[linux-help] Re: Roadrunner Internet service

[Bruce Bales <bbales@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim, you got four or five answers on the ACLUG announce group.  see below:


At 11:09 AM 5/7/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>I have not seen an issue with burying cable, as long as it is entrenched
>inside some kind of conduit. I personally use a flexible plastic (I think
>it's PVC) conduit to run CAT5 cable between buildings fairly frequently, and
>haven't seen any issues as of yet.
>

We have CAT5 and telephone wire (is that CAT3?) running between two
buildings at work, its been at least fours years now, and haven't had any
problems.  The wire is in PVC pipe.

Ryan

>I am considering taking service with Roadrunner.
>
>Were is a good place to find a modem for use with them and about what does
>one cost.
>
>What make and model do I want to look for?
>

I have not seen an issue with burying cable, as long as it is entrenched
inside some kind of conduit. I personally use a flexible plastic (I think
it's PVC) conduit to run CAT5 cable between buildings fairly frequently, and
haven't seen any issues as of yet.

ja

Jim,

It is generally a "Very Bad Idea" TM to run copper between buildings due
to the electrical issues caused by doing so, most of which are ground
issues.  Nonetheless, you can do it and it will probably get away with
it working for some time.  But when it stops working, you may need to
replace some or all of the electronics that either side of the cable
is plugged into.  If it was me, I would use this as an opportunity
to _rationalize_ a need for experimenting with 802.11b wireless toys.
The price is coming down rapidly and 100 feet is no problem at all, as
long as the space in between the buildings is fairly open.  I have an
Apple Airport at home that performs this type of function for me.

Arnold B. Cavazos, Jr.

> Were is a good place to find a modem for use with them and about what does 
> one cost.

Comp USA sells them for about $170, I think.  I am still renting from Road 
Runner for $15 a
week.  Mine is called a Surfboard.

> I'm wanting to connect two computers and be able to be on the internet at the 
> same time on
both. The problem is one computer is in another building. Can I run cable from 
the house (buried
under the surface) to the other building to connect that computer?
>
>  It would probabley take 100 feet of cable, would this degrade the signal?

10baseT is supposed to be good for 100 Meters or about 330 feet.  Don't know 
about burying it though.

> Can this be done with the one modem box?

Yes, theoretically, with one modem and three ethernet NICs.  They run $5 to $15 
each.

> What would be a good card for this hookup and about what do they cost each?

I'm using a Netgear FA310 and several NE2000 cards.  Lots of people praise the 
3COM cards.  Look
at the ethernet HOWTO for a list of cards and drivers.  Seems like most of the 
common ISA cards
use the NE driver.  Other good drivers are Tulip and Lance.

> >  It would probabley take 100 feet of cable, would this degrade the signal?

Experience shows this will work.  100 feet between the ethernet hub and
your machine will not be a problem as the Ethernet spec for a segment is
100 meters between devices.

As for long life, it would be better to use direct burial cable, however
it is expensive and a bear to work with (the wires are packed in
anti-moisture gel and there is a metal sheath surrounding the wires
underneath the vinyl jacket), and requires telco style terminating
blocks with lightning protection built in.  Of course, this is the
professional solution.  For home use, the recommendation to use PVC
conduit is a good one so long as the joints are sealed to limit moisture
entry.  Cat 5 twisted pair should work fine.  If you're not too
concerned about price, check out the wiring supplies at a store like
Graybar.  They carry professional quality stuff and have a wide
selection of choices.

- Nate >>

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