Cat5 Cable from one rooftop to another rooftop

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zebest

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I am currently bidding a job which requires running cat5 from one roof top to another roof top approx. 50 feet from each other. I already know it isn't a good idea to strectch a cat5 cable and rely on it being sturdy over this kind of span. I already have the outdoor cat5 cable from perviouse jobs. My question is, has anyone ever done this? I am thinking about using some type of heavy duty rope wire and then looping the cat5 around the wire quite a few times over the 50 foot span. This would minimize maybe all stress on the cat5 cable. What do you guys think?

Chris
 
If you have to run cable across an area like that I'd suggest putting it through conduit instead of wrapping it around anything. This would fully protect the cable even better. If you want to go the cheap route and looks aren't important you might could get away with even using cheap plastic pipe, but personally I'd do it right.
 
Why in the world would you run Cat5 cable from roof top to roof top? That just sounds crazy to me. There is no other solution that you can come up with to get the cable from point A to point B?

What is the situation? Why does it need to be from roof top to roof top? Wireless won't work? Are the two buildings using the same transformer? If so what about something like Ethernet Over Power or some type of power line communication?
 
Using a piece of pipe won't work 50' long while it floats in the air. If you have the stuff mad for the outdoors you should be ok, I assume the only support will be the beginning and the end? If so the way you have it planned is ok make sure you have a nice sturdy rope mad for weather.

Just for the hell of it how do you plan to gap the buildings? I would use a crossbow you just for the laugh of seeing people look at me.

Your best route if possble is to dig a 1' deep trench then drop in some 2" pipe and pull the cable its safe and reliable, after a while gravity and the sun will rundown the cable and rope, I went to a school (1995) that had to replace the power and telephone every 3 years and still does to a portable classroom and that was a 30' gap.
 
Unless it is a temporary solution, I would recommend some type of wireless solution, or take the cable underground in conduit. Even with outdoor wire, there will be degradation over time and eventual failure, plus you have to factor in the other elements like birds, squirrels, etc.
 
Thanks for all the ideas. I am not sure I can dig a 1 foot trench into a roof =). I would put the cable into conduit but like said earlier, that is impossible to have at such a long run. I can't run it under ground, ( I could but would be very expensive to have someone come out and remove cement.) Wireless is an option, but this is for a business and we all know wired is better then wireless.
 
Besides the logistics, an underground cable will be a far more expensive solution. If you're tendering against competitors it's best to keep the job costs realistic.
 
This is already an existing customer. Currently they have two options, since wireless isn't one of them. Having two internet connections with a VPN, or a cat5 cable linking the 2 places together.

Chris
 
Don't go VPN for such a short route - it'll be relatively slow' will rely upon both Internet connections constantly being available and will be much more expensive as there will always be an on-cost. If you're worried about stringing the cable, outsource it to a local electrician who does outside work.
 
There has got to be a way to do it.

Why not talk to someone that works for a power/cable/phone company. I see there vans all over town I'm sure one of them would have a good idea for you.

One things for sure you will not be able to run the cat5 by itself. You will have to run a rope or more likely a cable and use that to support the cat5.

I wonder if they make something you could wrap the cable and wire in that will protect it.

BTW totally use the cross bow idea. Find an old medieval one and make sure lots of people see you use it. Maybe even use a dummy on the other side so it looks like your shooting someone.
davinci-crossbow.jpg


Or even better use a siege
Trebuchet1.png
 
You wouldn't need to dig up the cement.

I used to work doing POS work. Many times we had to put cable in cement for car detection coils, or to connect buildings. What you do is get someone to cut a line in the cement along the path you need. Just barely wide enough to push the cable down into it with a paint mixing stick, or a ruler or such.

Then you can buy the black ashphalt crack repair stuff you can get it in chaulking type tubes to use in a chaulkig gun to cover the cable with.

If you take the time to seal it good this will last most likely much longer than a strung cable.

Also its pretty ceap to find a contractor with a concrete saw. Should just be one shallow cut they need to make.

And if you need multiple cables, just cut a bit deeper and run them on top of each other.
 
Do a Google on "aerial innerduct". This will be conduit with integral messenger. Hang the innerduct between the building, fish the cat-5 through it.

innerduct-aerial_img.gif
 
Mkeathly, does have a good point you may be able to rent the machine your self from a Ahern rentels or something you just need a gap no bigger then half a inch wide and maybe 2-3" deep in the concrete and then you need some concrete to fill it with. Its is the best and most reliable choice, the more I think about doing a gap that size it just seems to unstable, you need a strong brace on both sides to keep you rope or cable tight then you need to make sure you networking cable won't warp or snap in the weather.

When I use to work construcion pulling a few lines of power 20 feet got heavy and that was on the ground in pipes, imagine gravity working that cable for 50 feet. And why cat5 and not cat6? I would suggest aim for a future solution and have stuff ready for a fast network, shoot if they would let you bid it toss in the idea of fiber optice, that's nice and light, I know only in my dreams.
 
Geez guys, this is a 50ft LAN cable run between two buildings, not a cross-Atlantic backbone connection. No need for complex conduits, underground cables (which th OP has already said is not an option anyway). We're talking a short-run, 5v max, ethernet which hardly justifies tunnel boring machines, armoured conduits, or fibre-obtic links.

If it's a small business, I would guess cost will play an important factor in what's actually required here. You could quote for two options, a simple catenary wire solution or a fully encased option option such as the aerial interducts as suggested by 'TouchToneTommy' which is essentially a shielded conduit pre-attached to a catenary cable.

If you've not done this type of work before and thus you don't have the equipment to do the job safely and reliably then it makes sense to outsource this - the client may already have a contractor who could do the run for you.

Concentrate on what you do, the client will respect you for that.
 
Your idea is fine. I've done it about 25'. Just don't go giving a long warranty or anything crazy like that. haha. Make sure it's tightly secure on both ends and a good grade support rope/wire/whatever.
 
You guys are great thanks for the all the info, I am going to start googling and let you know what I come up with. I love the catapult idea!
 
why just run one cable, mke it two at least then if one breaks the connecction will not be lost and it will ensure that users get a good connection. hanging cable like that should be fine, in the uk most telephone lines are held up like this, they have a steel cable between the building and a telegraph pole and then the cable hangs underneath it i think they are suspended wit metal cable ties.
 
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