Ever had a problem with moisture and network connectivity?

[Picard]

Have you ever had a problem with this?

One PC on my network is at a remote location and a 80m cat5 cable runs above a ceiling and for about 2m outside.

Almost entirely only on raindays network access from that computer is very intermittent and if it has access is very sluggish.

If I remove the computer and plug it elsewhere on the network it performs perfectly ... so the problem isn't with the PC.

The only thing I can think of is that the LAN cable has been damaged somehow and on wet days moisture seeps into the cable and affects connectivity. But is it likely for a cable to be damaged enough for moisture to affect it but not enough for it to be permanantly defective?

The reason why I haven't checked it is because it is almost impossible to inspect without errecting scaffolding.

 

[chrisc]

Unshielded UTP cable can be affected by lying in water since it changes the impedance characteristics, not by much though. I had a 80m length between two buildings and the painters undid the supports and allowed the cable to sit in the (wet) gutter. It did not make that much difference. Maybe yours is damaged or severely twisted at some point

 

[ponder]

But is it likely for a cable to be damaged enough for moisture to affect it but not enough for it to be permanantly defective?

Yes.

 

[Rickster]

I suggest you put that exposed 2M through a PVC.

 

[biometrics]

How long has that 2m section been outside? Direct sunlight?

 

[Tim the Techxpert]

Hi There,
Exposure to the elements is going to damage the external shielding especially exposure to UV and we have a lot of that in this country. I would suggest that the cable is replaced. The replaced cable is either re-routed and buried using normal plastic conduit to protect it or you will have to run it in the open but again enclose it in conduit with the proper box fittings at either iend to make it water tight.

Good luck

Tim

 

[Impregim]

True, patching a damaged cable will eventually cause more hassles later on. Best is to replace the whole cable.

Hi There,
Exposure to the elements is going to damage the external shielding especially exposure to UV and we have a lot of that in this country. I would suggest that the cable is replaced. The replaced cable is either re-routed and buried using normal plastic conduit to protect it or you will have to run it in the open but again enclose it in conduit with the proper box fittings at either iend to make it water tight.

Good luck

Tim

 

[MDKza]

80m is a bit far for cat5..

Especially if its un-shielded.

 

[ponder]

80m is a bit far for cat5..

Especially if its un-shielded.

80m is fine for cat5.

 

[MDKza]

Pushing it. If you are going to go more than 80m its recommended to use cat6..

 

[Flidiot]

Same question as biometrics - how long has it been exposed?

The distance is fine - it is borderline but will still work fine.

I recently had the exact same problem - a PC on a client network sits about 80m from the main building. There was initially an unshielded CAT5 cable running underground (in PVC pipe).

Fast-forward 4 years, they had someone come in to do some painting as well and after that we started to experience strange issues. Speed was pathetic and connection was intermittent. We later found that a portion of the cable had been exposed for quite some time and had been twisted during the maintenance.

Lesson: vanilla CAT5 doesn't like to be fiddled with too much after long-term exposure to the elements.

Solution: Replacing the cable with Loco M2's (Using outdoor cable where it may be exposed).

Ask me again in 4 years if that is still working as it should :erm:

 

[ponder]

Pushing it. If you are going to go more than 80m its recommended to use cat6..

Care to share the source of that information.

Cat5(e) is certified up to 100m, 90m solid core and 2x 5m stranded patch leads. If you certify the installation and the test results are within the specified parameters it will be fine. It could even exceed that distance but then it won't be certified. Cat5e has higher crosstalk specs than Cat5 and Cat6 even more and caters for higher frequencies, Cat6 has the same distance limitations as Cat5(e).

 

[ponder]

We later found that a portion of the cable had been exposed for quite some time and had been twisted during the maintenance.

Twisting the cable and exceeding the bend radius limits would also influence it's performance.

Cat5/6 was never designed for outdoor use as it performance will degrade over time due to exposure to uv, humity, moisture etc. If you gonna run it outdoors put it in a waterproof conduit and seal off the ends of the conduit. Both ends should ideally also be run through a grounding block & surge protection. In many instances between buildings you might find that you've now got a floating earth condition. A shielded cable rated for outdoor use would be even better but a conduit would still be recommended.

 

[Flidiot]

Twisting the cable and exceeding the bend radius limits would also influence it's performance.

Cat5/6 was never designed for outdoor use as it performance will degrade over time due to exposure to uv, humity, moisture etc. If you gonna run it outdoors put it in a waterproof conduit and seal off the ends of the conduit. Both ends should ideally also be run through a grounding block & surge protection. In many instances between buildings you might find that you've now got a floating earth condition. A shielded cable rated for outdoor use would be even better but a conduit would still be recommended.

I share your thoughts. Luckily the cable that was laid was not my doing.

I had been trying to get them to let me lay outdoor cable since I took over the contracts but only got them to sign off on a change after it was busted recently.

I believe in covering everything - everywhere. If not to protect from exposure, to protect it from someone accidentally chopping the cable with weed eater or something...