Ethernet underground?

[Andrew]

So I want to extend internet from one building to another that is less than 100 feet away. Wireless doesn't work that great, and thus I am thinking of buying 100 feet of ethernet cable to put underground between buildings. Are there any obvious terrible reason not to? The cable would not be weatherproof version (expensive and don't know of many retailers selling them). Even if it only lasts 1 year, that would be cheaper than other solutions for now.

If this fails, I would try some wireless solutions, but they are more expensive, and might not penetrate the house as well.

Product I would buy: 100 foot cat5e $16

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812105312

[gryphon]

to be safe you can dig in PVC and run the cable in that. Prevents shortcircuits or otherwise accidental injuries to the cable.

(please do so, putting a bare cable in the ground or hanging from one rooftop to another is really not-done)

Be sure that you don't hit anything dangerous when you dig it in. Running Ethernet under ground was actually common before we all started buying fiber for that purpose.

[Andrew]

They were planning on only putting it 1 foot below ground or so. Already put a coaxial cable down many years ago no problems yet.

[Xaroth]

putting down bare cables is asking for trouble, you only need one idiot that stamps on the ground too hard for the cable to start shifting, maybe a rock or something that gets pressed down on it and you have yourself a broken cable.

I'd also go for gryphon's idea, if you really want speed/geekness you can go for the even more expensive method of putting fiber down, but that might be totally out of your budget (not to mention you'll need switches that support fiber).

also, if you dig, don't go 1 ft down.. stick to 2-3 ft at least, just to make sure that whatever is walking/driving on the soil won't move your cable..it'll preserve your cable(s).

As a last idea, don't put down just 1 cable.. get a backup.. as you said 16 bucks isn't that expensive, so you can get a 2nd (or even third) line down.. in the rare occurrence that one breaks, you can switch to the 2nd without having to dig them up.

[gryphon]

If you would have used a PVC pipe the first time you dug something in, you could now easy pull another cable in the same pipe without needing to dig in another one, and maybe another one next month. :)

[Guest D.dioto]

is this possible ?? i want to set up a hot reduncency ethernet system for a ti505.

thanks

[Andrew]

I ended up not putting cable underground as the wireless ended up working.

[gryphon]

it is possible and should work perfectly. I do prefer some protection for the cable when you decide to dig it in the ground.