Fiber Optic vs Cat6

[simple man]

First let me state that I only know a little about running Cat6 cable and nothing about fiber optic.

I am planning to run data cable from my house to a new garage, about 150 foot distance. The cable will run from the router in the house to a router in the garage.

I am planning on a single trench with two conduits, one for power and one for the data cable.

A friend suggested that instead of using Cat6 that I should use fiber optic cable.

Does this make sense? If I do go with fiber optic what is involved in transitioning from the fiber optic cable to the two routers?

Thanks

Rick

 

[aandpdan]

Stick with the Cat 6.

Fiber is great, and fast, but you need special tools to make the ends up. You'll probably also need media converters to go between your router and devices in the garage.

 

[Angelfire]

I know very little about networking and such but ran Cat6 for mine. Fiber wouldn't buy me anything I don't think as my broadband is delivered via cable. Unless your broadband is delivered to your home via fiber, I don't see much advantage to using fiber for this run. I've heard as well that fiber can be fragile to work with. I would probably get it pulled only to discover a break in it! Take this with a grain of salt however as I really haven't researched the option.

 

[ishiboo]

I am somewhat torn over this question for recommendations.

First, the prospects for fiber are almost limitless so in theory this is a great idea, but they are pricey. Terminations, hardware such as media converters, etc. all add to the cost. But with fiber, you'll technically be set practically forever in terms of bandwidth

You won't be disappointed in Cat6 in the next decade or two either... Cat6 supports 10gigE at that distance. It's also dirt cheap. You can run multiple Cat6 lines between buildings for the price of one fiber strand (since you cannot buy a spool, fiber will be far more expensive even though it's technically "cheaper"). These lines will support other things easily - garage door openers, security and phone circuits, live video and audio with inexpensive baluns, etc.

If it were me... i'd buy a box of Cat6 and run several lines between the buildings.

 

[ishiboo]

I know very little about networking and such but ran Cat6 for mine. Fiber wouldn't buy me anything I don't think as my broadband is delivered via cable. Unless your broadband is delivered to your home via fiber, I don't see much advantage to using fiber for this run. I've heard as well that fiber can be fragile to work with. I would probably get it pulled only to discover a break in it! Take this with a grain of salt however as I really haven't researched the option.

Optical fiber is much more flexible than many people think, but yes... you can definitely damage it.

Fiber does have some significant electrical advantages as well - no RF/EMI interference, and you can actually run it in the same conduit as electrical cables. But I don't think the costs of not just the fiber but additional fiber come anywhere near the immediate simplicity, usability and future prospects of running multiple Cat6.

 

[ddawg16]

ishiboo points out some good points about fiber...

1. Hi bandwidth
2. Not bothered by EMI/RFI
3. Easy to break
4. Special tools to connect

Not to mention that the modems on each end are more expensive.

But the real question is.....what will the OP be doing that will ever require the bandwidth of fiber? Unless he is running a bunch of servers to feed a mass mailing operation.....nothing....

As long as the Cat 6 to the garage is as good as what is feeding the house.....go Cat 6. You can even watch TV over Cat 6.....

 

[ishiboo]

ishiboo points out some good points about fiber...

1. Hi bandwidth
2. Not bothered by EMI/RFI
3. Easy to break
4. Special tools to connect

Not to mention that the modems on each end are more expensive.

But the real question is.....what will the OP be doing that will ever require the bandwidth of fiber? Unless he is running a bunch of servers to feed a mass mailing operation.....nothing....

As long as the Cat 6 to the garage is as good as what is feeding the house.....go Cat 6. You can even watch TV over Cat 6.....

IMO it's not fair to think of this from just an Internet perspective, I think of future things that will be run such as video distribution. It is not a stretch to think that in 5-10 years, a lot of video distribution in the home will be over ethernet.

I only have ****** DSL due to being in the country, but my network still gets a workout transferring live videos, large files, etc.

 

[NWphotog]

Don't forget an extra pull string in the conduit.

 

[ddawg16]

IMO it's not fair to think of this from just an Internet perspective, I think of future things that will be run such as video distribution. It is not a stretch to think that in 5-10 years, a lot of video distribution in the home will be over ethernet.

I only have ****** DSL due to being in the country, but my network still gets a workout transferring live videos, large files, etc.

I agree with you.....but I remember fiber from the 70's. I've used a lot of instruments that had fiber.....one that comes to mind....HP HP-IB extenders that used fiber.

