WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

On 18/05/2011 7:37 AM, Count de Monet wrote:
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

Use external grade cable, shielded if you can run to it such as the
options he http://www.comms-express.com/categor...lidcore-cable/

You have not said the distance but I would run a second one for a backup.

Sell what's left over on eBay or to friends and you'll likely end up
cash-neutral!

David

On Wed, 18 May 2011 07:37:07 +0100, Count de Monet wrote:

WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

Although I realise that it's not the right way to do things, I have a
normal Cat 5 cable slung across my next door neighbour's roof (with their
permission) to the next house. It has been exposed to the elements for
nearly three years with no problem.

My step-son has had a cable running the length of his garden half-buried,
and half exposed for 50 metres or so for a similar length of time, again
without issue.

One suggestion; I've used hard plastic pipe that is designed for under
soil irrigation systems in the past to protect cable for fish pond water
pumps. Its OD is only marginally bigger than the cable, and perhaps might
fit the gap in the slabs. It might be worth checking?

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

"Count de Monet" wrote in message
...
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run some
cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one metre
which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider than
the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs I can
lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or similar
to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so will the
cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or is their
anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was thinking of self
amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

Even the cheap stuff they sell in maplin will last for years outside as long
as the squirrels don't bite it.
There are no dangerous voltages on the cable so its safe.

Some will say lightning is a problem but you can always wrap a couple of
turns of thick earthed wire around the cable at the entry points to shunt a
direct strike to earth. There are 1500V isolating transformers at each end
to prevent any harmful voltages getting on the cable.

I've had an aerial run of normal internal cat5 (supported by a
catenary wire) maybe 25 yards long for the past four years put in as a
temporary measure the day we moved in. No problems so far. I've now
got a duct in place to put it underground but not pulled the cables
through it yet!

AWEM


"Count de Monet" wrote in message
...
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to
run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit
wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the
slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area
so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance
or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

In article , Vortex10
scribeth thus
On 18/05/2011 7:37 AM, Count de Monet wrote:
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

Use external grade cable, shielded if you can run to it such as the
options he http://www.comms-express.com/categor...lidcore-cable/

You have not said the distance but I would run a second one for a backup.

Sell what's left over on eBay or to friends and you'll likely end up
cash-neutral!

David

There us a company that does Armoured CAT 5 for direct burial just like
SWA cables. Can't remember who does it but we have the invoice somewhere
they ISTR did supply small "ish" quantities...
--
Tony Sayer

On 5/18/2011 7:37 AM, Count de Monet wrote:
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

A whole load of alternatives spring to mind, such as getting the Wifi to
work (eg an external aerial or two), using the (presumably existing)
mains cable, digging a small pit either side of the gateway and joining
them with a drilled hole (metre and longer drill bits are easy to come
by) plus conduit ending in wall mounted boxes, etc.

However, just taking a standard bit of cable and doing as you suggest
would probably last for years. The underground bit isn't likely to be a
problem (squirrels seldom tunnel under gateways). It's the bit where the
wires surface that tend to suffer most damage. It will probably be worth
protecting that bit of the cables.

IME, no matter how generous I think that I have been in terms of fixed
cables - I have always later wished for more.

So, when needing to run mains to the bottom of the garden, I ran it in
a 4" pipe. OK, it *was* enough, when I later added the odd bit of
network cable, video cable, etc. But now I need to run some poly pipe
down to the ground heat extraction system and a single 4" pipe has
proven to be not enough after all

On 18/05/2011 07:37, Count de Monet wrote:
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

Use blue MDPE water pipe as a conduit.

--
Ron

On May 18, 7:37*am, Count de Monet wrote:
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

Not best practice, but it'll normally work ok, and no safety issue
there. Given the upside of much less work, it sounds reaosnable.


