Cat 5 wiring

[needhelp88]

I have to run about 30 feet of cat 5 cable outside of the house in order to hook up my computer to the network. I've been told by some that I need to use a conduit to protect the cable from the sun and rain. I've also heard that it is not necessary. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[ScottMac]

There is no UTP network cabling certified for outdoor use. The manufacturers create the cable based on the spec. If you *absolutely* gotta do it, personally, I'd recommend putting in pipe.

I'm pretty sure you'll get a variety of responses, ranging from "Go ahead, hang it naked" to "don't put it outside, with or without pipe." Keep in mind though, it's not their house, cable, or computer(s) at risk. Do you get many thunderstorms in your area?

FWIW /.02

Scott

 

[Rickten]

At my house we have the cable modem downstairs by my dad's computer. I wanted internet in my room. I ran cat5 directly through the wall to the outside. The cable then goes up the side of the house from this point (a little over two floors in length because it had to reach to the vent in the attic). Goes into the attic and then down the side of the wall to my room on the second floor.

The cable is totally exposed flapping in the wind. My mom even gets kinda pissed sometimes to because on windy days it slams against the house and if you are in the computer room it gets kinda annoying. I live in Southern California. The cable gets rained on November to February and baked in the sun a lot. It has no coverage. I bought the cable, 200ft spool, had to put on the connectors myself. So basically the cable is your average everyday cat5. I have NEVER had a problem. It has been hooked up for going on three years now in July. I get downloads at about 150k/sec. Better than my dad gets downstairs but I think that is just because my computer is better, can handle internet explorer better than a PII 266.

So based on my experience I would say don't worry.

Only thing I would think of is that if you have to string it on possibly a roof. Birds might for some reason pick at it. I know we have a lot of crows where I live and I was worried about that but since mine is hanging on the side of the house it doesn't matter.

Hope this helps.

 

[igiveup]

I know it will work at least some of the time, but network cable is not meant to be outside. It simply isn't made of the kind of material that will withstand the elements (not to mention its way too thin for that). You don't have an attic or basement at your house?

I would be interested in knowing what Rickten's cable looks like at the top of whatever run he has outside his house. My guess is that its showing some nice signs of wear from all that moving around.

If you absolutely have to do it my recommendation would be to use conduit (thats what its made for). If you can't use that I would use STP cable (Shielded Twisted Pair). This should protect your wire a little more than your average UTP, but its still not going to be that great.

 

[cavingjan]

How would you have to run it outside? Vertical up a wall or horizontal to another building? Solid core calbe flapping in the wind is probably killing the insides of that cable but it will last some time. Just be ready to replace it (at the most inconvenient time of course.)
If its a horizontal run, just seal up some garden hose and run it in that before you bury it into the ground. If you run it up the wall naked, at least lash it down in some manner (with padding to prevent crimps, bends, and cracks.

 

[CTR]

Scott is bringing up a good point, one which I always mention when this topic comes up: Anytime you run a cable outside your house your are placing it at risk for picking up a transient either through direct lightning strike or induced current. Granted, a suspended run is at the highest risk, and a buried run is relatively safe, but anything outside your house is more susceptible than something inside your house.

 

[Mday]

hey, needhelp, you don't happen to live in brooklyn do you?

 

[IBhacknU]

You got any good stuff on that network of yours? Mind if I 'tap' into it?