Buried Cat5 or Cat6?

I have an outbuidling 132 feet away from my house that I am going to serve with an ethernet and phone connection. The data lines will be run in a 2-1/2 in pvc pipe already installed two feet under ground. The data pipe is in a separate trench from the power, which runs parallel three feet away.

I realize that running gel-filled Cat5e and gel-filled Cat6 cable would be best, although since the house's structured wiring is not yet finished and we need to get the data lines out to this building, I'm wondering if I can put standard, non-gel filled cable in the pipe, and how long it would last before being corrupted by moisture.

Complicating this decision - in addition to my own twisted logic - is that I can find gel-filled Cat6 cable only in 1,000-foot spools. I wouldn't have any use for the extra 850 feet of cable (unless I used *all* Cat 6 in the pipe and no Cat5), and I would have a use for 850 feet of standard Cat 6 cable.

Pulling 132 feet of a straight cable run isn't that onerous if I have to do it again, but I would sure hate to be out there on a sleeting Janurary night because my wife's office doesn't have telephone or internet.

Thanks for any opinions.

David

 

you have a 2 1/2 conduit buried ? wow

for two 4 pair cables

I would just run standard cable and a pull string if you start seeing problems a few years down the road pull another cable.

while your pulling and since you have so much conduit space I would do two voice and two data cables then if one goes bad you have a spare to go to

if you have re occuring problems you can then pull direct bury cable

be sure to put in some lightning protection.

 

Mango,

Thanks for the advice. The 2-1/2 conduit will be for more than just two twisted pair cables eventually, but right now that's all we need.

David

 

for my ignorance on the subject-
why lightening protection for underground cable?

 

Handy,

It's my understanding that any outbuilding that has electrical service and some kind of additional conductor between the building - telephone, internet, cable - has to have a seperate grounding system in place to keep any lightining strikes from carrying through the additional cable to the main house or panel.

Of course, I could be totally wrong on why, but we put one in anyway.

 

why lightening protection for underground cable

becouse when that lightning bolt hits the ground all those volts arent isntantly nuetralized

the voltage spreads out through the ground and can "hop" on your buried cable and ride it up to your equipment and ZAP !!! it