So the Radio Association of Erie (RAE) is looking to put 2 nodes on the roof of our 61 repeater site. These 2 nodes will be over 13 stories up and near an assortment of other RF sources UHF,VHF,Microwave, etc.
I am looking for recommendations of a good ethernet cable to run outside to the nodes and back into the radio room below. I know at the very least it needs to be outdoor rated (with gel or something to prevent water ingress) it will need to be sheilded as well.
But how sheilded should I go?
https://www.universalnetworks.co.uk/faq/what-does-utp-s-utp-ftp-stp-and-...
Looks like I can get up there in RFI/EMI protection would that be overkill? Or worth it?
Would love to have some real world experience/info.
Thank
I am looking for recommendations of a good ethernet cable to run outside to the nodes and back into the radio room below. I know at the very least it needs to be outdoor rated (with gel or something to prevent water ingress) it will need to be sheilded as well.
But how sheilded should I go?
https://www.universalnetworks.co.uk/faq/what-does-utp-s-utp-ftp-stp-and-...
Looks like I can get up there in RFI/EMI protection would that be overkill? Or worth it?
Would love to have some real world experience/info.
Thank
Cat 5e is good enough. Cat6 is fine. Don't use Cat 7 ... not needed and absolutely awful to work with. You do NOT need the horrible goo filled stuff unless you are actually doing ground burial. It's hell to work with and just avoid it.
The only tricks are proper grounding at the node to the tower, and use a lightning suppressor that can pass POE where the cable comes indoors where that device ground wire goes to the main ground bus in your facility. Even with foil shield a lot of EMF can be generated from a nearby lightning strike. Having these is required by code, and not trivial. I have one installation that lost two antennas recently, we cannot get the POE to work on the pole so my next visit is to start at the switch and work my way outward until I find the fault. It might be that an arrestor did it's job and saved the switch. Or there might be a blown port on the switch, will find out when I get a chance.
At another building I volunteered at, we had 30+ POE video cameras on a network with a NVR. We lost six or so one stormy night. I was able to verify none of the cable runs had arrestors, and the EMF blew many of the ports on the switch. Lazy contractor. General heading of NOT GOOD.
Preventing water issues above ground is a matter of correct cabling not the cable. Connections must be all in watertight boxes or another similar method. Drip loops. Water tight glands. Forget the goo, just keep the cut ends dry.
Ed