What is interesting is how the bandwidth on CAT cable keeps going up. While it will never get close to fiber, I think the bottle neck will be the modems....not the wire.

About the only reason I could see doing fiber is if distance was an issue. 175' is fine for Cat6....but if the OP was wanting to go over 500'....then fiber would be a better choice.

 

[simple man]

Thanks for all the comments/suggestions.

At this point I think I will go with the Cat6 and if, in my lifetime, technology advances enough to make Cat 6 outdated, then I can always upgrade to fiber optic or whatever.

Again thanks for the help.

Rick

 

[NWphotog]

About the only reason I could see doing fiber is if distance was an issue. 175' is fine for Cat6....but if the OP was wanting to go over 500'....then fiber would be a better choice.

This! ^^^^^^^^

 

[jeffmoss26]

We have fiber running throughout our plant and offices to connect all of the network closets back to the core. That is what it is designed for, long distances and high speeds. I would not bother with it in your house, unless you were going way over the spec for UTP.

 

[theoldwizard1]

We have fiber running throughout our plant and offices to connect all of the network closets back to the core. That is what it is designed for, long distances and high speeds. I would not bother with it in your house, unless you were going way over the spec for UTP.

What he said !

Fiber is overkill for homes.

I don't know the price difference in the price of the cable but Cat 5E is also rated at 1Gb for 100M.

EDIT: Cat 5/5E uses 24-26 gauge wire. Cat 6 uses 22-24 gauge wire. Cat 6 cost more than TWICE as much as Cat 5E

 

[rodm1]

Fiber isn't priced to bad but the connection kit is about $2000

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HDMVE8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Spudland_Dave]

....to connect all of the network closets back to the core. That is what it is designed for, long distances and high speeds.

I'd remove the part about long distances...although you are absouletly right. In my line of work we got boxes and boxes of 3' fiber patch cords.

I could have put fiber in for free...but what would I have done for each end? sure I'd have the ends installed, but you need hardware on both ends. And that hardware doesnt come cheap. It was designed to interconnect high bandwidth closets & devices.

Problem with Fiber is its just like the hospital grade receptacles...industry with deep pockets is who's buying fiber and related gear...not you and me. So there is no incentive for any of the MFG's and suppliers to be price competitive. Until fiber goes mainstream thats just the way it will be....Just IMO.

 

[Angelfire]

I went with this Cat6 cable:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049KV52E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Inexpensive and seems to work just fine. There are smaller lengths available as well.

 

[Delta74]

if your Buddy is buying, Hell ya go fiber. otherwise cat 6E

ok, now I gota ask, what is this guy smoking? lets add a fiber line between the house and garage, give you insane abilitys and bandwidth, added costs, JUST to get to the house faster, and choke the **** out of the signal, to run it into your at best 10m/b cable modem or DSL unit and further choke it stuffing it down a thin *** copper line that was originally just for phone or cable tv. give me a break.

I have to laugh when I see guys spending huge bucks to get the new gigabit networks and they dont even have 2 computers or they never talk to each other, the extent of there network is 2 computers on the internet. guess what, its not going to make your internet any faster, now if your always swapping files between computers, or to the entertainment center with downloaded movies, sure, go faster, but even then i bet you will never max a cat 5 line let alone a 6E.

that said, i really do miss haveing a true fiber connection, from my house to trunk line and the world.

 

[cj7365]

unless you need gobs of data transfer stick with cat5 or 6 less of a headache

 

[theoldwizard1]

I went with this Cat6 cable:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049KV52E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Inexpensive and seems to work just fine. There are smaller lengths available as well.

First, you must have one hell of a house to buy network cable in a 1000' box !

Second, Cat 5e, from the same vendors, is $50 bucks less. I would rather have that in my pocket than the supplier. (Then again 500' would wire my place several time over !)

 

[Vinci]

Unless you're flush with high-end networking gear that supports fiber, just stick to UTP copper. Fiber is the "correct" media for that sort of connection, but it's really not cost-effective for a home network.

Definitely use direct-burial rated cable (gel-filled, NOT riser or plenum) and put it in conduit with a proper jet-line pull string. You will be happy you did later on.

 

[simple man]

As I mentioned above I will go with the cat6 cableing.

However, I now have another question. I have heard that there can be a problem with interference between power lines and data cables.

Since the Cat6 cable is going to be buried in the same trench as the power lines how much seperation should I have between the two conduits?

Thanks

Rick

 

[rodm1]

As I mentioned above I will go with the cat6 cableing.

