Cat 5 or 6 question for outdoors

[tuqqer]

I'm recreating our 1/2-mile wireless network from scratch and need to get a few hundred feet of Ethernet cable. It's been a while since I did this, and need to run the wire mostly outdoors, exposed.

What is the current best Ethernet cable these days, and where's a good place to get a large roll online. Last I checked, Cat 5 was still the best, but I also hear there's something better, and for use outside.

[mattkime]

by definition, Cat 6 is better than Cat 5 but if you're running to a wireless router, Cat 5 is plenty.

[Markintosh]

If it's outside and a permanent installation, I would consider putting it in plastic conduit for protection from the elements. Lightning is a big concern in my area.

[C(-)ris]

Cat 5 or 6 will work. You definitly don't want to just string it and set it out. As previously sugested, you want to run the cable in PVC conduit. Also, get plenum rated cable. It has more shielding in the jacket.

[itsmylittlebrothersbike]

Tiger Direct has pretty good prices. The plenum cable is big $$$.

[Paul F.]

For a permanent installation, with the possibility of growth (that is, speeding thing up later if the equipment at the ends of the cable get replaced) I'd think seriously about using Cat6.

Don't know if I'd go with the Plenum type cable, or not... I'm cheap, and the Plenum cable DOES get a lot more expensive.

I WOULD go with a conduit of some sort though.

Another question is; how MANY hundred feet? That may make the decision between Cat5 and Cat6 for you.

[tuqqer]

My original post was misleading: the wireless distance between the 2 buildings is a half mile. No cable needed there. I only need the cable to run from the roof of each building down to their perspective routers. This will vary between 40' and about 90'. Some of the wire then will be exposed to the sun.

I'm thinking I'll go with the Cat 6. It's not that more expensive. I'll look around for a box of 500' or 1000'.

[jdc]

cat 5 works totally fine on my 1000bt network -- some 50 ft spans

[Racer X]

Indoor cats live longer, and have lower vet bills. And I think 5 or 6 cats may qualify you as the creepy neighborhood cat person.

[AllGold]

A lot of Cat 5 these days is actually Cat 5e which is better than plain Cat 5 (kind of like Cat 5-1/2). Cat 5e supports gigabit speeds. I would never use Cat 5 but Cat 5e should be fine.