How far can you run cat5e cable?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Skeleton Man
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Skeleton Man

I'd like to hook my moms computer up to my home network, but we live in
seperate houses about 350 to 400 feet away, would the signal degrade over
this length?
Click to expand...

The longest reccomened distance is 330 feet (100 meters), 400 is pushing it,
but may just work.
Keep in mind you'll need external cat5 too (1.5 - 2x the price), as normal
cat5e is rated for indoor use only.

Personally I wouldn't run cat5 for this kind of task, I'd use wi-fi
(wireless lan) or VPN (virtual private networking, connecting private
networks via the internet).

Unless the houses are right next door to each other, how did you plan on
running the cable ? (underground ? overhead?)

Regards,
Chris
 
Schism said:
I'd like to hook my moms computer up to my home network, but we live in
seperate houses about 350 to 400 feet away, would the signal degrade over
this length?
Click to expand...

Yes, but it might still be workable. IIRC the relevant specs only offer
100 meters (a bit short of what you're after) but it might work
nonetheless. You can use a strategically placed switch to step your
signal back up. You should be able to get one for less than $20:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...price=&maxprice=&mfrcode=0&DEPA=0&Order=price

(watch for url wrap)
 
I'd like to hook my moms computer up to my home network, but we live in
seperate houses about 350 to 400 feet away, would the signal degrade over
this length?
 
I'd like to hook my moms computer up to my home network, but we live in
seperate houses about 350 to 400 feet away, would the signal degrade over
this length?
Click to expand...

It may degrade but it should still be usable. At worst you could
force her link down to 10Mbit but I doubt it'd be necessary. If
you don't have the cable yet you might consider CAT6 instead of
5e.
 
Yes, but it might still be workable. IIRC the relevant specs only offer
100 meters (a bit short of what you're after) but it might work
nonetheless. You can use a strategically placed switch to step your
signal back up. You should be able to get one for less than $20:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...price=&maxprice=&mfrcode=0&DEPA=0&Order=price

(watch for url wrap)
Click to expand...

I would be interested in hearing in what's the longest distance
someone has seen this work successful as I have been asked about
setting up a ADSL billion 5100 modem/router in the house office, with
a line to a converted brick garage (TV/Computer room now) out the back
for the kids.
And what's the max distance for wi-fi?

At the moment they have it set up with DialUp and an extra phone plug
in the garage. (only one computer can be used online at a time plus no
phone :-)
RedBack
 
Unless the houses are right next door to each other, how did you plan on
running the cable ? (underground ? overhead?)
Click to expand...

I was planning on feeding it through sealed PVC pipe underfround with other
wires I plan on running.
 
I was planning on feeding it through sealed PVC pipe underfround with other
wires I plan on running.
Click to expand...

You'd still need external cat5 for that.. but 400+ feet isn't practical..
Use wi-fi.. with the right antenna you'll get up to a coupla miles in a
straight line..

Regards,
Chris
 
I would be interested in hearing in what's the longest distance
someone has seen this work successful as I have been asked about
setting up a ADSL billion 5100 modem/router in the house office, with
a line to a converted brick garage (TV/Computer room now) out the back
for the kids.
And what's the max distance for wi-fi?
Click to expand...

For between house and garage you can get away with external cat5 burried in
pvc pipe.. (unless it's at the end of a very long driveway, or you have a
huge property)..

As for wi-fi, it depends on the antenna.. the little things that come on
them will do for within a home/office.. if you use a directional antenna
(something that's designed to send/recieve signals from one direction), you
can get up to a few miles line-of-sight.. (straight line, no trees,
buildings, etc)..

You can share several ADSL connections between numerous sites scattered
right round a city if you try.. http://www.tasgrid.net (project I was
involved in)

Regards,
Chris
 
RedBack said:
I would be interested in hearing in what's the longest distance
someone has seen this work successful as I have been asked about
setting up a ADSL billion 5100 modem/router in the house office, with
a line to a converted brick garage (TV/Computer room now) out the back
for the kids.
Click to expand...

Without some sort of switch? I've run spans pretty close to 100 meters,
with high quality cables and networking components. I cannot say that
home networking components are less robust, as I've not put them to this
exteme of a test. (I did have one crappy Netgear switch that didn't
like a span of more than 100 feet, but I think that was an exception.
Netgear support just said, "Yeah, that sounds like a problem -- *your*
problem in fact." It got boxed up and taken back to Staples.)
And what's the max distance for wi-fi?
Click to expand...

This depends quite a bit on interposing walls and their construction. I
just setup a network with the router on the second floor. There's no
problem getting a signal on a laptop 100 feet away (in the backyard,)
but the pc in the basement (about 25 feet away) has a very weak to
unworkable signal.
 
Just put a small storage shed about the size of a lawn mower shack or
an outhouse between your porperties and run some electricity to it.
Then put a Switch in between. This is just one idea. If you already
need a shed just combine the tasks and make them joint use. If you
could just build a small utility access like a man hole out of a
concrete fab or something like that it would be good enough. Even
utility pole with an external use power box on it might work. What
would be really neat is to make an antique looking british phone booth
like you would see on The Doctor Show. It is a british Sci Fi kind of
thing.

Sometimes people use a small shed like this for use as a solar power
shed. I wonder if you could get two big batteries and hook up a small
solar panel to provide the power. This may be more work than you want
to tackle.

Another idea is wireless network. Some companies make directional and
high gain antennas to increase the distance.

I have seen some advertisements with different ideas. A company
called Patton makes a device called an Ethernet Extender that extends
the range of Ethernet to 1 mile or more using DSL technology but you
would be looking at around a $800-$1,000 price tag. Never have seen
how these work.

Another idea is to get two modems and connect it that way over a
phone.

If you both had broadband you could use VPN over the Internet.
 
Just put a small storage shed about the size of a lawn mower shack or
an outhouse between your porperties and run some electricity to it.
Then put a Switch in between. This is just one idea. If you already
need a shed just combine the tasks and make them joint use. If you
could just build a small utility access like a man hole out of a
concrete fab or something like that it would be good enough. Even
utility pole with an external use power box on it might work. What
would be really neat is to make an antique looking british phone booth
like you would see on The Doctor Show. It is a british Sci Fi kind of
thing.

Sometimes people use a small shed like this for use as a solar power
shed. I wonder if you could get two big batteries and hook up a small
solar panel to provide the power. This may be more work than you want
to tackle.
Click to expand...

With suitable "adapter" (or make your own) power can be delivered
over ethernet cable.
 
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