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I want to run an Ethernet cable 100ft outside

99.36.192.238
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 08:11:51
ejlif
Audiophile

Posts: 390
Joined: January 6, 2002
 From my airport extreme to my shop which is in a separate building but I have a phone line that i thought I could just zip tie an outdoor rated Ethernet cable to it and run to an airport express that I plug into my DAC in the shop stereo. This should work ok right? I have 3 other apple tvs that I run wireless to but the signal won't make it to the shop.

 

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Possibly a bad idea, posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:37:25
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
 See the attached article for what you may be getting into. There are potential performance, reliability, safety and electrical code (insurance) issues.

If I were doing it, I would run a fiber optic Ethernet link between buildings. There are multiport switches that come with a fiber port that you could use as well as media adapters that will convert an existing copper twisted pair Ethernet port to fiber optic. This might cost a few hundred dollars extra, by you might save a lot by avoiding a serious problem. The fiber optic cable provides complete electrical isolation, so there will be no fire, electrocution, lightening issues, etc. with this cabling.

The cheapest safe way is to use a wireless link if the performance is adequate.

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

Try it and find out....., posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:43:53
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46301
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 I used outdoor rated CAT5 ethernet cable but in my case I had only about 10-feet exposed on the side of the house. The cable is also UV resistant. I bought a large roll at Home Depot. I also have a bag of RJ45 connectors and a crimp tool.

Not being familiar with your cable run, I can't say what will work best for you. All you can do is try it. The cable distance is certainly within range but the idea of using zip ties to piggy back onto the phone line is iffy. Be sure the phone line is sufficiently supported to take the extra weight of the CAT5 cable. I'm not sure if the phone company will frown on this or if it's your phone cable. Try it and see if there's any interference between the cables.

You may also be concerned with lightning (and not necessarily a direct hit). You might want to look into suppression devices for Ethernet.





 

Outside, think Lighting strike, posted on July 13, 2012 at 13:45:12
Dynobot
 I would have it enclosed in a thin PVC pipe and probably still make sure it was grounded somewhere.

Easy enough to bury some PVC.

 

RE: Outside, think Lighting strike, posted on July 13, 2012 at 14:06:05
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46301
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 You can buy 'direct burial" CAT 5 cable and not use a PVC conduit. But neither will do much to help mitigate lightning and voltage surge issues. Metal conduit and suppressors at each end will work better.

I like Tony's idea best. Using (relatively) inexpensive media converters at each end of an optical link.

....Or, a Wifi repeater and directional antenna.







 

Yep, Media Converter should do the trick, posted on July 13, 2012 at 14:16:17
Dynobot
 Much safer....

 

RE: I want to run an Ethernet cable 100ft outside , posted on July 13, 2012 at 14:39:07
rick_m
Audiophile

Posts: 6230
Location: Oregon
Joined: August 11, 2005
 I'd do it.

The data transformers are good for over a KV so there should be no problem with typical voltage offsets. I used to work for a place that was spread out over several buildings hundreds of feet apart, on different power feeds and all that and we just had overhead Ethernet cables running between them like we did telephone, paging and power.

Rick

 

RE: I want to run an Ethernet cable 100ft outside WOW!!!, posted on July 13, 2012 at 18:18:10
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
 Will work perfectly. Ethernet runs are rated to 100 meters and can usually run much more. Just use a properly grounded Ethernet surge suppressor. It is really overkill in your application to run fiber. How many times has your phone line been hit by lighting? smh...

regards
Bob

 

I talked to the phone company installer, posted on July 14, 2012 at 09:59:57
ejlif
Audiophile

Posts: 390
Joined: January 6, 2002
 He was out here doing some re arranging of phone lines ad mentioned this he said yeah just piggy back it right to the outdoor phone line running from my house to my shop. Only about 20 ft at the most is in the air and its supported at each end by heavy duty strain relief. I'm gonna go for it jus buy a 100ft roll at HOme depot and hook it up and see what happens.

 

Powerline ethernet connection......, posted on July 15, 2012 at 19:38:14
Carl G
Audiophile

Posts: 710
Joined: July 4, 2000
 You might give this a try. One fellow had a 300' run to his shop but got it going..
Some review comments indicate the shop must be on the same phase on both sending and receiving units....

 

Weatherproofing?, posted on July 16, 2012 at 12:23:15
DrChaos
Audiophile

Posts: 2063
Location: San Diego
Joined: July 13, 2009
 Most standard Ethernet cable isn't meant to be used outdoors. What will happen with from the UV and weather?

You'll have to manage a big re-install of something nonstandard on a pole.

Do it right the first time.

 

Bury it or use high-gain (directional) WiFi antennas., posted on July 17, 2012 at 02:42:23
bassbinotoko
Audiophile

Posts: 469
Location: Vancouver Island
Joined: January 27, 2009
 Bury it in the ground inside old water hose, or just lay something on top for protection and as a warning when digging.

Alternatively, directional WiFi antennas (google Pringles Can wifi) should greatly increase signal strength and quality. And involve less digging.

 

RE: I want to run an Ethernet cable 100ft outside , posted on July 17, 2012 at 09:49:56
rw86347@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Location: Colorado
Joined: July 17, 2012
 Years ago I did this. The cable will wear out due to the wind and ice. But other than that it works fine.

 

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