atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Long Cable run

I know that there are standards for cable lengths. I got a call from a summer camp that needs a data drop in an out building that is 600 feet from the switch, not sure why. I looked at fiber but there is the cost problem. What is the maximium distance that someone has run data on cat 5E? I did one install at 425 feet, small switch at each end to boost the signal. I am going to look at a wireless point to point. Thanks.

100 meters (328 feet) is the maximum length you are supposed to run, but we all know that you can push that a bit. I don't know about 600 feet though.

You can purchase direct-burial fiber cable that is pre-terminated at the factory and a pair of media converters for a very reasonable price. I think you will find that approach to be much less expensive than wireless.

I got one here at our house that is 525ft.
Works like a top for what we use it for.
Just a Internet connection to my garage.
I wouldn't attempt that for a customer, because by theory 328ft is the limit.

The limit is the point where it may no longer pass a cert test, doesn't mean it won't work.

Very true Bill.
But the way I look at it. If we run a extended length run for a customer and it doesn't work, then it is our fault and the customer shouldn't have to pay us. And I don't like working for free.

If a customer called and asked for a connection 600ft away. The only way we would touch it would be fiber or point to point wireless.

I hear ya there Mike. I probably wouldn't do it for a customer, but wouldn't hesitate doing for myself.

Had a cable at 350' that wouldn't work at full-duplex. (EC installed cable).

Even if you can get it to connect at 600', you may also be introducing noise into the setup. Plus, you're giving a nice path for lightning to wipe out their network.

You need to go with the fiber.

If you have an existing phone line to that location

this will work https://www.versatek.com/products/vxveb160r2.htm

The defined limit is ≈ 328 feet WITHOUT a repeater. This is an old definition that was driven largely by problems with late collisions on coax cable. I leave it to you to discover the physical reality of how far you can run the quality of cable purchased.

Alternatively, split the run in two by putting an inexpensive switch in the middle. Doing so will keep you within the rules about distance.

I was going to post this a few weeks ago but forgot.

Anyway, a year ago I had a customer that needed a data connection about 450’ and they were not willing to pay for fiber or wireless. We let them know there was a good chance we could do this with copper but no guarantees. They dug the trench and we laid in some direct bury 5e; it worked like a champ.

Fast forward to a month ago. Same customer calls to let us know while they were excavating for a concrete slab they “accidentally” dug up the cable and wanted us to come out and take look. They had actually placed conduit underneath the slab before they poured and ask if we could just splice at the point of the break. Ok, so we pull in 150’ of OSP 5e through their conduit, do the connections to the existing direct bury, trim out the other end, test; and NO GO. Test result show that there was another break in the line about 20’ past the splice. So we dig it up and sure enough there was a break. At this point I decided to do another short splice since we didn’t have enough wire to run a new piece of OSP. This time continuity test pass and network seemed to work just fine. Internet, SQL data, and VoIP.

Total length, 560’ with 2 buried splices.

Keep in mind all this was done with the customers understanding that they would pay regardless if it worked.