The great outdoors is good for the summer seasons. You should be able to have access to basic things like the internet, no matter where you are in your own home. From running the ethernet cable through your garden to the shed and man cave behind the main building, you can have as many ethernet ports as you want. Let us know “How To Run Network Cables In Your Garden?”
How To Run Network Cables In Your Garden?
Let us dig into “How To Run Network Cables In Your Garden?”, Running ethernet cables through your garden is possible and easy to do if you do it right. Before you get started though, you need to plan ahead. Plan for the changing seasons and how they can affect the network cable. Also, plan the networking of the cable so that there is a port at every point that you want such that it will not be a hindrance to other activities in the garden. Apart from the fact that running an outdoor cable could be labor intensive to start with, it affords you a more stable and faster internet than using a Wi-Fi network router.
There are a host of other things you should know about running ethernet cables through your garden. If you are reading this article, you have made a good decision, but only if you read to the end. Enjoy.
Things To Consider Before Running The Ethernet Cable Outdoors
As mentioned in the introduction paragraph, before you start out with running the ethernet cable, you should plan ahead. This plan will enable you to get the right materials, including the right ethernet cable itself. Consider all or a few of the following points before you proceed.
- Decide If You Want To Run An Underground Or Aboveground Cable – the underground cable is considered to be more reliable because the only element it could be exposed to would be heat and frost in the soil. But if you got the right material, those should not even be a problem. The aboveground cable however needs more caution and planning because you will need to protect it with the right conduit and a lot more.
- Plan For The Seasons – whether you are planning to run the ethernet cable underground or aboveground, it must be well insulated to prevent moisture from getting to the insulator; more so if you are considering aboveground networking. You should also plan to protect the cable from UV light. So, while planning the conduit, make sure it is both water and UV-light-resistant.
- Always Go For High-Quality Cables – you may want to cut costs but that should not extend to the type of cables that you buy. Some cables have been specifically designed to be run outdoors. Those should even be a priority if you are planning to run the cable aboveground. You can get away with it if you are running it belowground, although it is not advisable. Most often, the Cat5e and Cat6 ethernet cables are the best options for the outdoors. You should know however that the ordinary version of Cat6 cables is not good for outdoor use because it can be affected by extreme heat.
- Plan The Networking – this is as much important for underground cabling as it is for the aboveground. This is because running your ethernet cable longer than 100 meters at a time may disrupt your connection because, beyond that, the signals begin to reduce. If you plan to run it for longer, then you could consider using Wi-Fi repeaters or network hubs installed in series alongside the cables. This will extend the range of your network. You can also draw up a pictorial plan to give yourself an idea of how the cables will branch out so that you can plan ahead for the lengths to buy.
Equipment And Tools Needed For Running The Network Cable In Your Garden
- Direct Burial Cables And Ordinary Cables – you should always go for direct burial cables because they come preinstalled with water and UV-resistant materials such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or LLDPE (low-linear density polyethylene). These protect it against damage in the soil.
- Ethernet Repeaters Or Network Hubs – these are useful if you are planning to run it for longer than 100 meters at a time. The only problem is that you must also install a power source at each 100-meter point because the ethernet repeaters must be connected to a power source to function. The alternative to this issue is getting a PoE (Power over Ethernet) network extender which functions to transport both power and electricity at the same time.
- Conduit – this is much more important if you are installing the cable aboveground as it prevents damage from the weather elements. You should know that most buildings already come with high-quality HVAC conduits installed. All you need is to leverage such and run your ethernet cable through it. You can either do that by attaching a pull string to a washer and then using it to draw your network cable through the conduit. The process is a lot more complicated but can be achieved if done right.
- Connectors (outdoor rated and waterproof)
- Wire Cutters
Procedure To Run Ethernet Cables In Your Garden
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Aboveground Ethernet Cable Installation
Always bear in mind that the aboveground cable installation in your garden should not be directly on top of the ground. The reason for this is obvious. The cable is more liable to be damaged by rodents, weather elements, or even your lawn mower when it is atop the ground. Rather, run it some ways overhead.
The first step is to plug one end of the cable into an ethernet outlet in the main building. Then run the entire length of the cable outside through a conduit. You need to have preinstalled the conduit. If you have bought a Cat6, Cat6a, or Cat7 cable, you may not need a conduit.
If you are planning to run the cable for more than 100 meters, you can terminate the wires at 100 meters and then connect them using ethernet repeaters. This is so that your network does not slow down because of traveling through a long distance.
Belowground Ethernet Cable Installation
Since it is below ground, you will have to dig a little. For best installations, you should bury your ethernet cable at least 20 cm below the ground. The depth will however depend on the type of soil and the weather condition of the area. You can contact your local utility authority for assistance. Alternatively, you can run the cable through a conduit that has already been installed in the building if there is one.
A burial cable will work well in this situation and you may not need to run it through a conduit. Also, just like the above-ground installation, you can break the run into 100 meters each, connected with an Ethernet repeater to limit signal attenuation.
Planning ahead for this kind of installation is more important because you will not want to have dug a portion of your garden only to realize you should be going the other way.
Precautions To Take While Running The Ethernet Cable Outdoors
- First, contact the local utility authority to help you mark out the important areas not to dig before you start. They will map out where the water pipe, gas lines, electricity cables, and such pass through your property. They won’t even charge you for this service because it will prevent damage to their equipment too.
- Never run an ethernet cable parallel to the power lines, they should always be perpendicular to one another. This will prevent signal interference and noise.
- Bury your cable in a conduit if you have underground rodents on your property. The conduit will provide additional protection for the cable.
- If you are planning to run an overhead outdoor ethernet cable, always buy an outdoor CMX cable with a built-in messenger. This will help strengthen it against weather element damage.
- Always check to make sure that your electricity cabling and the ethernet cable you are planning to install do not have different ground potentials. This could cause a ground loop resulting in voltage jumping into the ethernet cable at will.
Conclusion
Now we have learnt “How To Run Network Cables In Your Garden?”, Running an ethernet cable through your property may be more labor and capital-intensive but the outcome is much more rewarding. You should make sure to plan ahead and that you have the necessary equipment. Using lower-grade materials may end up costing you more. So, try as much as possible to always get the right materials to avoid damage in the future.
FAQ
- What is the best ethernet cable for outdoor installation?
Always go for the Cat6 or Cat6a shielded cable. Apart from the fact that this cable is specifically built for the outdoors, it has the capacity for 10 gigabytes per second of internet speed. You can also go for the Cat7 shielded cable but that is on the high-end side and is most suitable for use by offices with more people using it at a time.
Are LAN and Ethernet cables the same or different?
The LAN (Local Area Network) or Ethernet are one and the same and can be used interchangeably. The cable is composed of copper wiring which could come flat or round and in different grades.
What is the advantage of the Ethernet cable over Wi-Fi?
To have Wi-Fi internet access, you must have connected a Wi-Fi adapter to an Ethernet source. In other words, no Wi-Fi without ethernet. Also, Wi-Fi is more prone to interference and no-internet zones than ethernet cable and that could affect internet connectivity. Lastly, the ethernet internet connection is generally faster than Wi-Fi.
