Can Ethernet cable take the elements?

Tommer · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:06

Im moving home in the summer and as the distance in my house from my room to the downstairs router is really far and we have wide walls i havent ever been able to get a wi-fi signal.

So i was thinking of buying a long ethernet cable, say 30m and putting it out my windows, throwing it over the house and then in through a window to the router!

This will be for a few months in the summer in a house thats in the middle of no where. See any problems with that?

mc_bob · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:07

Not particularly, as long as the cable doesnt damage outside and its good cable to start off with it should be fine.

MC_Bob

Tommer · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:10

good good

i have another wireless router that has WDS, but im not sure if that kind of setup would work with the other wireless router that doesnt have WDS

my pc> WDS wireless router > wireless router (with adsl)

As this might bridge the connection gap if the other router was in a good spot.

benjo plz. · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:16

WDS means you can repeat the router's signal with an ap that supports it, it doesn't mean you can connect two routers together.

fini · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:18

only thing you've got to think of is whether you're fine leaving a window permanently open - apart from the wind etc coming in it's a bit of a security risk.

fini

benjo plz. · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:21

fini said:
only thing you've got to think of is whether you're fine leaving a window permanently open - apart from the wind etc coming in it's a bit of a security risk.

fini

True, its much safer, while not easier, to lift up some floor boards and put some holes in ceilings and floors and run the wires through them tbh.

zetec452 · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:24

At uni a couple of years ago we had lots of ethernet outside in the elements. It will be perfectly fine.

Tommer · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:36

Phnom_Penh said:
WDS means you can repeat the router's signal with an ap that supports it, it doesn't mean you can connect two routers together.

so that might work then, like this:

www.hiero.f2s.com/wds2.jpg

fini said:
only thing you've got to think of is whether you're fine leaving a window permanently open - apart from the wind etc coming in it's a bit of a security risk.

fini.

the windows that i could put the cable through would be the small ones that are at the top of the window, bit of a risk i know, but we're in the middle of nowhere in the country with dogs and alarms etc so it should be ok. Unfortunately the distance is too far to warrant drilling etc and also the house is made of this stuff called 'cobb' which is like mud, dead badgers and horses hair so its never good to mess about with it.

benjo plz. · 22 Apr 2006 at 17:49

Tommer said:
so that might work then, like this:

www.hiero.f2s.com/wds2.jpg

No. (give me the model / make) but its probably the wds means a client ap can repeat the signal, and the router can't act as a client or a repeater.

Tommer · 22 Apr 2006 at 19:08

the router downstairs with adsl is a netgear dg834gt and the one with WDS is a BT voyager 2100

Amp34 · 22 Apr 2006 at 20:05

I had a ethernet cable in the same configuration you want for about 6 months with no problems. I just closed the windows normally meaning no security risk, it didnt damage the cables (well that i could tell) as most windows have small rubber draught excluders around them.

Meatball · 22 Apr 2006 at 20:14

Cant you network the computer with them power socket networkers? I can't find them but where you network PC's using the houses power lines? I think it is quite cheap from what I can remember..

AMDX23800+ · 23 Apr 2006 at 01:45

High gain indoor directional antenna ?

Jez · 23 Apr 2006 at 12:21

Do the ethernet over roof thing as you have suggested, wireless is rubbish even when it works, the power socket things are slow too. The cat5e will be fine

Selekt0r · 23 Apr 2006 at 15:30

I've had some standard Cat5 cable running outside around the house for several years - never had any problem with it.

Bin Boy · 23 Apr 2006 at 15:35

I too had a cat5 cable out side at the side of my house for 6 years and still worked, now its been replaced with three runs of cat6 cable.

But on the roof is more open to the elements, the thing is just disconnect your network when there is a thunder storm for safe practice.

Duke · 23 Apr 2006 at 15:43

-White-Knight- said:
Cant you network the computer with them power socket networkers? I can't find them but where you network PC's using the houses power lines? I think it is quite cheap from what I can remember..

Click Me

Fr0dders · 23 Apr 2006 at 22:55

sheath it in some water piping or something for extra protection

stuffs dead cheap at about £1 for a few metres.

Mercutio · 24 Apr 2006 at 01:07

Duke said:
Click Me

I really think this would be the most elegant solution for you. Mains is already wired anywhere in the house you'd want to put a computer and you can move the "remote" socket around as you go. Speeds on this are starting to get pretty good. Almost to a point where I might consider getting a set to save some of the cabling in my house.