Long wires, how to do it...

relic · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject: Long wires, how to do it...

Antenna cables lose DB...you want to keep them as short as possible, USB cables have a nominal 10' limit but can be extended with power injectors...but, ethernet can be run at least 328 feet at 100Mbps.

It makes sense to put your antenna, router and booster (if you have one) close together and run an ethernet cable to get the data back to the network.

Only problem? You need to power all that stuff. Fortunately there is a way to do it all with only one cable. It's called POE (power over ethernet) and it utilizes the unused pairs of wires in a standard ethernet cable to provide up to 48V DC to devices on the other end.

I did this with a $35 5-volt POE kit from linksys to power my 5V CTR350 router. We developed the idea to test a potential failover system to backup point-to-point WAN connections by using VPN backup over EVDO-internet.

The whole failover hardware configuration cost under $400 with discounts for a 2-year contract (router, POE kit, and EVDO modem) and the $59 monthly contract is no more than DSL or cable. Perfectly affordable for home or business use.

The hardware is currently mounted in my attic, the ethernet cable runs down to my basement for power and network connectivity. I could do it wirelessly, but I'd still need to run power, so why not do POE? It's cheaper than the cost of the romex and other parts needed to run power up there.

I have a great cable connection for my home (10Mb/3Mb) but since I work from home I need a backup. Setting up my firewall for auto failover to the CTR350 gives me access even when cable goes down. And with a big UPS I can run for 8 hours without grid power. That little CTR350 and EVDO modem don't draw enough power to register on the UPS...my PCs are the limiting factor for battery power.

All EVDO parts were purchased from 3Gstore of course, and they were quite helpful. I sent them a diagram of our proposed config. for their approval.

Need more info, just drop me a PM...I'd be glad to help...of course I'd have to insist that you buy your parts from 3Gstore Wink

.

Bigdave · EVDO Addict Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 1067

It's been discussed on these forums before but not about the Cradlepoint routers . . . . . is there any chance these routers can withstand the heat of my south Georgia attic? That's always been a problem before with this type of scenario.