[XCSSA] Anyone interested in a WiSpy Demo This Month?

[xcssa@xcssa.org]

On May 8, 2007, at 1:44 PM, xcssa-admin@xcssa.org wrote:

> 2) IIRC, that is correct, cat 5 is not supposed to be weatherproof,  
> and
> you are supposed to "plenum cabling" in areas like attics to be
> compliant with fire code... I don't remember the exact details, but if
> you have any questions about building codes and standards, about any
> sort of material science kind of issues, I have a relative who is a
> construction specifier and can answer them definitively, just send
> them to me and I'll forward them along.  This goes for anyone...

My understanding is that you must use plenum cable in "forced air"  
spaces such as ceiling tiles in offices, or through air conditioning  
ducts. So attics don't count, but you should not put cables through  
an open hole to the attic area. You have to use wall plates or a  
patch panel mounted in a wall box or on a soffit. But to be  
absolutely sure, you probably should ask.

As for running cat5 outside, a short run of a few feet from your  
attic straight to your phone box should be okay. I did that for my  
phone/DSL wiring a few years ago, and it's still in good shape.

And for completeness, I would not recommend using copper to wire up  
to your next door neighbor's house. Do yourself a favor and get a  
couple of 100BT-to-fiber interface boxes, and use fiber to make the run.

  - Bruce -