whoever
join:2006-03-13
Avon, CO | Home Depot CAT5
Is the HD CAT 5 any good? I see that it's not UV rated but that it is plenum cable, so it's not good for outdoor use. It's easy to get if we need some, but is it worth using? |
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Believer
join:2002-07-04
Baltimore, MD | Home Depot also sells Indoor/Outdoor cable that is UV rated. However, it's more expensive than cable from other vendors.
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Comtrain Certified Tower Climber |
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LLigetfa
join:2006-05-15
Fort Frances, ON
| I don't care what anyone says about the HD stuff. From what I see, it is not sutable for outdoor use. You can see the bloody twists throught the outer jacket!
I would only use black UV rated flooded cable. It has a much tougher outer shell than that HD stuff. The flooding keeps water out too. |
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robbin
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
| said by LLigetfa  :...I would only use black UV rated flooded cable. It has a much tougher outer shell than that HD stuff. The flooding keeps water out too. I totally agree!!!  |
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lutful
Premium
join:2005-06-16
Ottawa, ON
| reply to LLigetfa
I wanted to mention that a very new outdoor CAT5 option was noticed recently by AnonDog in this un-related thread: »Re: STP enabled PtP radios
I have not had a chance to order some yet but the specs are impressive - IP67 waterproof, highly flexible, no gel, OK for aerial or burial, GigE capable, etc ...
»www.sixnetio.com/html_files/prod···able.htm |
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Chele
join:2003-07-23
1 edit | said by lutful :I have not had a chance to order some yet but the specs are impressive - IP67 waterproof, highly flexible, no gel, OK for aerial or burial, GigE capable, etc ... $2800 for a 300meter roll, that's way out of my leage 
We have used the HD outdoor grade for a tad over 4 years without a single hitch. Some of it has been hit by over 100MPH winds, over 118 and below 30 degrees. It's very flexible and definitely available. |
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Diddy1
join:2003-07-19
Sidney, NE
| I've been using direct bury gel filled Cat5 for most of our installations. Alot of them run right across a roof ridge etc. through the hot hot summer and no problems or signs of degradation in a year. I picked a roll from Ebay for excellent price(less than $200 for 500' roll).
I also picked up a 500' box of Cat5e riser cable that was coincidentally labled UV stable. It has only been up on various clients for about 5 months so only time will tell.
Anyways, check Ebay as there are alot of good prices there for decent cable |
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public
join:2002-01-19
Santa Clara, CA
 ·DSL EXTREME
| said by Diddy1 :I picked a roll from Ebay for excellent price(less than $200 for 500' roll). That is not cheap
»www.cat5ecableguy.com/outdoor_bulk_cable?b=1 |
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superdog
I Need A Drink
Premium,MVM
join:2001-07-13
Lebanon, PA
| reply to Chele
said by Chele :We have used the HD outdoor grade for a tad over 4 years without a single hitch. Ditto!. I have been installing it quite a bit. It always seems to work without a problem?. While it does cost a little more than cable from other sources, I like it because I can just walk in and buy a roll without waiting for UPS to get here?.
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»www.wavecrazy.net Join WISPA today! »www.wispa.org/ |
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JAAulde
yum yum yum yum yum
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-09
Hagerstown, MD
1 edit | reply to whoever
If you have an outdoor run to make, and are doing it in an average residential or small business, non-industrial area then the cable that Home Depot carries is just fine.
I have two 50ft aerial runs that are showing no signs of problem at all.
However, if you are looking to use a whole lot of cable, I recommend somewhere other than Home Depot based simply on price. When I need 50 to 100 feet for a quick job, I go to HD. When I need several hundred or more feet, I order from »www.deepsurplus.com (though I don't currently see any outdoor rated cable on their site--their stock varies at times).
Jim
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"There's a war going on inside me--the good fightin' against the evil. But I thank God for redemption."
--Johnny Cash
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SteveCon
IBEW 2222 Boston, MA
Premium
join:2004-09-02
Burlington, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| I've used the HD cat5 outdoors - but pulled in 3/4" PVC pipe underground. I did that several years ago. I learned that I would have to provide lightning protection for an overhead run, and while it may have been a cheaper install still than overhead; I decided to go the pipe route. No fussing about UV resistance, messenger support, etc.
My biggest concern is the potential for equipment loss. That said, what if anything, did you do for lightning protection?
