Building to building fiber compatability

[SarcasticDwarf]

EDIT: It is done, see post #11

Well after the wife was attacked by a dog in our yard it looks like I have a sudden need to get my network out to the garage in order to put up a few cameras. I had been planning to do this but not until next year.

Can anyone verify that this is the proper setup?
~50' between the buildings, cable will be in PVC.
2x media converter, one on either end.
2x transceivers (I really have no idea if these are the correct ones)
20m LC UPC to LC UPC Duplex OS2 Single Mode Industrial/Military-Grade Armored Fiber Optic Patch Cable

 

[TuxThePenguin]

That's fine. Those are the correct LC connectors (i.e. they are the commonly-used ones today and they are the physically smaller connectors that are easier to pull than some of the other types) and the wavelength matches between the transceivers and the cable.

What do you use for a main switch?

I don't really like installing converters if a switch with SFP can be used instead. That said, that's a personal preference... The converters will work fine on both ends. It's nice to be able to install one fewer device, though.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

That's fine. Those are the correct LC connectors (i.e. they are the commonly-used ones today and they are the physically smaller connectors that are easier to pull than some of the other types) and the wavelength matches between the transceivers and the cable.

Thanks Tux!
I just don't have the time to learn everything I would like to anymore *sigh*

What do you use for a main switch?

I don't really like installing converters if a switch with SFP can be used instead. That said, that's a personal preference... The converters will work fine on both ends

This will be set up with the ISP-provided router and switch. On the garage end they have a Calix 804mesh. This setup works fine now except the signal doesn't reach the garage (steel siding).

 

[75gmck25]

I'm a little confused about the choice of products, so please bear with me.

Is there a reason you want to use fiber cable and media converters for a 50'-75' cable run? That's well within Ethernet max distance, and you would just use exterior grade Cat 6 to connect the ISP switch to a Gigabit Ethernet switch in the garage.

Bruce

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I'm a little confused about the choice of products, so please bear with me.

Is there a reason you want to use fiber cable and media converters for a 50'-75' cable run? That's well within Ethernet max distance, and you would just use exterior grade Cat 6 to connect the ISP switch to a Gigabit Ethernet switch in the garage.

Bruce

lightning

 

[rlitman]

lightning

Is it really 50' between the buildings? What height are the buildings? Have you considered the "protected cone" between them? I think it likely that the shortest path between both buildings may be in the "shadow" of each.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

lightning

thats a good reason!

 

[Jkcolo22]

I'm a little confused about the choice of products, so please bear with me.

Is there a reason you want to use fiber cable and media converters for a 50'-75' cable run? That's well within Ethernet max distance, and you would just use exterior grade Cat 6 to connect the ISP switch to a Gigabit Ethernet switch in the garage.

Bruce

Fiber is far superior outdoors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TuxThePenguin]

(Video of "The 8-bit Guy" talking about his home network - I've timestamped it to go to a part where he discusses his fiber BECAUSE his ethernet cable took on lightning - multiple times)

Lightning in ethernet is a real thing.

Fiber is so cheap. Look at the cost of his parts. It's incredibly reasonable.

 

[Vinci]

Your parts list is good. I would recommend using a longer fiber cable, though. 20 meters is only around 66 feet, which doesn't leave you much wiggle room to get to your equipment.

Don't worry about fiber length with regard to performance. With your parts list, you're good to 20km...

When pulling your fiber into the conduit, don't pull by the termination. Those can pop off pretty easily. Pull from the armored section and support the termination so it can't fold back on itself. Fiber is very intolerant of sharp bends.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Thanks Vinci and good timing!

I ended up getting everything wrapped up last night. The only changes I made were to swap out one of the media converters to a POE switch with a SFP port. I also went with a 30m cable and still managed to be about 6' short of where I wanted it.

The camera setup is working well, now I just have to see how well they work at -30F.

 

[johnnyradiant]

Thanks Vinci and good timing!

I ended up getting everything wrapped up last night. The only changes I made were to swap out one of the media converters to a POE switch with a SFP port. I also went with a 30m cable and still managed to be about 6' short of where I wanted it.

The camera setup is working well, now I just have to see how well they work at -30F.

It'll likely work about as good as most potential filming subjects at -30°.

 

[ripperd]

I see it is working for you. But 20km transceivers with single mode fiber, isn't the signal going to be a little hot coming in with a <100ft long cable? I don't know my fiber that well so I could be wrong. Maybe some fiber networking gurus could chime in.

EDIT: nevermind, I see that only comes into play with the 40km and 80km transceivers.

 

[mx500]

they make lightning protectors. fiber is good, the transeivers can go bad..

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Ive never had a transciever go bad. Thats pretty rare.

 

[aggie113]

I think I'd just get one of the newer 60Ghz wireless setups before I bothered with fiber. I plan on running Cat6 myself as I have an existing path I can zip tie it to and only have to bury 6ft of the run.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

It'll likely work about as good as most potential filming subjects at -30°.

Yeah, now my wife can watch me freeze my **** off clearing the driveway from the comfort of the couch.

 

[TuxThePenguin]

they make lightning protectors. fiber is good, the transeivers can go bad..

Video I linked above had the guy say that he got lightning into his ethernet cable TWICE, the second time with the surge protectors, and they did nothing. The jacks on his cables literally melted and made them hard to even pull out of his switches.

I would definitely use them anyway (if using ethernet) though as maybe there are cases where the lightning strike is maybe a little bit less extreme and maybe they would make a difference in that case

 

[rlitman]

Ive never had a transciever go bad. Thats pretty rare.

I've seen a few go bad, but considering the number I've seen in service, I do agree that it's pretty rare to have them fail.