100m with internet access
100m with internet access
Hi there! Welcome to the community. I’m new and hoping to learn about connecting my network room to a poly tunnel. Since both are above some trees, I’m thinking about setting up a direct connection. A point-to-point Wi-Fi dish would work well—something like a reliable brand such as TP-Link Archer or Netgear Nighthawk could be a good fit. If you need extra reach, a CAT5e or 6 cable might help, especially if you plan to install a booster near the pump house about 20 meters away. Running it through a small stream isn’t ideal, so I’d avoid burying the cable there. It sounds like a DIY project, so a simple setup should be manageable. Let me know if you need more details!
Be honest, keep it simple: add a cable and a booster at the end. Point-to-point Wi-Fi costs a lot. You’d need to dig a trench and bury it inside a cable, protected by a housing.
I’m pretty confident you’ll achieve gigabit ethernet over 105 meters using a decent network switch and cable. You might notice occasional packet loss, but it should be minimal—just a few lost packets here and there. I set up a link between two campus buildings that was about 102 meters long with virtually no loss. Using a good Cat6 cable with solid copper wire (around AWG23) should work well. You could use a 5-port switch paired with a long power strip (10–15 meters) and extend the cable to a 95+ meter segment. The switch will amplify the signal, allowing you to push beyond 100 meters. If needed, you can run fiber optic cables and connect them to media converters; fiber is more costly, around $300 for about 110 meters. fs.com lists it at $300 for 110 meters of industrial fiber: https://www.fs.com/products/70402.html
I’d install it directly if possible. I’d consider renting a trencher and running conduit so you always have another line ready, plus extra shielding. If you choose this method, include several pull ropes for flexibility. You might use high-quality Cat 6 cable and route it to the first pump house then the second if needed later. With a trencher, burying the conduit should be straightforward. Unless the stream is shallow, you can dig a trench by hand; if deeper, just place the conduit as low as possible and seal the joints properly—this should keep water out completely.
I really prefer WiFi since it doesn’t require much bandwidth; any signal loss from trees is likely minor. However, I’d be cautious in areas with lightning risk. I wouldn’t use copper wiring at all—especially not between buildings, as that creates ground potential differences. If you need a physical connection, I’d stick to fibre, which is more reliable if the cable gets flooded.
Isn't Ethernet built to keep signals separate? If you're concerned, you could connect a PoE switch at the other end using power over Ethernet and draw from another building’s voltage. A few affordable media converters and fiber might add extra separation when needed, but it’s likely more cost-effective than buying many meters of fiber.
For extended distances it's best to use shielded cables to minimize interference, though the shielding isn't properly isolated. Even underground wiring remains vulnerable to lightning strikes.