wireless internet at the barn?

[jmc]

Thanks all, for the great suggestions. I'll research these and probably be back with more questions.

John

 

[bebster]

I am planning on running Cat5e from my Direcway on the barn to the house, but it's almost 400 feet. I think the limit is 100 meters (or about 330 feet). Does anyone know if it will still work, but maybe at a slower speed? My Direcway isn't all that fast anyhow compared to the design speed of Cat5e cable. Thanks.

 

[Soundguy]

You could always throw a hub / repeater down in the trench with it... ( then have to run power to the hub.. etc.. )

I'm not sure if it is a signal degration issue, or a capacitance issue on the long runs. If I had to guess.. I'd say signal problem. Some sort of active I/O inbetween would/should solve that, if you ran into that problem.

Soundguy

 

[Dargo]

I don't exactly have it figured out, but I know some things about internet in a barn. I had it all set in my mind that the metal siding and roof on my barn prevented any signals from getting in. Wireless internet does not work at all, and when anyone walks into my barn, their cell phone looses any signal.

Now, I have run across several people who have no problem with wireless internet or cell phones in their barn. Hmm. I've had a coule dozen people with all different sorts of cell phones watch their signal indicator go from full to no signal when they walk into my barn. Something is up.

My guess is that it is the insulation I have in the roof and walls of my barn. I have the type with aluminum coating on either side. I'm thinking that it is what is killing wireless signals.

Now, I have a buddy who is an absolute nut on ham radios and the like. He also tells me that pine needles (on my pine trees) also work great at blocking radio signals. Either way, my barn should be an acceptable place for top secret conversations to take place. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

In general, even the newest and best WiFi internet systems are only good for a hundred feet or so when there are walls or other obsticles involved. To have wireless in my barn, I had to run cat. 5 cable underground (in a 4" conduit) to my barn, and then attach that to a WAP within my barn. Most wired systems will push a signal 300 feet or so.

 

[jmc]

Dargo,

Here's some more info for your database:

The barn is coventional frame, insulated, wood sided. One part of the barn has the perforated steel lining for sound absorption. Wireless phone, cell phone, and wireless internet won't penetrate that part of the barn though they work ok in the rest of the barn. None of the insulation is foil.

John

 

[Soundguy]

Organic material.. and water.. great at blocking rf.

DE ke4rrd

73's

Soundguy

 

[poorboy]

Dargo, Sounds like you could offer to hold the pope elections out there. At least for the right fee of course /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Poorboy

 

[chatcher]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am planning on running Cat5e from my Direcway on the barn to the house, but it's almost 400 feet. I think the limit is 100 meters (or about 330 feet). Does anyone know if it will still work, but maybe at a slower speed? My Direcway isn't all that fast anyhow compared to the design speed of Cat5e cable. Thanks. )</font>

You can push the limits quite a bit. I have no doubt that 400 feet would work reliably at full-duplex (only two devices on the line). You would have trouble with collisions if you were using a hub (half-duplex) with multiple devices because of the time delays. I manage a network in which there is a 450-ft run out to a guard shack. A Cisco IP phone works fine at that distance (100Mbps, connected to a Cisco inline power switch). If VoIP works that far out of spec, anything should.

 

[rcrcomputing]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am planning on running Cat5e from my Direcway on the barn to the house, but it's almost 400 feet. I think the limit is 100 meters (or about 330 feet). Does anyone know if it will still work, but maybe at a slower speed? My Direcway isn't all that fast anyhow compared to the design speed of Cat5e cable. Thanks. )</font>

1st, wired is always better. Second to get 400' you should get the older rg cable. It will do 450' if memory serves me. Of course, a directional antenne setup on both buildings is an option.

BTW, your right about direcway. I have it at the house and if it wasn't the ONLY choice, I'd throw it out the window!

 

[slapshot]

Would a directional antenna connected to your existing Wireless Router/Acess point be an option?

-dave