Fitting network cable outside

[DaveP]

Q: I am looking at installing a 20 metre network cable, it will be fixed to the outside of a building, therefore exposed to the elements.
are network cables waterproof & robust enough to go fitted externally ?

[scooterscot]

Cheap enough to replace when fails, however UTP is not fit for withstanding the elements particularly wildlife, perhaps fitting conduct will be your quickest and is not that expensive.

[EqualOpportunities]

Q: I am looking at installing a 20 metre network cable, it will be fixed to the outside of a building, therefore exposed to the elements.
are network cables waterproof & robust enough to go fitted externally ?

FWIW, you can get external grade cable...

HTH

[TheFaQQer]

FWIW, you can get external grade cable...

HTH

That's what I use - modem is in the set top box, and computer is upstairs, so they ran a cable up the outside of the house when it was installed.

[Board Game Geek]

Of more concern should be induction.

A Client some years ago ran a 20 m cable along the side of their office, and it passed within 10 feet of a metal telegraph pole.

Lightning hit the pole and inducted the 10 feet gap (amazing) to the network cable.

It was all downhill from there...

They were lucky though...the only things that got totalled were 2 pc's and a fax machine.

So be careful running network cables (or any cable for that matter, unless it is heavily shielded I guess) outside.

[Troll]

Best & probably the most aesthetic solution would be:

Externally between floors: run cable in conduit (although Sky + TV aerial do not do this)

Between buildings: dig a trench and run a cable in conduit -depth should be same as stated in regs for power cables

[PerlOfWisdom]

You could use armoured cat 5

[ctdctd]

I strung a 20 foot length of ordinary CAT5 between two buildings in a rush to get something working for a client. ("We're moving the stores NOW and we need a PC at the other end" sort of day!)

It's been up there above their heads for about 4 years now and still going strong:-) It might even get taken down soon as stores are about to move back!

[AtW]

Use WiFi.

[ctdctd]

Use WiFi.

Yep, we tried that.
Worked fine at the weekend - 9am Monday morning it dropped out.
Industrial unit several doors up have several large satellite type dishes on their wall so I reckon they broke it - they might be MI5. Tried different kit and channels and still no good. Back to basics - used a wire!