sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Cat 5 feeder

Can you run a Cat 5, 5E or 6 feeder cable (if that exists) and then branch off to home runs....?


Walter

Walter:

If a CAT5, 5e or 6 cable is terminated on a rated 110-type block, then yes. There is 25 pair CAT5 and 5e available that is pretty much designed for this purpose. I don't think that CAT6 25 pair has been developed but I can't say for sure.

If you're talking about a network, then the answer is yes and no. You would have to run the single run to a switch and the home run to the switch. You can't split a data run.

So, the question is what are we talking about here? Simply saying CAT5e,CAT6 is meaningless. WHAT is it being used for- data, voice, doorbell, thermostat, model trains, battery jumper cables, what??

-Hal

You may want to give this a read: https://www.panduit.com/products/articles/104791.pdf

Hmmm, I really like that ceiling box concept.

-Hal

I have a customer that has his server 250 feet or so from where the cables (20 or so) are to be installed. Also, server is in the basement and the office (where the new cables are going) is on the first floor.

There is an IDF setup on the first floor and we will be running a 50 pair cable for the phones.

Normaly we would run 2 four pair Cat5E cables from the basement to the IDF and then install a hub at the IDF. New cables would now tie into the hub.
This customer does not want to do it this way, so rather than running all home runs from the first floor to the basement, I was thinking about a feeder cable.

Walter

Well there is CAT5 25 pair cable, don't know if there is a 5e. At any rate at 250 feet you are nearing the limits of UTP ethernet which is 300-330 feet. So even with individual home runs plus the runs to the jacks, patch panel and slack you may hit that wall on some runs.

The proper way to do this is with a fiber run between the basement and IDF. I think the customer is concerned about bandwidth problems if one or two CAT5e UTP cables are run between the locations, that wouldn't be a problem with fiber. I think the savings on labor and material will almost pay for it and the customer will have a better network.

-Hal

I have never seen cat6 25pr. If they did it would have to be big around as a pop can in order to have the divider in it.

I agree with Hal. run one fiber cable and install a GOOD switch. If needed you can install a media converter to go from fiber to ethernet but that defeats of fiber (so please do not do that).

If the customer is unwilling to install a proper network I would walk away as this will cause more headache's and an unhappy customer later on.

Also, as Hal stated, with 250 foot length you will have no length left for proper service loops at either end or dressing down the wall to keep it clean.