Project log - New outbuilding / home gym build

Building now watertight, electrics have been prepped (1st fix), plastering commencing tomorrow.

Ran armoured 24 core fibre to extend the house network into the gym.

Just finished all the prep work for ceiling speakers and a wall mounted Sonos setup inc sub.

Unfortunately not due to see flooring down and electric completion until after Christmas so the revised target for having it fully functioning with all gym equipment installed is the end of January.

 
Out of interest why did you install a 24 core fibre? Why not a 4 or even 8 core? Assuming you went with OM3?

Surely if the gym is within 100m (including patch leads either end) of your central network location, it would make sense to utilise copper as the backbone?

Building looks fantastic btw - congrats :)
 
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Out of interest why did you install a 24 core fibre? Why not a 4 or even 8 core? Assuming you went with OM3?

Surely if the gym is within 100m (including patch leads either end) of your central network location, it would make sense to utilise copper as the backbone?

Building looks fantastic btw - congrats :)

Hi there

Thank you for your feedback

Aside from me generally being guilty of over-engineering everything I do....

The cable run was 80m and I chose fibre for a few reasons

1) Differing earth potentials between the buildings
2) I needed more than one run / link of cable and could not find any examples of "multi-core" armoured cat 6
3) noting the above, and the fact I got a good rate on fibre, the cost difference between a few runs of armoured cat 6 and a single run of armoured 24 core fibre wasn't too vast.

And I actually went for OM4, again due to getting favourable rates and my habit of over-engineering things!

.... I've actually run 2x cables by the way...... One clockwise around the garden and one anti-clockwise.

The gym will also house a "remote" backup server by the way so a robust network is important to me.

Mike
 
.... I've actually run 2x cables by the way...... One clockwise around the garden and one anti-clockwise.

The gym will also house a "remote" backup server by the way so a robust network is important to me.


Jezzz,

Diverse fibre routes! You REALLY do over engineer. :D

In the process of getting a outdoor office, but I need planning permission as im in a conservation area. :)
 
Hi there

Thank you for your feedback

Aside from me generally being guilty of over-engineering everything I do....

The cable run was 80m and I chose fibre for a few reasons

1) Differing earth potentials between the buildings
2) I needed more than one run / link of cable and could not find any examples of "multi-core" armoured cat 6
3) noting the above, and the fact I got a good rate on fibre, the cost difference between a few runs of armoured cat 6 and a single run of armoured 24 core fibre wasn't too vast.

And I actually went for OM4, again due to getting favourable rates and my habit of over-engineering things!

.... I've actually run 2x cables by the way...... One clockwise around the garden and one anti-clockwise.

The gym will also house a "remote" backup server by the way so a robust network is important to me.

Mike

Diversely routed fibre for a house network, jeez! You do over-engineer :D Did you splice the fibre yourself?

I'm a bit confused about the price. It would cost you <£100 for a 305m drum of external grade cat 6, patch panels and a punch down tool. I'll be surprised if you could get even get two drums of 100m 8 core CST fibre for that - let alone the fusion splicer, cleaver, pigtails, splice protectors, panels etc.

Still - very nice setup!
 
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I'm a bit confused about the price. It would cost you <£100 for a 305m drum of external grade cat 6, patch panels and a punch down tool....

Agreed however I wanted SWA protection as opposed to just external grade. I could only find single runs of SWA cat 6 as opposed to a large diameter SWA cable that contained multiple runs / links of cat 6. The bulk of the cost of such cabling is in the SWA so when pricing up multiple runs, the difference between several SWA copper runs vs a single run of multi-core fibre became less of a determining factor.

Plus there was the residual risk of differing earth potentials using copper whereas fibre is electrically isolated.

With regards to your splicing question, in my line of work I had the ability to call on people who would splice for me as a favour / minimal cost.

In the end though, I actually got my hands on pre-terminated fibre through the same channels. The terminated ends are protected by a robust tube for protection during laying, once in place it is removed and you just plug the ends into a patch panel that already has LC / LC connectors installed.

The only downside is you need a bigger hole in the wall to accommodate the protective tubing and gland.

Mike
 
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