I plan to build a metal building (entertainment / guest house) on our 1-1/2 acre property in the next 5 years or so. I will need to extend my internet access and security camera network to that building. It will be >150 feet from our primary house. My modem, router, switches, etc. are all housed in my master closet.

I'm assuming fiber will be the #1 option to extend access to the building. I installed a demarc box on the outside of my home that currently has CAT6 and RG6 runs between that and master closet. And we are close to getting FTTH as Ezee Fiber is currently installing infrastructure in our neighborhood.

I was thinking now (or when Ezee fiber does their install) would be the time to run fiber between my demarc box and the master closet. I will need two separate runs for my internal networks. One for my regular LAN with internet access and the other for my security camera network (all POE cameras run to POE switch) which is completely isolated.

With all that said, I know very little about fiber so my question is what kind of cable should I look for to run from the closet to the demarc box? And where is a good place to purchase? Although it is only about a 30' run, I will eventually need someone to terminate the ends for me after the cables are run due to the size of the existing conduit and hole entering the closet.

So you're looking for the run inside the house from the closet to the demarc box that will then take it to the building at a later date?

Been a while since I've done fiber, but I would use an outdoor armored fiber path cable if you're going through walls/attic space. I'm pretty sure you're looking at LC to LC patch cable with SFP+ transceivers in the switch on each end.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Uniboot-Outdoor-Armored/dp/B0CLZ8MD22?th=1

If someone else has messed with it more recently, you can chime in.

The easiest solution may be to just go wireless between the two building with something like this:

https://a.co/d/5ANKfuS

For me long runs depends on what switch you have, but if they have sfp/sfp+ ports on them I would do fiber over Ethernet. Just need to buy the correct transceivers to match the cable type, and you don't have to worry about any interference (plus you don't have to take up one of the Ethernet ports on the switch)

IrishAg said:

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So you're looking for the run inside the house from the closet to the demarc box that will then take it to the building at a later date?

Been a while since I've done fiber, but I would use an outdoor armored fiber path cable if you're going through walls/attic space. I'm pretty sure you're looking at LC to LC patch cable with SFP+ transceivers in the switch on each end.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Uniboot-Outdoor-Armored/dp/B0CLZ8MD22?th=1

If someone else has messed with it more recently, you can chime in.

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You've got it correct. Patch cable might be tough due to having to pull through tight spaces with the ends.

Lathspell said:

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Why complicate your life?

If you are less than 300ft, just run Cat6a. Fiber will not give you any benefit unless:

• The total distance of cable between points is over ~320ish (always a little give or take here).
• You are running through an area with bad electrical interference.

Go with a Ubiquiti wireless bridge for between buildings and you are set without having to deal with fiber bull*****

Buy network switches that allow you to connect (2) Cat6a tie cables and set them up in a LAG for 20Gbps of LAN speed. Buy a firewall and setup a VLAN for security cameras and another for the rest of your network.

Done!

ETA: I was joking about the LAG. You won't have a NIC that supports that speed on any device, so it's not even worth it.

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I'm not opposed to wireless, but am I wrong for being worried with running Cat6 underground due to lightning?

My router and switches do have sfp+ ports that I was planning to utilize (Unifi products).

Nobody Knows My Name said:

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Lathspell said:

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Why complicate your life?

If you are less than 300ft, just run Cat6a. Fiber will not give you any benefit unless:

• The total distance of cable between points is over ~320ish (always a little give or take here).
• You are running through an area with bad electrical interference.

Go with a Ubiquiti wireless bridge for between buildings and you are set without having to deal with fiber bull*****

Buy network switches that allow you to connect (2) Cat6a tie cables and set them up in a LAG for 20Gbps of LAN speed. Buy a firewall and setup a VLAN for security cameras and another for the rest of your network.

Done!

ETA: I was joking about the LAG. You won't have a NIC that supports that speed on any device, so it's not even worth it.

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I'm not opposed to wireless, but am I wrong for being worried with running Cat6 underground due to lightning?

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I have thought about replacing all the ethernet cabling at the office with fiber just so that lightning wouldn't knock out multiple devices with a single strike.

Yes, you should be concerned. Do you have trees along the path you would run the cables? If so I would look at using lightning arresters. I had a neighbor whose tree got hit by lightning when down the tree find the springler wire went to the garage and then into the kitchen via the electircal wire. Blew the sprinkler controller off th way and then blew out the stove and microwave. I also took a hit this year but mine was not buried. I had a hit very close to my house and somehow it hit my cat5 cable going to my TV on a coved porch. It blew oui the convertor to HDMI and then travels back to the control room and blew out by Audio/Video box that controls the feed. That was a $5300 hit!!.

I would also recommend you check with manufactures of equipment it plugs into the see if they have built it lightning arrestors if not then I would recommend you put them on both ends.

I also would run the cable in conduit so you don't have the line cut if someone starts to dig.

I just realized that if you're planning on building the extra building and haven't started yet, run an extra conduit right next to the one that is run for electricity. Then you can pull fiber when whenever you're ready. Can't run ethernet because of interference from the power lines, but the fiber would be no problem running in a conduit right next to the power.

IrishAg said:

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I just realized that if you're planning on building the extra building and haven't started yet, run an extra conduit right next to the one that is run for electricity. Then you can pull fiber when whenever you're ready. Can't run ethernet because of interference from the power lines, but the fiber would be no problem running in a conduit right next to the power.

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Running copper Ethernet in close proximity to power is really no problem. The twisted pair cable is well suited to common mode noise rejection, in additional to any supplemental shielding you get with CAT6+ cabling

I don't know, if you had it in parallel within a few inches for extended distance you'll probably get interference. But that withstanding I would still do single mode fiber for grounding and future proofing.