long distance network question

Nspyr · Post by **Nspyr** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 2:43 pm

i was wondering what would be the best way to network computers together if they are about 600 feet apart... different buildings at my church..

i read that the cat5 lines max distance is 100 meters, roughly 325 feet...

so what would i need in between to reach 600 feet?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 6:38 pm

Fiber
Point to point wireless...such as orinico/agere equipment.

http://www.proxim.com/products/bwa/point/

Nspyr · Post by **Nspyr** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:29 pm

i was looking for something more less costly... any inexpensive methods?

FocalJoker · Post by **FocalJoker** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:58 pm

If you really want to use cat 5, look into buying a repeater to place every 100 meters.

Also research a 10base5 (thicknet) network between the buildings. It's only 10Mbps, but the max cable length is 500m.

The only other thing I can think of, is using wireless with a good signal amplifier.

rpeAMP · Post by **rpeAMP** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 1:04 am

You can only have 4 hubs/repeaters per network segment, and even if it's theoretically possible, you would need to somehow electrically power these hubs, and that might be impractical with his specific circumstances.

I had a similar problem at our church. They were moving my office to one of the houses near the church that was owned by the church, and we couldn't figure out the best way to network me to the church's domain controller. What ended up happening is I got a high-speed cable line installed at the house (business class, but residential should work fine), and set up a VPN tunnel that allowed me to login to the church's domain controller.

If this sounds like something you want to look into further, let me know and I can point you in some directions.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 6:45 am

Well...you are going to run into some money, regardless.

*2x broadband connections, one at each location, and setup a router at each location capable of router to router VPN...and you can have a slow VPN tunnel, which may let you run a very light application since the VPN tunnel would be 128k or so. Linksys BEFSX41 routers support that...although they are lightweight routers, you have to reboot them now and then, and the VPN tunnel...well, lets just say it's not a ball of fire. But hey, 85 bucks each, quick enough to run terminal service through. On the other hand...Sonicwall routers, 800 bucks each, but blistering fast VPN tunnel...again, still only as fast as the slowest upload from both locations though. Long term cost of maintaining two broadband connections monthly though.

*Hardwire the two locations...I'm sure there are already conduits underground between the buildings...phone, 'lectrical, etc. Nice for a fiber run if in place. Fiber itself isn't that expensive...but the equipment to bridge it can be...switches with a fiber transiever module included...but it's a one time cost...and reliable...and fast. Depending on the actual distance between the buildings, yes you can put a repeater in there....if you can get power to it. But if you have the repeated in an awkward location...can be a bear to troubleshoot, and think about weather conditions, etc.

*Point to point wireless is also a one time cost....and still fairly fast, and if you get good equipment...reliable.

Nspyr · Post by **Nspyr** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 3:29 pm

thanks for all the replies guys..i'll be looking into the options more in depth when find the time... thanks again...and if anyon has any more suggesttions/options... please let me know...