CAT5 Ethernet and the outdoors

[MosDef112]

Though I'm pretty sure what the answer is to this one, I am perhaps looking for the answers as to why.

A while back I decided to wire my three-family private house with CAT5 Ethernet cable, and also decided that I would staple the cabling all around the edges of the house. I tried to do this as carefully and as neat as possible, but over time I realized how ugly the house now looks with a single white wire running around everywhere. So I decided to take the project outdoors. I first started with my brother's computer on the top floor, running a cable over the roof, drilling a hole in a wall in his computer room, and running the cable back to a hub at my parent's bedroom at the other end of the house. This connection has been in place for several months now, and it has worked fine. Now I decided to do the same for the whole house, eventually replacing all the wiring on the inside, and running it through the back of my house, and into my apartment where all the network/Internet equipment is. Question is.. Realizing the potential hazards about this, like unwanted damaged likely caused by lighting, what other reasons would there be for me not doing this? Would covering the cable outdoors with some kind of protecting mold, or wire cover help? I mean.. There's a good chance that I'll leave it the way it is anyway, since I already drilled enough holes through walls in this house as it is, not to mention I've already laid just about 150 feet worth of cable, but I just wanted to know if this is such a bad idea that I should consider covering the cables, or try to run them inside the walls in my house.

[MosDef112]

^ Bump ^

[AoDLiQuiD-M3tH]

Well you have many options running it outside is fine the cable is protected by its sheath, runinng the wires from an attic down is also an option walfishing them so you wouldnt see them. But the best thing to do would probley be to go wireless.

[MosDef112]

Yeah.. I agree, but I'm not ready for that yet budget-wise. I will eventually migrated to Linksys WAP's, there's eight computers I have to hook up. Thanks for your input.

[EdTo]

Well , your may concern of the CAT5 cable jacket should not be damages from lighting strikes, but you should be more worried of UV and tremperature detoriation of the PVC jacket. Standard CAT5 cables are made for interior use and not exterior. I haven't come across any CAT5 cable for exteriors use, but the best way is to weatherize the cable is to use heatshrink tubing such as thoose from Raychem or Sumintumo and since you only require 150ft, it should be that expensive, they go for around $.60/ft. Heat shrink is actually approved as cable jacket alternatives by DoD if the actual cable jacket material is not known or does not meet MIL-STD, all heatshrink material is known is are MIL-STD approved. Most cable jacket material will fail DoD's fugus prove and their sub-zero weather radius bend test.

[crirvine]

You can get underground above ground cat 5 e wire about 1.00 per foot I used this for a 275 foot run to tie 2 buildings together.
I got my wire from a local phone distrib.

[MosDef112]

Ok, thanks. I'll look into that.

[BlackSword]

I have run CAT5 armored cable outside, and you still have to protect yourself from lighting strike go HERE to check out protection options.

If you are doing this at home I would recommend running the CAT5 cable thru the attic or basement.

And Yes armored cable is about $1 Canadian per foot and practically any Ethernet installer can get it for you.

[BlackSword]

I have the 4 pair protector CAT5e

[Leafer]

Just to let you know the cable will rott after a year. The outside jacket will dry up and start to crack from the UV and rain. The oils from the rubber that surrounds the cable lose there oil and begin to crack. It is somewhat like those old cars and how you would see the dash cracked or somthing. I would not recommened keping the wire exposed to direct conditions.

[Chin808]

get ready to get up in that attic homey!
its your cheapest and most profesional install
PEACE

[MosDef112]

Kewl.. I'm gonna get on it soon. Thanks for the tips.