However, I now have another question. I have heard that there can be a problem with interference between power lines and data cables.

Since the Cat6 cable is going to be buried in the same trench as the power lines how much seperation should I have between the two conduits?

Thanks

Rick

There seems to be no code on this but 6" seems to be the rule and always cross at 90°. That is for in the house in conduit it probable wouldn't matter but stub out 6"+. If you can get 6" I would do it, It would **** to redo it.

I think I have a run of Cat5e that is run parallel to NM with no problems to date.

 

[mrjaw14]

I'm going to differ from the crowd and say get Cat5e. It's cheaper, rated to 1Gb, and easier to terminate. The difference between cat5e and cat6 is the number of twists per inch. the wire itself is the same. Unless you can terminate the cable without untwisting it, you'll loose what ever benefit cat6 gives you over cat5e. You also have to have connectors, jacks, etc that are rated for cat6. While you can technically punch cat6 down onto a cat5e keystone jack, again you'll be loosing the speed rating. So you have to have all your components in the system rated for cat6. That's going to be expensive, and you might be cable to install it right, so you might be wasting your money. Since it's a wet location you have to run wet rated cable. good luck with that in cat6

I'm a network administrator. I feel I have to say that to qualify what I'm about to say. Most internet connections are in the 3-20Mb range. If you have a nice router, the computers connect to the router at a max of 1Gb. That only helps you when computers talk to each other, it does nothing for your internet speed. It's still at less than 50Mb in most cases. that's 950Mb of overhead in a 1Gb internal network. Odds are is that your computer cannot even spit data out at a sustained 1Gb due to bus constraints, driver constraints, not having jumbo frames enabled, and TCP window sizing limits. If you have a real server in your house, you could do it, but not with your average PC.

Having a "faster" network connection doesn't make the content get on the wire any faster, and if the computer can't keep enough data on the wire to saturate it then it's of no benefit. You couldn't even stream HD YouTube, if they were able to serve 1080P reliably, at 1Gb. So do your wallet a favor and get commonly available cat5e components. Remember the 1Gb is a theoretical number. real world you're not going to see it. I have a 1Gb network in my house run over cat5e

 

[Slednut]

Being I'm a transmission tech for a phone company I would go fiber with a mule tape in the conduit. I work with and splice fiber optic cable often. The fiber can be ordered to length with pre-terminated ends on it. The media converters aren't really expensive and the fiber is sometimes cheaper than copper. You also don't have to worry about lighting protection at each end which you need if you use copper. Conduits will usually fill with water so if you use copper the cable should be jell filled.

 

[ddawg16]

I can't help but wonder how some of you maintain jobs in the network admin business......It's not my primary job....and sorry, but it's pretty obvious I know more than some of you......or at least know how to google it....

The general difference between category 5e and category 6 is in the transmission performance, and extension of the available bandwidth from 100 MHz for category 5e to 200 MHz for category 6. This includes better insertion loss, near end crosstalk (NEXT), return loss, and equal level far end crosstalk (ELFEXT). These improvements provide a higher signal-to-noise ratio, allowing higher reliability for current applications and higher data rates for future applications.

And here is one of many links talking about the subject....

http://www.broadbandutopia.com/caandcaco.html

And this one sort of sheds some light on why some people get the Cat5e and Cat6 performance issues confused.

http://www.networkcablingdirectory.com/articles/structured-network-cabling-id_1151.htm

There is a great deal of debate among people about whether new cabling installations should use Cat5e or Cat6. Many people incorrectly assume that by running Cat6 they will then have a Gigabit Ethernet. However, in order to achieve true Gigabit Ethernet speeds, every single component on a network must be gigabit rated, such as the switches, hubs and network interface cards. This isn't to say that there aren't differences between Cat5e and Cat6, however. The general difference between category 5e and category 6 is in the transmission performance. While Cat5e can support gigabit speeds, Cat6 is certified to handle gigabit Ethernet. Additionally, the Cat6 specification is better suited toward environments that are generally unfriendly to twisted pair cabling. This includes areas that have lots of interference from things like power lines, lights, and manufacturing equipment. Still, for most applications, Cat5e is perfectly suitable and preferable to Cat6: it is more economical and performs almost as well. However, if you can be certain that all the components on your network are gigabit rated, and the volume of the data being transmitted calls for certified gigabit performance, then Cat6 is the way to go.

 

[mrjaw14]

I can't help but wonder how some of you maintain jobs in the network admin business......It's not my primary job....and sorry, but it's pretty obvious I know more than some of you......or at least know how to google it....


