cat 5 between switches

[Fred Martin_1]

Not sure I'm in the right forum but here goes:

I have two 24-port switches on either end of a building. They're about 150 meters apart in total cable run, somewhat closer as the crow flies.

Anyway - cat 5 has a 100-meter limit, so I can't just run cat 5 between them.

In general terms what kind of options do I have to get these guys connected?

The space between them is an open manufacturing plant, dirty air, etc.

Thanks
Fred

[Andreas Voss · Accepted solution]

Hi,

you can put repeaters within the distance.

[Fred Martin_1]

Would a switch serve as well? I may have equipment on the factory floor in the future.

I'm thinking of putting a switch on the wall someplace in the middle, although I can reach the middle from either end.

[Albert E. Whale, CISSP]

Fred,

The purpose of the Repeater is to boost the signal over the greater distance (>100m). A switch does not amplify the signal, unless it is has that feature built into the device (which would be a new one on me!).

Hope that helps!

[Mike Fitzgerald]

If you don't want/need to add electronics in the middle, you could run a two-strand fiber zip cord between the two locations and use fiber-to-10BaseT media converters at each end. That keeps equipment off of the "dirty" shop floor...

[Tim Malnati]

A repeater is usually the best bet, but you could cheat by installing an inexpensive 4 port switch between the two in an location where neither run will be longer than 100m. You really dont need any management on this switch so don't spend the extra bucks for it. Be sure to get a switch though, where a hub will not supply full duplex communication support and your throughput will be halved. You can find these switches for less than $100 at your local Comp USA to save you time.

[Jennifer Chiarelli]

As Mike points out, Fiber not keeps equipment off the dirty shop floor, but it also eliminates noise from flourescent lights and manufacturing equipment.

[Fred Martin_1]

Mike,

What exactly do I need for a fiber setup? Looking in the "black box" catalog I see an example that shows the fiber, and on each end:

A tranceiver, then a half-to-full-dublex converter; finally a CAT-5 patch cable to a hub.

Tranceivers are $500, converters are $1000, plus cable at .70 per foot.

For me the total is $3,350.

Am I missing something, or is that a typical setup?

Fred

[Chris Weaver]

Why not just 2 of these for less than $500

http://www.transition.com/products/mediacon/etxsx02.html

100BASE-SX allows a fully transparent conversion between twisted pair and fiber while maintaining all the features of 100BASE-TX including Auto-Negotiation and since it use 850nm optics it is MUCH cheaper than most any other solution!

"Applications
Extend Network Distances:
Used in pairs, this media converter can extend distances between two twisted pair switches or a switch and a server up to 300 meters over multimode fiber (100BASE-SX)."

[Mike Fitzgerald]

Fred,

I just came back after a few days off and saw your follow-up question. I'd go the route that Chris Weaver has already laid out. That's what I had in mind in my original reply. No need for extras. All you need are media converters and the fiber.

Mike