Hi, we are looking to install security cameras in our farm yard and buildings Both for securi...

[G+_Simon Needham]

Hi,

 

we are looking to install security cameras in our farm yard and buildings. Both for security and to check on the animals. The problem we have is that there is no network in the farmyard, it will have to be connected to the house network (~ 200 yds away).

 

It would be useful to future proof it as farming is becoming more technology oriented and we have to submit animal moves via internet etc. Plus I wouldn't mine being able to stream music whilst in the yard.

 

What is going to be the best way of connecting the yard up? Wireless, buried Cat-6, fiber??

[G+_Bill Crowe]

Fiber would be best and have the highest bandwidth, but also most expensive. I highly recommend fiber in any case where a system will span two buildings that on separate power panels. Also burning copper can cause issues with lightning strikes in the area finding ways into the buildings. If you have the means, fiber is the way to go.

[G+_John Saunders]

I'd advise fiber, especially since the power ground will be different than the house. There's relatively inexpensive media converters from copper-to-fiber and and back.

 

The larger expense would be the fiber medium itself, buying the fiber in that length isn't a problem, but unless you know how to terminate the ends and the equipment to do so, it will be a headache.

 

Wireless would be an easier solution should fiber be out of the question, the equipment is getting cheaper and more available by the day. The only issue with wireless is aligning the two radios together, and weather changes the amount of interference, so your data speed will not always be consistent.

 

Copper medium would be pointless in this scenario, the length is out of spec for ethernet (100 yds) and with difference in ground potential, the chances of burning up interfaces (or worse, the whole router/switch) is highly likely.

 

Hope this helps.

[G+_Wolf 68k]

If the area is open enough and has good line of sight, you can use wifi with directional antenna(s) pointed back at the house.

[G+_Scott W]

Two of these, one at each end.

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-NSM2-NanoStation-M2/dp/B004EFH6L8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1454861165&sr=8-2&keywords=nanostation

[G+_Simon Needham]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Looks like fiber is the way to go. Will think about how I will setup the network in the yard and then can work out where everything needs to go.

[G+_Ben Reese]

Fiber is cool, but expensive and can be difficult to work with. The Ubiquiti Nano Stations would probably be your best bet - if you've got good line of sight. You'll probably also need another access point in the barn and depending on where you're at heat/cold may be an issue too.

[G+_Scott W]

Wayne Hobbins The parabolics are nice antenna, but can be tricky to align. We used to use them years ago until the Nanostations came out. You also need a good quality coax from the antenna to the radio, and good quality 400 series coax is going to run apx $10 foot, then the cost of a radio at each end. The Nanostations are antenna and radio combined. We have reliable bridges running 24/7 for years at distances 1500 feet plus. For a temporary event we use a setup like this: http://rsweeks.com/photos/WiFi.jpg  Nanostation with a PicoStation to distribute the WiFi. We set them up as a point to multi point, feeding from One Nanostation to several end stations.

[G+_Scott W]

Ben Reese I have two Nanostation M5's at home from my house to garage which is apx 300 feet, last year we had temps of -15. My garage is not heated 24/7 and it got might cold in there. No ill effects, and it runs 3 IP cameras 24/7. 

Also line of sight at shorter distances with these is not a big issue. The one in my house is in the middle of the house shooting through 4 walls to the garage through another wall. Never had an issue.

[G+_Scott W]

I also setup a Bridge from a friends house to his sons house, one end of the block to the other end. I think like 15 houses in between, not a great line of sight. This was about 5 years ago, and its been up 24/7. 

[G+_Ben Reese]

I'm sold! LOL. I've seen reports of these working at several miles and I think they claim something like 15 mile range. If I had the money to spend on experimenting, I'd like to set them up between my house and my brothers house the next town over (about 8-10 miles as the crow flies). I get 200 Mbps × 20 Mbps on cable Internet, but he's limited to 20 Mbps × 1 on DSL.

 

If course, if I happened to get that working I'd have to try jumping from my brothers house to my parents another 10-12 miles away. Maybe someday I'll have money to experiment with.

[G+_Darren Olson]

Scott W Agreed. These Ubiquiti ap's are cheap and work well. I use them at work to power 2 5MP cameras and other equipment at 700 feet without any issue.  On my farm I use buried cat5 for cameras but was under the 300ft mark.

[G+_Jason Marsh]

Ethernet uses differential signaling, so I wouldn't be terribly afraid of a potential difference between earth at the barn and the house. Especially not with lightning arrestors at both ends.

 

I'd much rather put a mid-span device in the middle and run CAT6, although I wouldn't bury direct. I'd put it in a conduit, and put the midspan in a sealed box, inside of a meter box.