Cat6, Fiber optics, or wireless bridge to shed

Heavyopp · Apr 13, 2024

So I’ve read myself into another decision that I didn’t know I had to make. Shed mounted cameras.

I’m thinking at least 3 cameras, one is definitely a PTZ5A4M 25x. Maybe a pair of t54ir ze s3 also. Three 4mp cams.

I figure a POE+ switch in the shed so only 1 wire going from house to shed. Currently I have a 4” conduit, buried 4 feet down, running from my basement the inside the shed. In that conduit is a 100 amp power cable. I have a 100 amp breaker box in the shed. I weld in there at times.

I had planned on just running a direct burial, gel filled, cat 6 cable in the 4 inch conduit. Yes the power cable is in there. Then I started reading on here.

Distance through the conduit is right around 150 feet. Total wire run from switch to switch would be under 200 feet.

So what should I do? I can do anything. Gel filled cat 6 which I have, I can get fiber optics. I’d prefer to run through the existing conduit but I can put in another conduit with ease too. Won’t be 4 feet deep. Maybe just 12 inches.

I can use a wireless bridge. I do have clear line of sight. Straight line distance between antennas would be around the 150 foot mark.

What would give me the best results? What would you do?

tangent · Apr 13, 2024

For your purposes, all of those options would work equivalently. There are differences in safety, reliability, ease and cost.

You could even try a set of HomePlug AV2 powerline adapters (some work better than others). Homeplug would be a slower link and the least reliable option, but it's also the easiest and would likely provide enough bandwidth.

Heavyopp · Apr 13, 2024

Cost is a concern but not really the deciding factor.
The best, most reliable stream from the cameras is what I’m after.

Are there issues with interference with running the cat 6 in the same conduit as the power? Mostly only thing running regularly is a big led light on the shed.

tangent · Apr 13, 2024

If you wanted to do fiber, the easiest option is pre-terminated cables. Ubiquiti is the cheapest at about $90 for 200'. Other companies offer a more build to order approach with options like pulling eyes : Custom Indoor & Outdoor Fiber Optic Cable: Pre Terminated Assemblies.

There are many different types of fiber, be sure to review and understand the options. If you're running in the same conduit as power, you probably want to avoid armored fiber cables which have a metal layer.

Heavyopp said:
The best, most reliable stream from the cameras is what I’m after.

Are there issues with interference with running the cat 6 in the same conduit as the power? Mostly only thing running regularly is a big led light on the shed.

If you figure 10mbps per camera (actual likely a bit less), you really only need around 40mbps of bandwidth.
There could be interference issues with interference. LED lights can be electrically noisy.

quiet.tea · Apr 13, 2024

Fiber would be my choice as it will not be affected by the power line. It will also prevent possible ground loop issues in the future. Use pre-terminated cables unless you already know how to terminate fiber.

ludshed · Apr 13, 2024

I’d just drop in an Ethernet and call it a day. Even if you don’t mind spending 20x on fiber you’re adding 2 more devices that need power and are more points of failure.

Heavyopp · Apr 13, 2024

ludshed said:
I’d just drop in an Ethernet and call it a day. Even if you don’t mind spending 20x on fiber you’re adding 2 more devices that need power and are more points of failure.

I think this is where I’m headed. It is what I had originally planned.

VorlonFrog · Apr 13, 2024

You should NOT run cat-6 Ethernet in the same conduit with mains electrical voltage. Big code violation, and it can induce problems in the Ethernet signals.

Flintstone61 · Apr 13, 2024

Run a couple of ubquiti (or other brand) wireless bridges, the 2 i have going are still running on year 3. they come right back after power outages. no way to dig a line under asphalt, so options were slim. 350-400 foot distance. signal even kept going when the telephone pole fell and I lost line of sight.

TonyR · Apr 13, 2024

TheWaterbug · Apr 13, 2024

Heavyopp said:
I figure a POE+ switch in the shed so only 1 wire going from house to shed. Currently I have a 4” conduit

If I had 4" conduit I'd run 2 strings of fiber, 4 strings of Cat7, a string of 12 AWG speaker wire, and a garden hose. Just in case. :rofl:

But seriously, if cost isn't much of an issue, and fiber is so cheap these days, I'd run 2 strings of fiber, just for redundancy.

