Installing underground Cat5e cable

[CyberNerd]

This job definitely requires armored fiber.

Don't try and bodge it with copper cable - it isn't designed for it.

We once 'bodged' an interconnect using standard internal fiber optics - within a month rats had gotten into the trench tunnels and shredded the fire to pieces. We then had to re-do the job with armored fiber. Sometimes the 'simple' route isn't the simplest or the cheapest.

[fafster]

That is terrible advice! The twisted nature of the cable is there to prevent crosstalk between the individual wires inside the cable. *Not* to protect against external interference!

 

The properties of the twisting also guard against a surprising level of outside interference. Granted, I'm not saying that running UTP outside is a good idea, just that it's possible.

[Andrew_C]

Twisting is DESIGNED as a common mode rejection strategy. In this context it matters not a darn. The right way is fibre, the wrong way is copper.

[dave.81]

I know this is not ideal and would like to change it but we have a handful of buildings connected with external grade cat5 suspended to the eliments and have been for 8 years now with not issues.

 

Although if doing it again i'd do with the fibre or Cat6.

[Guest Guest]

Yes.

 

lol

[rhyds]

We use fibre for our interconnects, but I can see nowt wrong with a gigabit copper armoured/trunked cat6 if your in a hurry. Worst comes to the worst you can use the pullthrough string to install fibre later.

[dhicks]

it now seems that the fire alarm is to be upgraded on the building and there will be a trench dug up to install new wiring,

 

Random thought - what sort of cable is the fire alarm going to use?

 

--

David Hicks

[YorkshireTechie]

Random thought - what sort of cable is the fire alarm going to use?

 

--

David Hicks

 

yeah good point, i am in the process of trying to get more info from the alarm company to see how they are getting by these issues and if they will help us in any way.

 

Cheers to everyone for there comments