Will it work?? 4

[mikeydidit]

I have a unusual one (like most of the time) that I have been asked to come up with a solution for. As we are in the health care busniess it can be a challenging (it has been called worse) sometimes.

We deal with a lot of mobile type equipment. By this I mean trailers or large RV type equipment that need to be connected to the network. These may be on location once or twice a month.

I was asked for a 200 foot patch cable (basically) to connect to a jack should the wireless not work. The idea I have is to roll this up on a reel like a fiber launch cable. I plan on using a reel like you use for electrical extension cords. Place a jack on one end and a plug on the other. This again is just as a backup for the wireless.

Do you think it will damage the cable beyond the point of working by winding it up on the reel? EMI?? Your thoughts and any better ideas will be appreciated..

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), Inaugural Address, January 20, 1953

For the best response to a question, read faq690-6594

 

[skip555]

I would use solid cat5e cable and terminate it to a jack on each end in a surface mount box then a couple of patch cords

I would think it would work just fine especially since its only a occasional use item you might also look at DB cat5e since it has a heavier sheath

I would use a empty plastic wire spool rather than the extension cord reel the jack on the spool end could be permanently mounted on the side

you could provide something like this for rolling it out and back up

http://mccartenco.net/product.php?productid=1273&cat=11&page=1

 

[vaoldschl]

It should work but it sounds like it is going to be outside. I would do some research on cable and jacks suitable for outside deployment. I hooked an MRI trailer up with a pair of 50 ft cables and continually had to replace them (would have come up with a better solution but I left the hospital). Another problem I ran into on that installation was dirt and moisture in the jacks even though I used a weatherproof enclosure. Remember that trailer is moving in and out and bringing all kinds of mess with it. Also, as this is an outdoor contingency for wireless remember that rain and snow cause attenuation so if those are factors in your area it may be that this cable is used when environmental factors are their worst. Good luck.

 

[letman2]

Get an old dropwire reel it should work fine

http://www.gmptools.com/nf/75980.htm

 

[SYQUEST]

SIEMON CO. makes some industrial modular jacks, modular plugs, patch cords, and related items for use in that type of environment. Check their website, catalog, or call them:

http://www.siemon.com

866-474-1197.

Although they don't list 200' as a patch cord length, you might ask them if they make custom lengths.

....JIM....

 

[robertjo24]

I would go with teh industrial kacks, and outdoor rated cable. It will have aheavy jacket that will protect it from repeated instances of rulling it up and playing it out. It is a littel more expensive, but I think you will find it worth the money in the long run.

 

[mikeydidit]

Thanks guys for the replies, i really do appreciate the replies. This was one of those. They told me at 3:30 yesterday they needed it by 2:00 today. That being said, i really didn't have time to order anything, but I did want it to work. I did end up using a cord reel like this one

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1291467&cp=1254955.1259149&parentPage=family

$7.00 from Home depot and it works. I used a plug on the loose end and double face taped the jack to the reel. Then they can place whatever slack that is left on the reel in the storage box on the RV. There they can use a patch cable to the inside outlets.

I have done several mobile MRI trailers before and have a pretty good method should you guys ever need it.

I used a 3/4 pipe to outside the building and placed a 8x8 pull box on the outside wall to connect it. Then from the pull box, i placed liquid tite 3/4" to the MRI trailer. On the ends where the jacks needed to be I used threaded boxes an placed 1" chase nipples between the boxes.

Made for a safe, clean looking install.

Thanks again for the help. And now you should should you have to get a 200' patch cable in a hurry this will work.

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), Inaugural Address, January 20, 1953

For the best response to a question, read faq690-6594

 

[skip555]

nicely done given the time restraint

 

[wires]

As you discovered it worked!

A better solution whenever funky power (like a trailer) is involved is fiber. Here are some links to get you going:

cgi.ebay.com/Multimode-Fiber-Optic-Cable-Multiple-1-km-Reels_W0QQitemZ290266232227

http://www.markertek.com/SearchProd...&sort=prod&skuonly=0&search=reels&pagesize=20

http://www.timbercon.com/MIL-PRF-83526/

 

[AWGoodson]

Skip555 has the right solution!
Never use a patch cord for a distance over 25'.
Solid copper only over 25'

Allan Goodson
Estimator
3D Datacom, Inc.

http://www.3ddatacom.com