Outdoor CAT5

[Baldrick2]

Hiya Folks

Can anyone suggest a good way of doing this!!

I have to run the CAT5 network cable outside into the elements (and there's alot of elements, 'specially wet ones, in Liverpool)

The network worked a treat for the first few months but now has slowed to a crawl and I can only presume it is the cable (I knew that you weren't really supposed to get CAT 5 wet). Has anyone found a solution to this problem or do I just remodel!! (which I can't 'cos I 'live-in' work!)

Thanks for any suggestions in advance

Jase

Don't listen to me 'cos I'm stupid!!

[jdharm]

As an electrician, this is what I would do:

You didn't mention anything about burying it, so the best way to go would be to run it up in the air, as opposed to laying it on the ground where it can sit in pools, get walked on, chewed by critters, etc.

To do this you would anchor some eye bolts &lt;here (http://home.sprynet.com/~monel/eye.jpg>here</a>&gt;)&gt; (about $.50 USD/meter) between the eyes using cable clamps &lt;<a target="_blank" href=http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/pii/1/2/5/0/A50521_3.JPG>here</a>&gt; (about $4 USD each) to secure the line. This line will support the Cat5.

There is a type of conduit called "ENT conduit" or "smurf pipe". It is a flexible, blue, ribbed plastic, fairly light, and waterproof. It looks a lot like a vacuum cleaner hose, but a smaller diameter. (For some reason I couldn't find a good pic or prices, but every electrical supply store and the larger hardware/home repair stores should have it.) You would run your Cat5 through this conduit and then secure the conduit to the steel wire you hung with some tie wire or cable ties. Enlarge the entrance hole so that you can stick a half meter of the ENT in the building on each and and seal the hole with some sort of silicone sealant. This is a cheap-and-easy, but sound way to do it. It will keep your cable out of the water, out of harms way, and out of the sun, which will cause as much damage to the cable as the water. Although, I take it the sun isn't as much a factor where you live?

Personally I'd think seriously about saving myself a lot of work and using a wireless solution.


Josh

[i]Sorry folks, I'm an idiot. Moose out front shoulda told ya. [i]

[Andy2k]

Above ground suggestion as above is probably the best way to go, but make sure you keep the run as short as possible - you're creating a pretty big antenna otherwise. ANother thing is to make sure that there is a 'U' at the end of each cable, before it goes into the house etc - this allows any water drips (plenty up in liverpool) to safely drop to ground, instead of running down the cable to more expensive hardware.

a wireless system would certainly solve a lot of problems, but again, distance and RFI (interference) could be a problem.

[Baldrick2]

Hi Josh and Andy

Thank you for the replies..'specially for the pics Josh /images/forums/icons/laugh.gif

I didn't know sunlight caused as much damage, so I learnt another thing!!...

The run is as short as possible, I blagged the roll of CAT5 of some fellas staying here (I work in a hotel) so I have lots left..and will invest in some conduit. These guys told me (and this is what they do) that there was no way to run CAT5 outside, but maybe they just do what the boss says..

I knew about the antenna effect, actual noise (audible, not electronic) does cause a prob...the hotel is on a fairly busy mainroad...buses and lorries etc..This can be seen when I 'dial' into the cable modem config..and look at the db levels.

Thanks again for the replies...as to wireless....whats it called...warchalking or something, don't think the owners would be too impressed by losing all that telephone revenue..../images/forums/icons/wink.gif...plus it would slow down my downloads !!

Jase

Don't listen to me 'cos I'm stupid!!

[jdharm]

Of course you will never be able to totally secure against all hackers, but with some basic security you can lock out the casual sniffers looking for soft targets.

You set up what is called a bridge. You use two wireless access points in bridge mode. You identify each of the waps to one another by MAC address. Then they will only talk to each other. Then you use WEP encryption to secure the data between them.

A setup like this can still be gotten into if someone was determined to do so, but the same can be said of your wired network if it has an internet connection. This setup will keep the honest thieves honest though.


And the sun...yeah, UV does bad things to plastics not specificly engineered to be resistant.


Josh

[i]Sorry folks, I'm an idiot. Moose out front shoulda told ya. [i]