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What type of cable to run outside? CAT5?

C

Cybordolphin

Platinum Member
I need to make a long run between router and computer. Part of the distance is outside possibly rooftop.

What cable should I use? I would consider wireless..... but I am not going to be there all the time... and I am concerned about reliability of a wireless connection.

The length of cable needed is approx. 150-200 ft. Will there be a problem running that distance with say CAT5? Will I need a repeater of any kind?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
 
scott would know more, but I belive the max on Cat5 is 100M (300ft) maybe its more I forget. anyways your gonna surge suppression on eather end, if you do a search for cat5 outside, narzy, or avaya in the network forum there is a great thread on cat5 outside 🙂.

have fun.
 
Would fiber be an option? Lightning would scare me on the roof top (well a little bit anywhere but...). I also understand grounding is an issue when running between 2 buildings. I do know in the wireless isp market alot of guys are running cat5 outdoors though. Motorola's canopy product line does power over ethernet and have a surge supressor inline that you ground. But hey've I've never don'e an outdoors run so....
 
Any kind of extended copper outdoors is a bad idea; even with "entrance protection" (surge protectors)

Check out a search and let us know if you have any specific questions.

Thanks

Scott
 
This is on a house. Same building. I need to put in a faceplate at the router, then go through a wall, up along the roof, and back down in through another wall. Then faceplate it inside.

It should not be too much trouble.... but wondering if the CAT5 will hold up under weather. I could use PVC conduit perhaps along the roof to cut down on UV damage to the wiring.

I am not familiar with fiberoptic cable..... but I am not afraid to try it either. Would the fiber optic just terminate inside of the faceplate? Would I need to use a special faceplate (I am sure it would likely require a different faceplate), and is there a big cost jump going with fiber?

I am not too concerned with lightning strikes in this particular area.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Also..... what kind of surface mount faceplates do you recommend. I will be simply drilling through the walls and either using grommets (if I can find some), or filling with silicone sealant. But on the inside.. I am just going to have an approx. 1/2" hole to cover with a box or faceplate, and wire to a jack for plug in.

What type of faceplate for surface mounting would work well? I want it to look as nice as possible.

Thanks again.
 
I know that cat 5 will work outdoors but it will degrade over time due to the weather. Also, the cold weather can not help out your situation either. Go into the distributed computing forum and check out the expanding network neighborhood post. He ran a special cat 5 outside to his neighbors house and he might even have some left over he'd sell. Try to run the cable inside and don't say it can't be done because it can with a little work.
 
Never say never....... or can't...lol. You are right.... I could climb up into the attic and attempt to defeat fireblocks, etc.... but no thanks. I am just going to punch through the walls, and run outside the house... then punch back in. I think I can do it nicely. Just not sure about the cable. Perhaps the high temp cable? I will contact the poster you mentioned as well.

Thanks!
 
If you really want to go outside search google for outdoot cat5 first link I came across has uv resistant cable I think the easiest/most economical might be wireless or home pna gear. A properly setup wireless rig shouldn't be problem prone. Although I would say get decent quality like orinoco if you want it to be trouble free. You could also price fiber to cat 5 media converters but I'm not personally familiar with it. As scott said though search for prior threads on the topic, there have been some great ones.
 
IMO, unless you want to see lightning effects first-hand, I'd run that outside run in well grounded metal conduit! Personally, I'd reconsider the wireless option. 🙂
 
I am going to attempt to get it up to the attic, and perhaps run it along the inside. Will no doubt have fun with the fireblocks and insulation in the walls. Would sure like to hear how those are dealt with.

I also found an aluminum cased CAT5 cable (Lightning proof). Has a bend radius of like 12"! Not good. I could use lightning safe connectors at either end of the run I spose as well. Not sure that would ward off the fire hazard though.

Thanks for all the input. I take the lightening threat serious. Although I have yet to ever see lightning in our area. I am surprised that conduit is not code period..... considering the rafters and roof material are not much protection for the apparent risk.

One last thing...... is there a good chance that Home Depot will have the backless boxes for the faceplates? I will likely be using the Keystone type connections, as apposed to crimp type.

The only reason I am hesitant to go wireless... Is I have yet to get a network up and trouble free using wireless. Please by all means share your success stories with me.

 
am going to attempt to get it up to the attic, and perhaps run it along the inside. Will no doubt have fun with the fireblocks and insulation in the walls. Would sure like to hear how those are dealt with.
Click to expand...

a drill and fish tape... its not rocket science, it just takes some patience.
 
"a drill and fish tape... its not rocket science, it just takes some patience."?????

Fireblocks are far beneath the top plate of a wall. You would have to drill through the top plate (likely need an angle drill), and then work past the insulation down to at least one row of fireblocks.... maybe two!

It would take a very expensive 7 foot flex extension on a drill bit, and then I can imagine the fun trying to locate the CAT5 cable down into abyss, and through the fireblocks, etc..

Has anyone actually done this and if so..... how did you get from the top plate of a wall insulated with R11 insulation, down through a row or two of fireblocks?

Thanks much for the input.

 
Chances are you don't have to drill through the blocks. Look around the attic for the vent stack. With rare exception, there's some slop around the hole big enough to feed a cable.

If the stack is not in the right spot, then measure & mark the location of an INSIDE wall (little or no insulation / empty space) and drill through the top plate into the wall space.

Get one of the long, flexable drill bits (HD/ Meynard's/ etc has 'em)to drill through the next layer. Fish tape or rod with a chain (magnetic) down the hole, recover the end, attach a string, retract the tape/rod...pulling the string with it.

Tie/tape the string to the cable, pull the cable (and another string, for the next time).

You might wanna call a cabling company to quote you on the install. That way if something gets trashed, they have to pay for it (bonded / insured is a very important thing to look for).

You might be able to fish the cable through a HVAC duct to get it near to where you can drill & drop.

Going outside is a bad thing for copper. It also looks flakey and probably reduces the value of your house, and is against pretty much every code in the book (if discovered, you'll be fined).

There is no "lightning-proof" anything in the cost range you're operating at.

Wireless works pretty good these days. You should give it a try.

Good Luck

Scott
 
Also, running it in some existing ducting would work... got some A/C Vents going to all the rooms needed? Its not ideal, but sure beats the roof idea.
 
Wireless is lookin really good right about now.

The walls are heavily insulated, and there are fireblocks to contend with. Not to mention the crawl space above the walls is extremely limited. There are no vents that will get me where I need to be.

I think I can get to the attic without going through the walls. I am going to place the router inside or near a closet in the room where the DSL modem/main computer (server) is located. I think I can go up through the top of the closet into the attic, then down the attic to the opposite end of the home. There I can travel to above the closet located in the room housing the second computer. This will mean the CAT5 will have to be run down inside the closets (hidden), then along the mopboards (not too far and may not look too bad).

Thanks for the advice and input. You have been very helpful. Will keep ya posted.... not that you guys care....lol. But hey... 😀

 
Originally posted by: Abzstrak
am going to attempt to get it up to the attic, and perhaps run it along the inside. Will no doubt have fun with the fireblocks and insulation in the walls. Would sure like to hear how those are dealt with.
Click to expand...

a drill and fish tape... its not rocket science, it just takes some patience.
Click to expand...

this is the best answer so far
 
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