[geeks] Cat6 between buildings and grime proofing?

[Jonathan Patschke]

On Thu, 13 Jun 2013, Dan Sikorski wrote:

> I've been down this road before with wireless, copper, and fiber and I
> would definitely put some fiber in.  Sure, it may cost you slightly more
> to have it put in, but you'll be in much better shape both from a
> reliability standpoint (no possible induction in the line or grounding
> issues frying hardware at either end like cat6, no concern with
> interference or lightning striking outdoor antennas like wireless) and
> you've got a better shot of being future-proofed with fiber than cat6.

This is absolutely the right answer.  Dig a trench, put some conduit in
there, terminate both ends in a weather-sealed manner, and stuff it with
as much fiber as you can fit in the conduit.  Put at least 2x as many
strands as you need for today.  The strands are cheaper than the labor, so
don't get cheap with how many pair you drag through there; there will come
a day when you need one more link, and you'll be a hero for saving money.

If you want to be double-paranoid, leave a pull-string for adding more.

If you're in an area with ground that likes to shift, don't forget to pack
your conduit in gravel and sand.

Even if you have to do this by hand with your own shovel on the weekend in
the blistering heat, it will chap your hide less than dealing with ground
loops or water in your cat6 or rodents chewing on your cable.

Otherwise, go wireless with high-gain directional aerials.

-- 
Jonathan Patschke  |  "For a successful technology, reality must take
Elgin, TX          %   precedence over public relations, for nature
USA                |   cannot be fooled."           --Richard Feynman