Perhaps if you're not in the business you shouldn't judge those of us that are. No one is saying that cat5 is as good as cat6, what we're saying is that for the OP's application it's probably overkill and wasted money. this isn't the place to have theoretical discussions that no one's interested in, the OP's wanting to know how to spend his hard earned dollars and is wise for asking questions before taking on an expensive project and getting results he could have got cheaper.

I run gigabit speeds over cat5e everyday. gigabit is all that cat5e will support. Cat6 can THEORETICALLY run faster, 10Gb in some cases, but if you were in the networking field you'd know that pushing copper past 1Gb is a pipe dream right now. I explained that even if you wanted to go faster, it's not of benefit vs how much it costs currently because your average home PC isn't going to crank out that much data. But you wouldn't know anything about that because Google hasn't told you. Well, those of us who do this for a living get to explain all day long that if you give a geo metro a 4 lane highway instead of a 2 lane the damn thing won't go any faster. This is a snapshot in time. I'm not gazing into a crystal ball and telling the OP what the industry is going to do 5 years from now, I'm making suggestions based on my 10 years of experience and what I'd do with my own money.

We're all trying to help people, if you can't do that without insulting people if you disagree, then don't speak at all.

 

[jeffmoss26]

THANK YOU mrjaw, from a fellow network admin.

 

[KSJeff]

I'd stick with copper, but wherever I need one I run two.

Especially if I was trenching. Hell, I might run three in that case.

 

[Teken]

Perspective: Always plan for the future . . . If someone was to ask me more than 10 years ago whether to invest in CAT 6, or CAT 5e. I would resoundingly tell them CAT 5e would be the best route to follow in terms of over all value.

Its 2013 now, and the price of CAT 6 has dropped quite a bit and if you shop around you will find prices vary close to its brother.

Now, the one thing that no one has addressed is that if you're remotely serious about your network don't purchase any CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum) wire. It is not rated nor endorsed for certified installations.

For the average user they will never see the performance or speeds they seek and will have dropped packets and errors all the time. If you're truly broke and can't shell out the cash for true CAT 5e / CAT 6 cabling, than take a time out and save for it.

Also anyone serious about buying CAT 6 cabling is only going to buy 23 gauge wire and not 24 gauge, as is often sold to unsuspecting customers. If you want big pipe, you have to be using pure copper with the diameter that supports the speed.

Teken . . .

 

[Modern Jess]

IMO it's not fair to think of this from just an Internet perspective, I think of future things that will be run such as video distribution. It is not a stretch to think that in 5-10 years, a lot of video distribution in the home will be over ethernet.

Heck, that's being done today. Video distribution is already common using ethernet. Heck, in my house, I'm doing it over WiFi, with nary a problem.

I think the future will definitely see more of that kind of thing, but it will also see better and better codecs. Distributing HD-ish video over WiFi (let alone DSL connections) wasn't feasible until codecs like H.264 started appearing.

 

[Teken]

Heck, that's being done today. Video distribution is already common using ethernet. Heck, in my house, I'm doing it over WiFi, with nary a problem.

I think the future will definitely see more of that kind of thing, but it will also see better and better codecs. Distributing HD-ish video over WiFi (let alone DSL connections) wasn't feasible until codecs like H.264 started appearing.

With the new wireless standard of 802.11ac. It will provide 1300 Mbps theoretical speeds. I have the first router that supports it now, and am looking forward to seeing it on the next Mac Book Pro.

Which will be the first computer device to support this massive bandwidth ability.

Teken . . .

 

[Falcon67]

Again, I say the OP and others are overthinking the issue. 1G over 150'? No issue. We run gig speeds through old buildings on old Cat 5 at lengths near and over the 330' spec with no issues. You'd be surprised at how well modern equipment deals with basic cat cable. We're running 10G over old single mode fiber too, which kinda surprised us first time we tried turning up a link. Our 12 year old million bucks worth of multi-mode is no good for 10G. So if you buy fiber, better bone up on what kind for the distance and speed. It's not obsolescence proof.

 

[ishiboo]

And again, don't just think ethernet.

I run Cat6 to every location + a single Cat5e... the two Cat6 can also do long-distance 1080i HDMI where two 5e will not!

The economical, forward-thinking solution is to make the conduit accessible to pull new runs as technology improves. I love how everyone is a network admin and everyone has "the right answer". If you think there is only one answer to any issue or there's a "right and a wrong" when it comes to helping make someone's mind up like this, you're the fool.

