables can be shielded and you may want those, but the switches you buy have to be shielded as well. You can use a simple multimeter to see continuity at the metal jack end of the shielded Ethernet cable.

 

[tangoddess]

I do not think they are shielded wires, I'll have to check.

Do you know of a good, reasonably priced switch, I will need a few of them, nothing fancy

Is it just called PoE switch?

Thank you

 

[Malogeek]

You're not supposed to run cat6 in the same conduit as electrical wiring. EMI aside, it could also be against building codes.

 

[razel]

I believe the 5 port gigabit switches from Netgear/TP-Link in the plastic cases can be as low as $10. You don't need Gigabit, so the Fast Ethernet (100mb) switches are as low as $5. http://www.microcenter.com/search/s...=5+port+switch&NTK=all&page=1&sortby=pricelow
Luckily those prices are so low, I'd spend the extra few dollars for a Gigabit switch from DLink/TP-Link/Netgear since you probably won't want to be replacing them often.

PoE is Power over Ethernet meaning you want to use one Ethernet wire for DC power and data. Unless those cameras support it, it's probably not what you want.

 

[Genx87]

It should also be noted if your require POE those TP link or netgear switches wont pass power. POE will end at the switch. Is there an option to run fiber? At that distance it is going to be tough using Cat6.

 

[tangoddess]

If I run fiber, then how do I connect it to my NVR? as that has the regular ethernet slots?

 

[tangoddess]

would some hardware like this work

https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unmanaged-Gigabit-GREENnet-TEG-S50g/dp/B001QUA6R0

 

[Red Squirrel]

You might be fine to just do a straight 400 foot run, but you are pushing the limitations of ethernet as I think the limit is 300. Does not mean it's going to just not work though. It may be unstable, or it may also work fine. But if you're running electrical along the same trench, then it perhaps would not hurt to have a small equipment cabinet mid point where both conduits come up and back down and it could have a switch in it.

I would also ensure that both buildings are grounded at the same potential as it could cause issue with ethernet, so ensure you run a proper ground with that and connect it to the ground system of that building.

 

[XavierMace]

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com...spons&keywords=ethernet+media+converter&psc=1

 

[Genx87]

If I run fiber, then how do I connect it to my NVR? as that has the regular ethernet slots?

Can use something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Fiber-Ethernet-Converter-MCM110SC2/dp/B002Q0WMWQ

Unfortunately this doesn't solve your POE issue.

 

[Ajay]

You are going to need a POE system. POE switch at home base, inline POE repeaters and POE cameras. I don't know if there are reasonably priced inline POE repeaters that will fit in std. conduit - but you can use a junction box for extra room.

 

[Genx87]

If he is running electric out there he can buy a camera that uses a standard 120 outlet.

 

[Ajay]

Oh, the OP has existing 120v? If so, I misunderstood.

If he is running electric out there he can buy a camera that uses a standard 120 outlet.

 

[XavierMace]

Oh, the OP has existing 120v? If so, I misunderstood.

OP said he's got 120v in the conduit.

 

[Red Squirrel]

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com...spons&keywords=ethernet+media+converter&psc=1

I was thinking fibre as well, but that might be out of OP's budget. Need to either find preterminated fibre that is the right lenght, or have someone come splice some. $$$ It would solve the potential grounding issue though and also offer electrical isolation should lightening hit the ground nearby.

 

[sonoma1993]

If the op has good line of site. He could get few Ubiquiti litebeam ac antennas and litebeam ac 120 antennas.

 

[HutchinsonJC]

You can run Cat 5 / Cat 5e out to 400 feet fairly reliably. Did it all the time out in the desert of Iraq, but out there, there wasn't a whole lot for other electrical interference from other cables or electronics or cable stuff already buried in the sand, or even electronics in the area in general. I've heard stories of 450 to 500 foot runs working well, but the spec is supposed to be 100m or about 328 feet.

I have no experience with something like running parallel to an A/C power line, however, and I definitely have never tried running data cable in conduit with power, so I can't speak to that.

 

[Ken g6]

Here's a crazy idea: If you can't shield your Ethernet against the powerline, what about an ethernet powerline adapter? This suggests they might have the range - though it's not guaranteed.

 

[sdifox]

Ethernet repeater. Power injector at end of run.