CAT 5 or Wireless?

[el_draco]

I am just starting earthworks for home and observatory at a dark sky site. Observatory will be located 75m from house but pretty much line of site.

Wondering whether I should try for wireless or run a cat 5 line at the same time as power is run. If CAT 5, how far should it be laid from the power cable (240v)?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Rom

[pluto]

If I were you I would lay cat6 cable (better shielding and a bit more future proof), I imagine it's not too much extra effort to do it at the same time as the power lines and I wouldn't want to be transferring many/large files across wifi (if that's something you need to do).
I don't know about how far to run it from your power line but I've personally never had an issue with ethernet cables getting interference from mains power lines.

[michaellxv]

I'd suggest CAT6 also.
A quick Google found more info than you wanted to know here (http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/250162/pc=PC_1779).

[supernova1965]

This might be an option you may want to consider also.


http://m.cnet.com.au/belkin-powerline-av-networking-adapters-339296912.htm?redir=1

Not saying this is the best one just the first one I found

[pluto]

I've always been curious about those, have you used one? what sort of speeds do you get in the real world?
I've had very bad experiences with Belkin devices though and vowed never to buy one of their products again, but that's a whole other story...

[supernova1965]

No I have been curious also the belkin one is just the first example I found but I have heard good things about them in general

[Poita]

Put two runs of CAT6 in, the cable is so cheap that it is almost free, and you will regret it later if you don't.

Wireless is great, but if you can have the cable, then it is always better.

It is multi-purpose as well...

[Merlin66]

My observatory (TSO) in Belgium was about 80m from the house.
I ran at CAT6 cable from the "office" laptop to the ol' Acer in the observatory - used Teamviewer. Not a moments trouble in the two years I used it.
I also had a pair of those powerline adaptors in the house, to run the Belgacom "box" on the TV - about four rooms away from the wireless router socket.
Again, It worked 100% - never even knew it was there....
Wireless is Ok, but nothing beats the security of a CAT6 cable.
Just my 2c

[kinetic]

+1

Cat 6
As all have said, very versatile and as Ken says , very secure.
While you are doing it run as many as you can in the one conduit without overdoing it.
Leave a draw rope in it after every pull.
If you can afford it, run 32mm or 40mm or bigger (white) comms conduits.
Cables can be drawn thru 32mm so much easier later , but over 75m
I'd suggest an intermediate pit or access point!
You would be hard pressed to get something through 75m of 32mm conduit later.
Then run as many spare empty conduits as you can also!

I also have 4 core for security and 2 pr shielded for RS232 comms in
the same run.
I have RG59 coax for cameras also but that is now redundant as the
camera is an IP webcam.

Power and comms conduits can be in the same trench but must be 600mm
below the bare dirt.
Under concrete path I think it can be as shallow as 450mm but I must check that.
It's been years since I did pit n pipe and rules change.

I also have fibre between dome / house / shed for duplicating the controls remotely of my scope.
But that is all redundant now as LAN is just as
effective using ASCOM. Fibre is lightning proof but when your
outbuilding and house are on the same supply it removes that isolation anyway! :)


Steve

[Barrykgerdes]

I run 30 metres of CAT 5 to the garage (CAT 6 would be better now) and also use wireless. There is no difference in internet (ADSL2) but on my network the LAN is 10 times the speed of the Wireless.

Barry

[el_draco]

Well, the general recommendation would appear to be CAT 6 and make the most of the ditch. It's going to be largely under a road when done and I wont be digging it up again. I reckon a few runs of CAT 6 in a larger conduit is the way to go and I thank everyone for their input...

Who needs Google when you have IIS :)


So much to do...