Wiring to separate building

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John

I have a building that is about 600 ft. away from our
server. I want to connect a computer there, and am trying
to do it as cheaply as possible (number one problem :-). ).

Anyway, can I just run Cat5e cable to that building? No.
1 I have pvc running underground for most of the way, it
is only interupted by another building that is between the
two I want to connect. No. 2 I know the distance limit is
about 330 ft, but if I put a router or something inside
that building that is between the two I am trying to
connect, will that boost the signal enough? No. 3 I know
I should use Fiber Opt to connect these buildings, but
that is really more than we are able/willing to spend to
just connect one computer. Can I get by with using this
CAT5 cable if I'm running wires underground?

Thanks for your help, I hope I was clear.
 
That's 100 meters(330 ft) for the cable run. Anything over that and
things start getting iffy. Putting the Cat5e underground doesn't change
the distance. You need to get the legs down to 330ft/100m.
 
John said:
I have a building that is about 600 ft. away from our
server. I want to connect a computer there, and am trying
to do it as cheaply as possible (number one problem :-). ).

Anyway, can I just run Cat5e cable to that building? No.
1 I have pvc running underground for most of the way, it
is only interupted by another building that is between the
two I want to connect. No. 2 I know the distance limit is
about 330 ft, but if I put a router or something inside
that building that is between the two I am trying to
connect, will that boost the signal enough? No. 3 I know
I should use Fiber Opt to connect these buildings, but
that is really more than we are able/willing to spend to
just connect one computer. Can I get by with using this
CAT5 cable if I'm running wires underground?

Thanks for your help, I hope I was clear.
Click to expand...

How about running a x-BASE-2 coax cable instead of x-BASE-T. It gets you 185
meters per segment, or roughly 606.8 feet. Cutting it close, but that's
about as good as it will get without fiber optics or repeaters in the line.
 
John said:
I have a building that is about 600 ft. away from our
server. I want to connect a computer there, and am trying
to do it as cheaply as possible (number one problem :-). ).

Anyway, can I just run Cat5e cable to that building? No.
1 I have pvc running underground for most of the way, it
is only interupted by another building that is between the
two I want to connect. No. 2 I know the distance limit is
about 330 ft, but if I put a router or something inside
that building that is between the two I am trying to
connect, will that boost the signal enough? No. 3 I know
I should use Fiber Opt to connect these buildings, but
that is really more than we are able/willing to spend to
just connect one computer. Can I get by with using this
CAT5 cable if I'm running wires underground?

Thanks for your help, I hope I was clear.
Click to expand...

Here are 3 possible options

1. Run Cat 5 cable to in-between building and place switch to "boost" the
signal.

While this may be a simple and cheap method, the total distance between each
device at each hop must not exceed 330 feet including any patch cables being
used. It would be safer to keep the drops at 300 feet.

2. Use wireless devices to connect this pc to your network. Although
wireless does have it's security problems, you would need to evaluate if the
risks are acceptable for the business and it's budget.

3. Ideally you may want to consider using multimode fiber optic cables, the
expense of running this cable could be offset by having the capacity to
expand your network in that building without the need to run additional
cables.

You may want to seriously consider running fiber if the business has any
plans of adding additional workstations in that other building. Not only
will the fiber be immune to any electrical noise, but you'll have the
capacity to run at top speeds (including gigabit) with the right equipment.
I might also suggest that if you decide to run Cat5 or fiber, run an
additional line in case something goes wrong with the first. That way you'll
be able to quickly bring the other building back online if something should
fail.
 
John said:
I have a building that is about 600 ft. away from our
server. I want to connect a computer there, and am trying
to do it as cheaply as possible (number one problem :-). ).
Click to expand...
Anyway, can I just run Cat5e cable to that building? No.
1 I have pvc running underground for most of the way, it
is only interupted by another building that is between the
two I want to connect. No. 2 I know the distance limit is
about 330 ft, but if I put a router or something inside
that building that is between the two I am trying to
connect, will that boost the signal enough? No. 3 I know
I should use Fiber Opt to connect these buildings, but
that is really more than we are able/willing to spend to
just connect one computer. Can I get by with using this
CAT5 cable if I'm running wires underground?
Click to expand...

For this kind of distance external to the building you should really
be running fibre.

There are several potential problems with running Cat-5 externally
over that kind of distance. Firstly, as you've mentioned is distance.
Each segment can't be any longer than 100ft. Beyond that you're out
of spec for 10BaseT/100BaseTX. Secondly Cat-5 cable isn't physically
or electronically robust; if you're running externally you should use
armoured shielded pair cable.

Alternatively you could run 10Base5 "Thick Ethernet" or 10Base2
"ThinLAN" cable, which have maximum distances of 500 and 185 metres
respectively and tend stand up to more punishment than Cat-5. You'd
just have to use transceivers at either end if you wanted to drop back
down to Cat-5 to suit your equipment.

Finally, if you're running copper between physically separate
buildings you'll have some earthing issues. It's likely each building
will be at a different potential and you could end up with your
network acting as earth!

Another alternative might be to use wireless. If the second building
has a line of sight to the first you could affix directional antenna
to the exterior of each building. I gather the cost is somewhat less
than blown or pinned fiber over similar distances but have never
actually costed it out.

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