HOT DEAL for network cables at Microcenter

[desktopeditor]

network cable with molded connector at Micro Center B&M

50ft : $4.95
25ft : $2.95
15ft : $2.35

 

[Uthiroid]

do you know if this can be run outdoors?

 

[Theeoneatwork]

I'll bite. Why would you want to run it outdoors?

 

[SuperWrat]

pretty cheap! cat5 i assume?

 

[Virtus]

You might want to consider making your own... around here it's @ $59 for 1000 feet... get a crimper and some rj45 ends for @$40 and you're good to go.

 

[Sesopedalian]

Thanks, desktopeditor, going to trade in some 25ft I bought there awhile back at those prices and buy some 50ft instead.

 

[Uthiroid]

well, for me i need to get from the 2nd floor of my townhouse to the 1st floor on the other side of the fireplace. the quickest and easiest way seems to be out the wall, down across the fireplace and back in the wall where the stereo /tv is. that's why i need it do be ok outdoors.

 

[Laibach]

Uthiroid:

I have not looked at the cable but I assume its Cat5 UTP.

You can not run this outdoors. It kind of is against code. It's just a bit dangerous (lightening, etc.). Seriously this stuff is not meant to go outside.


If you need to run a connection to downstairs you can either go wireless or use a phoneline or powerline adapter. That is if you cant figure out how to fish a wire through a wall.

 

[Uthiroid]

fishing wire through walls is a pain in the A$$, and i just didn't want to go that route. not to mention that i have this nasty fireplace to deal with. but i appreciate all the good suggestions- wanna come to my house and run wire? :^)

and let's think about this for a minute- how much is a wireless networking setup? how much is 50 feet of cat5? ok.

 

[samgoody69]

it is cat 5. I have the flyer in my hand.

 

[gsaldivar]

Laibach: I don't understand how Cat5 is dangerous for outdoor use. Surely coaxial/10Base-2 isn't against code, and it is used extensively for cable TV, etc.

How is 10Base-T more dangerous than regular coaxial wire?

 

[Uthiroid]

i have heard of utp though. Isn't that the stuff that you can't put into walls because if it burns it releases toxic fumes? thought i heard something about that a few months ago when home depot had a cat5 cable sale.

 

[Poochy]

i have heard of utp though. Isn't that the stuff that you can't put into walls because if it burns it releases toxic fumes? thought i heard something about that a few months ago when home depot had a cat5 cable sale.

You mean "PVC"? You need to use Plenum inside of walls, at least in area that has an airflow (riser space?), or something like that (I looked into all of this a while back when I had to wire up my house, but I could never figure out the exact reason why/where you would want to use one or the other).

 

[mikeford]

Crepe, I was in MicroCenter today and looked at this cable, but none of it was priced and when I asked a guy he wandered over to the regular cable aisle and told me it would be about $23/50'. If i knew it was $5 I might of bought one (I have tons of cable around, but no really long sections).

BTW the cable was grey with the hood over the locking lever so it doesn't get tangled, and not plain CAT5, but enhanced CAT5e.

 

[lesch2k]

Uthiroid
i don't know how feasible it is to run the cat5 through the inside of your place but that is what i did to avoid going through walls. 100ft goes a long ways inside of a building

 

[kmmatney]

I have been running a cat5 cable outside for a few monthes now - works great. It has even sruvived the Denver winter, with plenty of snow!

 

[Hybrid180]

You are taking a chance if you run the cat5 outside. Cat5 is UTP, meaning it is unshielded. Since it is unshielded, ANY, interference will disrupt your connection, creating packet loss, or maybe even no connection at all.

If you really want to run the cable outside I suggest to look for any possible disruptions before you go through the trouble and find out you are getting 70% packet loss. Possibilities are powerlines, flouscent lights, etc. Also, try to run the cable as high as you can, this will also help reduce the possibilities of disruptions. Perhaps under overhangs using little hooks.

 

[desktopeditor]

I bought these 2 of 50ft, 20 of 25ft and 2 of 15ft for total of $16.00
This store is in Virginia.

 

[BenCJedi]

I once knew some guys that strung cat5 outside their windows from window to window/floor to floor outside a 3-story apartment building. The cables are still hanging out the windows at that apartment, 4 years later and I assume they are still using this setup. This apartment building is right on the side of the road also and they never complained about interference, aside from the ambulences (noisy) that rush down the road often on the primary route to the university hospital.

 

[Uthiroid]

Poochy- no, this thread went into why you wouldn't want to use some type of cat5 cable in walls, because it was against code in most areas. I suspect it is for the same reason that you can't put pvc in walls, only plenum. That was the explanation for why the stuff was so cheap when home depot was unloading it.

 

[Eradicator]

I am in NJ and have had my CAT5 outside for a few months now, 1st floor to second floor (no other way w/o many holes!). I have not noticed any packet loss or lack of a connection to my router/swtich. The only thing I would be worried about would be the skin on the cable is not that tough and may not hold up that well over time (years). There is no harm in running it for $10 and see what happens.

 

[fragged]

I run outdoor-rated cat-5 and it wasn't worth the extra $$... only if you live in places with VERY extreme weather.

And please... wireless? Sheesh...

It should be called "Wireless NOTworking"

The damn access points can't be more than 30 or so feet away without signal loss... That is, unless you have a house without an electrical system or ANY interference...

 

[optimistic]

Hey where are the MicroCenters located at in Los Angeles California?

I think there's one in brea, but I haven't been for over 5 years!

edit: forget it, I found the site!

 

[aircasper]

does anyone know if this deal is still live?

 

[aircasper]

never mind, i just found it on microcenter's web site.