NT

On 18/05/2011 16:48, DA wrote:
responding to
http://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/...le-706671-.htm
DA wrote:

Count de Monet wrote:


WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)


1m is 10% of the run, so I'm guessing you need 10m total run? I would use
outdoor-rated CAT5. This stuff is no longer a novelty and, although might
still be a tiny bit more expensive than indoor, you won't feel the price
difference on a piece this small (or however long is the shortest you can
buy, actually). It should be easy to find a supplier on the internet that
would be happy to ship it if local hardware stores don't carry it.
Outdoor CAT5 not only withstands water and UV but it also has a slightly
more rigid outer jacket, which may come handy if you are "surface
clipping" it all the way. The recommended practice with CAT5 (and up)
cables is not to constrict the outer jacket and a more rigid jacket may
help avoiding that.


"The recommended practice with CAT5 (and up) cables is not to constrict
the outer jacket and a more rigid jacket may help avoiding that."

Agree with that^. Becomes important at higher frequencies (bps) like
gigabit as the signal is actually RF travelling within the sheath.
--
Rob

Ron Lowe wrote:
On 18/05/2011 07:37, Count de Monet wrote:
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run
some cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one
metre which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider
than the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs
I can lay the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or
similar to contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so
will the cable be OK just buried like this over this short distance or
is their anything I can do to protect it when underground? I was
thinking of self amalgamating tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

Use blue MDPE water pipe as a conduit.

Not helpful.

In fact I would lay it not in mortar, but on something like casting
resin - epoxy perhaps.

It wont last forever. Cat 5 doesn't like UV. And so water will get in
eventually and start corrosion.

But 5 years may be feasible.

So I would bodge it an be damned.

On 18/05/2011 07:37, Count de Monet wrote:
WiFi to my workshop from my router is patchy at best so I want to run some
cat 5/6 cable for a permanent connection.

The cable will be surface clipped for 90% of the run except for one metre
which must be underground (under a gate)

A gap exists between decorative slabs under the gate just a bit wider than
the diameter of the cable. If I remove the mortar between the slabs I can lay
the cable and then re-fill the gap with cement.

I don't want to widen the gap enough to be able to fit conduit or similar to
contain the cable as this will spoil the look of the area so will the cable
be OK just buried like this over this short distance or is their anything I
can do to protect it when underground? I was thinking of self amalgamating
tape.

Opinions and suggestions please?

Whether it is okay for a long-lasting job or not, it is cheap enough and safe, I
would have thought, to just go for it. Replace it when it fails.

On Wed, 18 May 2011 16:43:14 +0100, Ron Lowe wrote:

Use blue MDPE water pipe as a conduit.

Please no. Get a bit of black if you must but not blue.

Otherwise some one will find it and be miffed when it isn't water.

Or like here find a bit of "waste pipe" beneath a sink heading into
the floor heading in the direction of drain that is in the way. Cut
through it only to find that some bozzo had used it to sleeve the
rising main...

Fortunately I knew where in the bank 20 yards down the road the
external stop cock is and I had a key to reach it...

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Fri, 20 May 2011 11:51:21 +0100 (BST)
"Dave Liquorice" wrote:

Or like here find a bit of "waste pipe" beneath a sink heading into
the floor heading in the direction of drain that is in the way. Cut
through it only to find that some bozzo had used it to sleeve the
rising main...

Classic. How's your pressure and flow?

On Fri, 20 May 2011 12:10:53 +0100, Rob Morley wrote:

Or like here find a bit of "waste pipe" beneath a sink heading
into
the floor heading in the direction of drain that is in the way.
Cut
through it only to find that some bozzo had used it to sleeve the
rising main...

Classic. How's your pressure and flow?

About 5 bar and 22mm. The sudden hissing and appearance of water
around hacksaw blade was a bit of give away so it was not much more
than a large knick in the rising main. Only a few pints had escaped
before I'd managed to turn off the external stopcock. Thinking about
it I expect most of the leak would have stayed inside the "waste
pipe" and run down inside it somewhere.

--
Cheers
Dave.