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United we bargain, divided we beg. |
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JAAulde
yum yum yum yum yum
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-09
Hagerstown, MD
2 edits | said by SteveCon :... snip...I learned that I would have to provide lightning protection for an overhead run, and while it may have been a cheaper install still than overhead... snip...My biggest concern is the potential for equipment loss. That said, what if anything, did you do for lightning protection? Underground cabling is just as needy--maybe more--of lightning protection as aerial. Lightning hits the ground and your PVC conduit is not going to keep it out of your cable, I promise. 
Technically, any cable that enters your building should have properly grounded lightning/surge protection on it as the FIRST stop. If you have a run between buildings, there should be protection on both ends.
I like to use the ITW Linx TowerMax modules ( »www.itwlinx.com/home/default.asp ) for protection. You choose the module for your type of connectivity, and if you need several, they interlock so that you still only need one ground cable. Better yet, if you need power at the location where you are installing this, it interlocks with the ITW Linx TowerMax power strips and uses the ground plug of the outlet so that you don't have to run a ground cable.
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"There's a war going on inside me--the good fightin' against the evil. But I thank God for redemption."
--Johnny Cash
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cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to whoever
Honestly, for indoor use, it's fine. But I noticed not all Home Depots carry the same brand. Mine has Belden (Blue or Grey) in 500 and 1000' boxes. The Plenum is in white. but neither is ideal for outdoor unless your using outdoor conduit or flex. I think the 1000' Cat5e (PVC jacket) was $79/box. Jeez, I recall when it was a $1/foot! |
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JAAulde
yum yum yum yum yum
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-09
Hagerstown, MD
| said by cableties :Honestly, for indoor use, it's fine. But I noticed not all Home Depots carry the same brand. Mine has Belden (Blue or Grey) in 500 and 1000' boxes. The Plenum is in white. but neither is ideal for outdoor unless your using outdoor conduit or flex. I think the 1000' Cat5e (PVC jacket) was $79/box. Jeez, I recall when it was a $1/foot! Home Depot does carry outdoor rated cable. it is not labeled as riser, plenum, etc. it is labeled 'outdoor'. Typically, the outdoor rated brand they carry is tan.
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"There's a war going on inside me--the good fightin' against the evil. But I thank God for redemption."
--Johnny Cash
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Chele
join:2003-07-23
| reply to whoever
One 500' box from HD costs $75 out the door, 1000' costs $145+ not including shipping from other sources. You DO get more use out of a 1000' spool, otherwise the 500' costs just about the same if not less. I had been buying 1000' black, gel filled from Defactowireless.com, but they don't always carry it and they jacked the price way up(it used to be $90, including shipping). |
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viperm
Carpe Diem
Premium
join:2002-07-09
Winchester, CA | reply to whoever
Its cream get it right hehehe |
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whoever
join:2006-03-13
Avon, CO
| reply to whoever
I just found this one which seems like a good deal, but the flood is "grease". I've seen flooding that is a white powder but the cost is twice this. I'm assuming that this lower priced "greased" flood is quite messy to work with. Am I right?
»www.shireeninc.com/osc/product_i···ts_id=29
Price looks good though. |
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sbrown
join:2006-07-17
Sandy, OR | Flooded cable is a real pain to work with... |
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JAAulde
yum yum yum yum yum
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-09
Hagerstown, MD
1 edit | reply to JAAulde
said by JAAulde :When I need several hundred or more feet, I order from » www.deepsurplus.com (though I don't currently see any outdoor rated cable on their site--their stock varies at times). I emailed them asking them about it and they replied with this link:
»www.deepsurplus.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1572/.f
If you buy only this from them and get just one reel, using the cheapest shipping method it comes to $0.14728/foot. Not too bad.
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"There's a war going on inside me--the good fightin' against the evil. But I thank God for redemption."
--Johnny Cash
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JAAulde
yum yum yum yum yum
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-09
Hagerstown, MD
| reply to whoever
said by whoever :I just found this one which seems like a good deal, but the flood is "grease". I've seen flooding that is a white powder but the cost is twice this. I'm assuming that this lower priced "greased" flood is quite messy to work with. Am I right? » www.shireeninc.com/osc/product_i···ts_id=29Price looks good though. Listen, is this for your home? If so, do yourself a favor and go to HD and ask them for their outdoor rated CAT5e. As attested by a few of us in this thread who have used it, it will be just fine for your situation (residential) and you'll save a few dollars over the high grade stuff.
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"There's a war going on inside me--the good fightin' against the evil. But I thank God for redemption."
--Johnny Cash
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