Can I Use CAT5 Outside?

[ashleycowx]

Hey,

just a quick on, i want to run a length of cat5 on the outside wall of my house, it will get wet and not much but slight sunlight.

Would this last about a year??

Thanks
Ashley

 

[cornburn]

Most of my work is Cat5 and I always use external (black) when running outdoors. If you shop around you can get it almost as cheap, I pay about £30 for a 305m box of either. The black stuff has a plastic barrier inside to keep the water out, once a little bit of normal Cat5 splits the water gets in and it very quickly rots the measly cables inside it. If you only want it to last a year though then just stick in whatever's cheap, it's not going to come to any harm in that time.

Of course officially I would recommend that you have me in to install a fibre link for you as that way you won't get hit by lightning and explode all the IT equipment in your house ;P