Re: [smartBridges] Outdoor or Indoor...Conduit or not.....that isthe question

[Kevin Proctor]

Nish,

The connector has a flaw and that is what it is trying to seal.  It is trying to seal CAT5 cable which is not round.  The sealing system used at the ends requires a round cable to seal to.  The center seal is great, but the ends will not always seal properly because the CAT5 cable is not always round.

Kevin

Nish Park wrote:

Bobby and Joe,

 

We are hearing you. But all the 3 points you guys mention do not have any clear “right or wrong” answers. We can debate till the cows come home on their merits.

 

Now having said that, we are looking at making some enhancements to the TOTAL product line. After almost 6 months of field usage and customer comments, we have identified a few things to make it more interesting. At that time we will consider some of the points you are describing. But I think those changes are being considered more for the “psychological” impact.

 

Thanks.

 

Ps. Why do you think RJ45 connector inside the box is more moisture resistant? The box and the connector have the same IP rating for being weatherproof and prevent water entry. But neither of them is air tight and thus has no impact on the moisture.

 

 

Nish

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Joe Email
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 9:07 PM
To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Subject: RE: [smartBridges] Outdoor or Indoor...Conduit or not.....that is the question

 

Bobby

 

Those three things you mentioned are the 3 things I have been trying to get sBridges to address

 

This is the reason we have been holding off buying any more radios, hopeing they will address soon

Again this is the only concern we have with the sBridges equipment

I have heard them address every other issue but the grounding and shielding issue

My opinion is they have been very responsive on the chip problem and the other issues

 

I told Dilish when we first started testing the radios this waterproof connector and the nonshielded cat 5

was a major concern of ours

 

Joe K

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Bobby Bounds
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 7:49 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [smartBridges] Outdoor or Indoor...Conduit or not.....that is the question

Thanks for weighing in, Nish. For newbies to this biz, if you live in an electrical storm area and you are going to use outdoor radios you MUST shield and surge protect the CAT 5 as well as ground the radio and ground the CAT 5 shield. This should be clearly stated on the installation instructions and SB needs to immediately address the problem of the 8" inches of unshielded CAT 5 sticking out of the radios.

 

As for your opinion that the advantages of outdoor radios outweigh the disadvantages, I could not disagree with you more. If outdoor units "blow up" with the slightest surge in the CAT 5 and indoor installations don't have this problem, how on earth could you make that statement with a straight face? The SB line of outdoor radios are improperly designed when it comes to grounding and shielding the CAT 5. A little acknowledgement from SB in this regard would be encouraging. Here's the shortlist:

1. Unshielded CAT 5 sticking out of the unit with no way of correcting this in the field.
2. 'All weather' connector on the CAT 5 is just a problem waiting to happen in regards to moisture. Connector should be inside the radio.
3. Radio case should be metalized.

 

Also, it would be nice if you have an opinion on the conduit question.

 

As for use, we are going to use indoor radios for the time being. Also we'll keep experimenting with shielding and using conduit.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

Bobby Bounds

Airwave Internet, LLC

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Nish Park

To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 12:47 AM

Subject: RE: [smartBridges] Outdoor or Indoor...Conduit or not.....that is the question

 

Bobby,

 

I hope you get good help from the list on how to better protect the outdoor equipment. Damage to 6 units (from all different brands) in just one week points to something very peculiar in your setup.

 

As to the Indoor or Outdoor question, I think the advantages of mounting the Outdoor radio far outweigh the disadvantages you list.

 

Nish

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Bobby Bounds
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 12:14 PM
To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Subject: [smartBridges] Outdoor or Indoor...Conduit or not.....that is the question

 

Hi everyone......we all know (or think we know) the advantages of using outdoor radios for CPE. They are (your list may vary):

 

1. Less db loss in the coax - because the radio is right next to the antenna. Also less cost due to not having to use as much coax.
2. Easier cable install - install CAT 5 instead of bulky LMR. Also you can do longer runs with CAT 5 than coax.
3. Cleaner install at the wall jack - just use an RJ 45 outlet.

I may have missed one or two or major benefits but that is all I can think of at the moment.

 

Now, my point is this. Using outdoor radios has its' disadvantages doesn't it? Such as:

 

1. Failures caused by lightning surge, moisture, heat, cold, etc.

Last year when SB came out w/the outdoor units I was all jazzed up. In my ignorance I thought the smaller diameter cable run and not having to use coax would be just peachy. I am no longer of that opinion. If you've been following my rants you know our problem here in New Mexico is inductive surge caused by electrical storm activity in the vicinity (the damage tally for the week is two ABO's, 2 Linksys routers, and two integrated NICS in the customer's machines).

 

So, the party is over. We got our ass kicked. Our ignorance (combined with flaky SB outdoor radios) has been a real bad combo. Not once on this list have I heard any mention that you guys use conduit for customer installs. Why is that? Cost? Labor? Ignorance (like us)? It seems to me now that (in lightning prone areas) the only smart thing to do is use metal conduit starting from the hole in the wall of the house and going to within a few inches of the other end (antenna and/or radio). The reason for metal conduit instead of PVC plastic is that you can use the metal conduit as part of your grounding system.

 

So, let's say you are using an outdoor SB radio mounted next to the antenna. Why not stick it in a metal elect. utility box or NEMA box? The ethernet crimp would stay high and dry in there. Also, use shielded CAT 5. Run it inside the 3/4" metal conduit. Go down the side of the house with the conduit (looks less worse than cable, you or the customer can paint it to match the structure).

 

Also, let's say you are using an Indoor radio; I submit to you that it is smart to still use conduit because the conduit extends the life of the coax by like 15 years. I hear the coax starts to crap out after 5 years or so. Another idea I have is to use a small metal box on the outside of the structure right where it enters the house. The conduit can connect into this box, also you can put a Polyphaser in there, and it covers the hole in the house. Then go to earth ground, of course.

 

Is there extra cost to this? Of course...but it's chump change compared to the cost of rework, truck rolls, and loss of goodwill. Please critique these ideas and help me to refine them. Anyone using conduit at this point?

 

Finally, I would state that given the disadvantages of the outdoor units I'd have to opine that (all things considered) an indoor radio install has a significant advantage over an outdoor radio install. Do you agree?

 

So, the issues are:

 

1. Outdoor or indoor
2. Conduit or no

 

Bobby Bounds

Airwave Internet

 

-- 
Kevin B. Proctor
Customer Service
Internet Sales
Electro-Comm Distributing Inc.
5015 Paris St.
Denver, CO 80239
+1-800-525-0173
+1-303-371-8182
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