Wireless Phone Jack Extension

[toolbox212121]

I need to extend a phone line across a road. It is on a large campus and I was thinking of using one of those boxes that will extend the jack over power lines. One end goes to a reader board modem and the other end would be in a building about 30 feet away. I know when you use these, the signal pretty much dies in a transformer and with distance I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience using them? I'm just looking at my options. I really don't want to dig up a street since it’s the only entrance and exit into are campus. I would like to have something that is truly wireless. Anybody have any other ideas or experience using these devices.

 

[nessman]

What you're describing will most likely not work.

Do you have any existing data or telephone wiring between the two buildings - or from one building, to another building that cross-connects the two? Just use that.

 

[toolbox212121]

Funny story. It was for a reader board(Big LED sign) modem and when they installed it they DIRECT buried Cat5e in a flower bed. New flowers planted and shovel cut it. I was actually amazed it lasted as long as it did. The nearest cable pairs is in a building across the street. Worst case we will contract out a new cable run. I'm just looking at options before I go down that route.

 

[toolbox212121]

What about this? Anyone seen one of these?

http://www.blackbox.com/Store/Detail.aspx/Wireless-V-90-Modem-Kit/MDR220AĂR2

 

[Dexman]

My thought would be to replace the damaged cable.

I "FEATURE 00

 

[donb01]

How much do you want to spend to minimize the work? You could probably implement this solution for a couple of phone lines for less than 5 grand:

http://www.carlsonwireless.com/products/t-pe.php

This is only one pricing example - I would shop around if you're interested:

http://shop.wirelessguys.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.559/.f

I would assume you need a base on each end, a radio card on each end, and a CPE card on each end - plus probably antennas and cables, but I've never done one of these before, I just know of them. You would have to contact a vendor and tell them your goal and they will probably tell you what you need.

 

[toolbox212121]

I talked with black box this moring and I think the device I listed will work. Re-running the cable is an option but it involves like I said going under a road which is the only entrance and cannot be shut down for any peiord of time.

 

[JimInKS]

Is a wireless network available at the sign?

I'm not sure what the architecture is of the system. Would it work to just put a notebook computer with wireless in the building. Then use a serial port / modem on the notebook to control the sign.
You can control the notebook via the wireless with remote desktop or VNC. I assume there is some software involved. That can be installed on the notebook computer.

If this is a campus wide system of signs can the notebook access the message data via a network share, ftp, etc?

 

[toolbox212121]

@JimInKS Due to network security we cannot do wireless on are network and it is just one sign. I think the higher ups are pretty much sold on the Black Box devices I found. No wait, cheaper than running cable and no worries of it being cut in the future. Thanks for all your help but it is resolved for now. Thanks for everyones input and advice.