 

[KSJeff]

We're running 10G over old single mode fiber too, which kinda surprised us first time we tried turning up a link. Our 12 year old million bucks worth of multi-mode is no good for 10G. So if you buy fiber, better bone up on what kind for the distance and speed. It's not obsolescence proof.

We burn them in that way, but we wont run them long term. You can spend whatever you want on networks. Here's our last burn in a few months ago. I wish I could spend that on tools!

 

[CNGsaves]

Best answer is run what you can afford!! And REMEMBER, you're talking about Fiber-To-The-Garage . . . . it's only a garage!

However, consider that giant telco's (Verizon / ATT) have barely dabbled in Fiber-To-The-Home (acronym of FTTH) as they can't even afford fiber!! What is affordable and smart for them is fiber for long-haul or high-density node to node in highly populuated areas. Very few customers will ever get fiber to home from big telcos. ATT U-Verse is expanding with fiber to neighborhood nodes, then same old 4wire copper to the house. Consider that cable companies still have RG59 or RG6 as their "last leg" to house. ATT further only spends money on neighborhood nodes where they expect to get significant customers - - - they refused install of DSL in my older neighborhood for internet since they already had their "U-Verse neighborhood node" there but it only could provide 768 Kbps internet (yep, that's HALF of 1.5 Mbps, which is further HALF of slowest speed of internet that COX has as their baseline internet product sold which is 3 Mbps). Thus ATT itself is bailing out on DSL technology and going IP only . . . . to the detriment of attracting new customers!

I worked for rural telco who actually did FTTH in small KS towns which was most massive overkill ever!! Understand however this was On Purpose since we were "Cost Company" and got more and more money based on our ever increasing costs! Most customers ended up with just POTS (plain old telephone service), low speed internet, and cable TV. I'd say electronics / labor for each house terminating that FTTH was $5K for small KS telco! So a piddly 200 customer town was $10M (which does NOT count the long-haul route).

Pull your Cat5e and/or Cat6 in buried plastic conduit, along with extra pull string for future technology changes. Put some lightning protection on each end and your done for now.

 

[Moto]

Fiber is overkill in this situation... but what's wrong with a little overkill?

If you wanted to, you could get:

• two of these, one for each end: http://netgear.com/business/products/switches/smart-switches/smart-switches/GS110TP.aspx
• two of these, one for each end: http://netgear.com/business/products/switches/fully-managed-switches/switch-modules/AGM731F.aspx
• 50/125um OM3 multi-mode fiber

You would have the coolest LAN on the block.

 

[HenryAZ]

Assuming the distance is acceptable for copper, the main reason to prefer fiber over copper between buildings is because of differences in ground potential between the two buildings. Ground potential differences can damage LAN equipment when copper is used. No such problem with fiber.

 

[themiller]

don't forget to run at least TWO of whatever you are running.

Oh, and why are you putting a router in the garage?

 

[zuk123]

Since the OP already bought the cable he's pulling, I'm only chiming in for future readers.

Whatever you pull, pull 2. 2 is one and 1 is none.

If you are pulling fiber, pull a cat cable too.

Always leave a pull string.

I have a couple of thousand feet of cat 5e in my house used for networking and video over IP. In my work we are transitioning to cat 6, and shielded (which is another whole discussion) mainly because manufacturers are recommending it for our use. We mostly run video over it.

I've posted in another thread that you can run pretty much anything over cat 5e/6 with the right adapters/extenders/converters/baluns. That alone is why I recommend pulling cat cable at home.

Someone posted the you can't run HDMI over long distance over 1 cable, but you can. See Extron, Gefen, Altinex, and many others.

In any case, run at least 2. You can use one for net, and have the other for phone, alarm, video, audio, LOTS of different things. Heck, you've bought the box, run 4! While you have the trench open drop a piece of RG6 in there too. Cat5e or 6, pick according to your budget, but buy quality from a name manufacturer, and an authorized reseller. There is a lot of counterfeit cable in the market at the moment, and it will not perform correctly.

Cat 5, it's not just for network anymore.

zuk

 

[Falcon67]

Let me add that the only thing you can pull that will be truly future proof is a pull string.

>We burn them in that way, but we wont run them long term. You can spend whatever
>you want on networks. Here's our last burn in a few months ago. I wish I could spend
>that on tools!
That's a hookup. Looks kinda like 6509 chassis.