Cat5e running out side!

[jackbeam]

I was working on a Nortel phone system this last Friday. When I was done Replacing the KSU and installing a 4Port Voicemail. The room they are using as the Telco Room is also a Network room. Has 5 printers and a copier. This room is where the system Router, hub and Digi Board for the POS that goes Via the router over the WAN to a store 16 miles away (Store B) where the POS software is. Over this 56K Frame Relay (WAN) they also use the router for the PC's in the store to dial out VIA a WebRamp and 2 56K modems at (B.) So I was asked to check out his SHOP that is about 150 feet from the store so I can install a outside Ring speaker. As I am walking over to the Shop Via an Uncovered path I see 10 Cat 5E cables and 2 RG? Video cables flying High above. When I get to the shop I see 2 more POS's, 3 Phone Ext's, 1PC, and 2 POS Printers.
I asked about the Cables and he told me that it has been running that way for over 2 years and they are not going to change it. Only thing that is running local is the PC's and even they are not dialing out, it all goes over the WAN to the WebRamp. All the POS software is over the WAN. that is all ok with me but the wires that are running out side make me GO OH NO. I did not run the Cables but some how I feel I should do something to change his mind about fixing it you know to COVER my A** and Work I did do inside.

 

[daronwilson]

While it probably isn't proper, if it isn't causing a problem and the customer doesn't want to replace it, I think you are stuck. I have been running Cat5 for phone drops since Cat5 came out, sometimes we have to go outside with it. I have one marina that each slip owner is responisble for their own phone. When I can convince them, we fun filled phone cable. Many times they won't pay for that so it is done with Cat5. It's a very harsh environment, but I will say if the jacket stays intact without being sliced by a staple, the stuff seems to last years before it is a problem.

Your situation could maybe be cleaned up by putting it all in conduit to protect it, and of course we havent even hit on the lightning protection or code requirements for such.

But you know, the customer is always right

It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com

 

[skip555]

Many times they won't pay for that so it is done with Cat5.

why not just use cat 3 ?
as far as I know POTS dosnt benfit from cat 5 especially using a single pair.

as to the orginal question I would put a formal proposal together for doing it correctly along with a letter pointing out the potenial problems leaving if not corrected.

this way if problems creep up later you are on record , in writing ,informing the customer that it needed to be corrected.

 

[daronwilson]

I should have been more specific, we routinely run Cat5e for voice as well unless the customer wants to save a few cents on wire. As you are probably aware, the new 568B standard did away with cat5 for new data installations and 5e is the minimum data wire for new installations. To that point, we normally stock lots of Cat5e and little (if any) Cat3 on the trucks.

As far as I can tell, the increased twist found in Cat5e cables does help contain the signal on that pair of wires (hence the reason for the twist) and keep it out of adjacent wires. While you can argue that coming into the house or building from the telco is Cat3, if you have a digital phone system there is certainly an advantage to keeping those signals as tight in the cable as possible. If increasing the twist helps better couple the signal to the pair, then certainly I'm all for it, even with POTS service. I remember when we first started using Cat5, the toner was pretty damn hard to hear with an inductive tracer. Compare it to Cat3 sometime and you will see that the audio signal is definately held tighter in the higher category of wire. So, IMHO, the better job you can do to keep signals on the pair, the better you are.

Hope that makes sense.







It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com

 

[jackbeam]

Thanks for the great Post. I have been feeling that I want to do something to make it better. I will do a Proposal as stated to Cover My A**.
Also as thier new Contracted Phone and Computer Tech I don't want my name being the one that hangs with the wiring out there. Daron. Thanks for the Great information from an RCDD. I do at times wish I could run wires out side but have always stayed away from it because of the COST of Doing it right.