Can I run cable outdoors?

skiddyrow · Oct 23, 2005

im networking my neighbours machine to mine for gaming and wanted to run the cable on the outside of the house along the walls to his house. he says it might pose a risk as it can attract lightning strikes. is this true or not? is it genarally safe to run a cable on a building exterior or is my friends comments right?

MZPRESTO · Oct 23, 2005

Why don't you just buy a wireless router? the range is pretty good & there's no need for cables you can network upto 4 PC's on mine, you'll need a USB adapter for each PC aswell as the router & you can secure them so other people cannot gain access.

Major Attitude · Oct 23, 2005

Unless your closer then 100 feet, wireless can be a hassle. Toss in microwaves, metal doors and windows, televisions, radios, cell phones and I dont care for using most wireless connections over 50 feet or so. Here is some info:

http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/cablingcat5/f/cat5outdoors.htm

Allow me to add that using some sort of plastic pipe would eliminate corrosion, etc as well as keep the cable dry, my road runner seems to run worse when wet. Also, using a Direct burial CAT5 and surge protection, as mentioned in the linked article, costs a few bucks more but it will last and be safe.

skiddyrow · Oct 23, 2005

MZPRESTO, I already have a wireless router (WRT54G), and the straightline distance between the two machines is around 50 feet, but the wireless connection is not stable at the point where his computer is located (I took my laptop across to test) and he does not have a wifi enabled desktop. This is probably because our building is made of concrete with metal rods in them and the signal does not get across too far with this and the added interference from microwaves / cordless phones, though I do not have any complaints within my home.

Also it will be just cheaper to run a cable across than him buying a USB or PCI wifi card just for this.

Major Attitude, thanks for the link - will try this out - I searched on Google and found some horror stories of machines getting struck and blowing up, so now I need to be extra cautious!

Any other tips will be helpful! thanks!

Major Attitude · Oct 23, 2005

I think for the paranoid, you can double up. In other words, use both a Direct burial CAT5 and plastic piping and I cant think of any other ways to protect the cable. Of course, it goes without saying that a good surge protecter, like an APC, should be standard equipment, not some generic surge protecter from your local drug store

RickM · Oct 25, 2005

I agree. Bury a small PVC pipe and run your cat5. Normally Cat5 is good for about 300ft. So you are good to go, and its cheap.

hulkster · Oct 27, 2005

Ditto MA's comments. Wireless is great ... and works MOST of the time ... but it sure is annoying when it is flakey and nothing beats a hardwired connection. PVC conduit is REALLY cheap - hardest part will be getting in and out of the house walls.

Major Attitude · Oct 27, 2005

My whole development is underground, so for my house, we have about 120 feet of cat5 from road to my house. Buried about 1\2 inch. Never been hit, dont know anyone who ever has been either. Im not even sure if its good cable Dont know if that makes you feel better, but theres about 4,000 houses here, all underground.

hulkster · Oct 27, 2005

Major Attitude said:

My whole development is underground ...but theres about 4,000 houses here, all underground.
Click to expand...

That's an entire underground city! ;-)

Log in or Sign up

Can I run cable outdoors?

skiddyrow Private E-2

MZPRESTO Private First Class

Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

skiddyrow Private E-2

Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

RickM Private First Class

hulkster HULK SMASH!

Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

hulkster HULK SMASH!