Long distance

[Hermann]

I need to exteend a network past the Cat5 limit, maybe 500 feet or more. We have a very convoluted route to get where we need to go. Is installing intermediate hubs my best solution or is there another way I should look at? Suggestions on hardware?

Thanks - Hermann

 

[mgpaulus]

Is this 10Mb, or 100Mb? Indoor all the way or outdoor? If it's indoor & 10 Mb, I would go 10b2, and lay a coax between your 2 hubs.

 

[Hermann]

Coax and I had a falling out a couple of years ago. Anyway, we're trying to achieve 100mb full duplex. Am looking @ Linksys EtherFast 5-port 100BASE-TX Hub (fehub05W) but can't confirm it is full duplex. I've always heard people talk about repeaters but have never found one.

 

[mgpaulus]

Well, one thing to try is to look at http://www.blackbox.com and check out their take on technology options. They are expensive, but their gear works. And it can give you a starting point to do some web searches for competing/compatible/similar technologies, and/or to even see if what you want is viable.

Here is their take on a lan extender: http://catalog.blackbox.com/BlackBox/templates/blackbox/products.asp?param=820&ig_id=376&title=CityLAN+10%2F100+Series+Fast+Ethernet+LAN+Extension+Switch

 

[Hermann]

Cool stuff but just a bit more than pricy! I could go a couple hundred but when you hit the 1000's, youv'e lost me for this project.

What I'm concidering now would be: 3Com switch - hub - hub - 3Com switch, with computers only plugged into the switches. Does this work? Would be less than $200 which fits the budget.

 

[ScottMac]

You should go fiber.

While you can extend the distance with an intermediate hub/switch to deliver the signal in good shape, the timing would be off and most likely cause a bunch of late collisions / timeouts.

Hanging that much cable out ni free space is also a bad idea, it'd be acting like a big antenna, which may also degrade the signal somewhat, and could possibly introduce bad juju (in the form of static electricity or lightning EMP) to the rest of the network.

Do fiber, IMHO, you'll be glad you did.

FWIW

Scott