Jake1979 · Apr 13, 2024

I would run one Two Strand Single mode fiber to the shed and have a bidirectional transceiver on both ends- that way it'll transmit and receive on one of the strands (different wave lengths) and you have another strand if needed (you wouldn't in your case). You'd also need a fiber to copper converter on both ends. Run it in a 4" PVC conduit.

tangent · Apr 13, 2024

TheWaterbug said:
If I had 4" conduit I'd run 2 strings of fiber, 4 strings of Cat7, a string of 12 AWG speaker wire, and a garden hose. Just in case

This 4" conduit is supplying 100A of power to the shed, so that means it has (4) likely #1 to #00 (2/0) cables in the conduit. The could have gone as big as #0000, somewhere around 1/3 of their conduit has cable in it.

VorlonFrog said:
You should NOT run cat-6 Ethernet in the same conduit with mains electrical voltage. Big code violation, and it can induce problems in the Ethernet signals.

It is a big code violation. You don't want to ever find yourself in a situation where 120-240V finds its way onto the ethernet cable. If power to the shed were GFCI'd at the source you could feel a little better about it, but with 100A service that's unlikely.

If it were me, I might try powerline first then I'd either go point to point wifi or fiber (which you could do for as little as $120).

ludshed · Apr 13, 2024

Jake1979 said:
I would run one Two Strand Single mode fiber to the shed and have a bidirectional transceiver on both ends- that way it'll transmit and receive on one of the strands (different wave lengths) and you have another strand if needed (you wouldn't in your case). You'd also need a fiber to copper converter on both ends. Run it in a 4" PVC conduit.

Single mode is for long distance; miles.

Heavyopp · Apr 13, 2024

Yes the 4” conduit has cable for 100 amps of power in it. I did this 20 years ago. There is aluminum wire in the conduit and it is not the proper wire for conduit. Use what you have. I had a partial spool of wire, leftover on a job site.

Anyway, this isn’t about what wire is in the conduit.

I happen to have another conduit that runs 2/3rds the distance. I believe it’s 1 1/2”. Currently has a pair of siamese coax cables in it that where for a satellite dish install that never happened. I think I’ll clear that pipe of the coax and pipe the rest of the way to the shed. It’s not as straight of a line as the deep 4” but it will only add another 20 or 30 feet to the overall run. I pulled this pipe so it’s only 10“ or 12” down. I’ll use this and pull the direct burial gel filled stuff I have. Just 1 line. I don’t have enough on the spool to run multiples. Got other plans for the rest of that wire.

As I’ve said in other threads, I’m a ditch digger. 40 years in a family owned irrigation business. Putting pipe underground is cheap and easy for me.

MR2 · Apr 14, 2024

I'd go the preterm loose tube fibre optic myself, should not be expensive and will be rock solid + last forever, just get a pair of switches that have the SFP ports and you are golden.

Heavyopp · Apr 14, 2024

I'm certainly not against running fiber optic. Where is a good place to buy a loose tube cable?
I'm not sure of the exact measurement but gonna be close to 200 feet.

MR2 · Apr 14, 2024

one of the guys near you would need to advise sorry to say (I'm over in Aus) doing some googling I can't find anywhere selling custom lengths of loose tube, so i guess you'd be best doing the outdoor jacket with this mob:

they look like they make to size Build & Buy Custom Fiber Cables Online: SM MM, OS2 OM1 OM2 OM3 OM4

you want LC both ends
2 x Fiber count
OM3 10GB (no-one does the older OM2/OM1 grades anymore unless matching existing)
Jacket I'd go outdoor, you could go outdoor/indoor to save money but when I put something in I never want to hear from it again
then pulling eye
on spool yes
breakout and polarity don't matter, then figure out your finished length

it wants to charge me $650 which sounds a lot, but the power run to your shed would have cost a bit also.

Heavyopp · Apr 14, 2024

I searched briefly last night for the loose cable - didn’t come up with anything either, that’s why I asked.

Maybe I will go fiber, my switch has the right port, would just need the transceivers. I’m sure I can find some reasonably priced outdoor cable. I’ll get an exact measurement today.

ludshed · Apr 14, 2024

If your switches already have the “right ports” (sfp) then yeah use fiber. My earlier comment was if you had regular switches and then having to add multimedia converters on top of those.

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