Connecting pcs over long distance.

[sdunn]

I have to connect some pcs to a network that is about 600ft. away.

I see the best way is fiber optic. Is there any other way? Can I put a switch every 100ft or so and connect them using Cat5? Would this hurt performance much if this is possible? Are there any other options than fiber optics??

[ph34r]

You can run cat5 about 300 feet between powered joins - a switch or a hub.

You could use wireless with high-gain antenna, depending on your exact needs and security concerns.

[sdunn]

thanks for the fast reply!!!

[sdunn]

If I went the fiber optic way I would have to buy two hubs and one 600 ft wire right. The pcs can plug into the hub right?

[ph34r]

You'd need something to get the fiber connected at both ends. Then out of that and into a switch.

If this is for Serious Work, I'd recommend calling a cabling company in your area - they should be able to spec it out, do the install/fiber run, etc. for you. Get a few bids and submit it to the boss.

[sdunn]

Thanks again for the fast reply. After reading up on fiber optic networks, I would have to agree with you and get some company to do this.

[bs_texas]

Man, this goes back to basic networking concepts, eh? And I still have my books in a moving box.

But, depending on your phyical plat there, wouldn't it be ok to have your 'remote' computers connected to a switch, have that switch connected to a distant switch at 300ft, have that switch connected to another switch at 300ft, and then the network connected to that switch?

Doesn't a switch sort of reassemble a packet and send it along?
Isn't the distance limitation based on segment length, not on the total distance from original source to destintion?
What does a company in a multi-story building use to connect people on the 4th floor to the network on the first floor?
Should I take my medication and get off the thread? ;)

[sdunn]

You can run cat5 about 300 feet between powered joins - a switch or a hub.


I think that was what ph34r was saying about the setup you are talking about.

[bs_texas]

Oh, right.

So is that an option for you?

[sdunn]

Very much so. I am just wondering how it will affect speed.

[ph34r]

It wouldn't affect speed, unless that one switch in the middle got severly overloaded...

[Daedrus]

Speed would be unaffected as long as you don't have any kind of interference in that length (generators etc). And to be a stickler, you can run cat5 328 ft
.

[cowanrl]

If you're running 100Mbps ethernet, you'll want those devices to be switches, not hubs. You could get by with 3 hubs between 2 PCs at 10Mbps but not at 100Mbps.


If the 2 locations that are 600' apart are in different buildings, you should go with fiber. If you use copper between them, you could end up with all kind of spurious voltage problems that could lead to fried equipment on a regular basis.

[sdunn]

Thanks for all the advice. I will probably go with Fiber Optic just to be on the safe side.

[heckle]

Another thing to keep in mind, if your hardware at each end is not fiber capable, you will need what is called a media converter (to go from fiber to copper). If you have a switch at each end, then fiber is the best way to go. If you want to use copper, you will need either a switch or a repeating hub at the halfway point. Not sure if wireless would span the distance effectivly either.