This post is part of the Home network v2 series.
I dug a 10 meter trench to get wired network to my detached garage. Then installed a rack cabinet and PoE switch. Here is the build log 👇
Table of contents
The initial plan
My initial plan was to set up a wireless 60 GHz link between the house and the garage, using a pair of MikroTik wAP 60G or Cube 60G ac.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/mikrotik-60g-wireless_hu76e88b10cabf1cf12f9df074707d3b0e_909626_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I still had to pull about 20-30 meters of CAT6 cable to get to a good location on the house, with a clear view of the garage. And my wife didn’t want any “ugly antennas” (her words), so I figured I’d just dig a trench across the 10 meters between the house and the garage.
The new plan
The new plan was to trench the shortest distance between the house and garage. From a support beam for the terrace, across the lawn, to the garage side wall — a distance of about 10 meters.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/google-maps-trench_hu547f7a9c3e512638232b28bd275dfda2_145541_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
The power cable for the garage also starts at this support beam, but goes towards the rear of the garage, while I was going straight across — so there shouldn’t be any conflicts.
Getting the gear up
The first thing I did; was get the networking gear for the garage in place, I bought a 6U wall mounted cabinet, and a used D-LINK PoE switch.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210723_223025_hub4b37eb29e330708bc3182bc3f0897d3_905329_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_005556_hu3f5fec44711134ed98a4fd293bd9e8b2_506888_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I wanted the cabinet on the north facing wall, as the south wall gets a lot of sun during the day. And I wanted it out of the way — I decided that above the garage door was a nice location.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_130204_hu0fdb9d7f7d2909ac4f3235c7ed1fee6d_498712_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I mounted two 2×3" planks, spaced so they matched the mounting holes on the cabinet.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_130442_hu8789ae070f6bb436ef2d2ccfed747955_466308_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Using two boards to support the cabinet while I secured it to the 2×3’s.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_145247_hue33b9693d8be762486b07f9ef8d42e18_520119_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I installed the PoE switch, and used it to power the Unifi UAP-AC-M I have in the garage. This access points has a wireless uplink, for now — but that will change once the new cable is in place 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_152028_hue220b5863d38d3618cadc980cd55b064_762492_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Digging the trench
Right — on to the trenching…
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_174234_hu3ff30b02673d09c4b8b5a14c56fe76ec_1137164_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I used some spray paint to make a straight line from the garage to the house. Then started digging.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_185152_hu7e4815d952f273f8f6d3ecc9b735ea32_1729283_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
So many rocks — and the soil was hard as hell. I spent a few hours contemplating my decision at this point, but chose to push on.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_221958_hudc0b4a26e6662b34eafc826d35661154_1077570_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
After the first day; I was about half way across, but the trench wasn’t deep enough.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210725_140302_hu59ec852d75325dcb182aee35c23ece09_1255011_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
So the next day I enlisted the help of some additional workers — making the trench deeper and hauling the rocks away 👷
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210725_154302_hudf6c0b19612a69754c0d076b9b19201e_1129764_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
By the end of that day we got the trench all the way across the lawn.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210725_154344_hu35d39bdfd1468a753ea85e292dede150_622532_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
And we got it deep enough, about 25-30 cm.
Laying the conduit
Time to get the conduit in the ground!
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210724_005646_hu8a814e0aa22c0b9e404c86e5e89ca90d_522022_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I purchased 25 meters outdoor rated flexible conduit 20mm, crushed rock, and some bags of sand.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_154216_hu754116f4eadc0a5b466692765b8b84df_1239997_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
The first thing I had to do; was dig the last meter to the garage, lifting up some cobble stones.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_155138_hu2813da095d13a49e452b490b960625c0_914281_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
And drill a 22mm hole into the garage.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_160948_hub1165623753343f09b88f39cbbeb8b81_1732485_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Then I laid down a layer of sand, and placed the conduit.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_172512_hufa44b0aa7da88b214d05796b2b5c2817_1650541_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I put another layer of sand on top of the conduit, then crushed rock, then put the soil back.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_163049_hub758d62f0501b7452fa7365fb04c8a33_846568_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
The conduit was in the garage, and halfway across the lawn. Time to tackle the other end…
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_174254_hu3409844c2c24acd33d3cc03c80b20edb_1266892_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
This end went straight though my wife’s flower bed. She wasn’t thrilled, but I promised to be careful 🌼
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_174250_hube740814bc5280fdbfdaf400866571dc_778196_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Here I came across the power cable going to the garage, I carefully dug below it.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_175807_hu19185bd671cb8640004e2b95e42c0e92_1224888_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Worried that my wife would accidentally put her garden trowel through the flexible conduit, I put it inside a 25mm plastic pipe.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_175819_huf2023af777b07504cebb2acd4c794b20_1094538_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
With a 90° bend next to the concrete pier.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210730_181431_hu4c5d1df72fc649c2a81c9392e17146eb_961111_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
The plastic pipe is not visible once the soil was put back.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_181603_hu16ef7c31130d7f3b4c0e233c99a9f7c9_1755811_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Once done; I put the soil and cobble stone back. It’s like nothing ever happened 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210730_180940_hu9f75aca5c106a86e56278cef59928316_1756823_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
The pieces of grass I dug up earlier was put back, and I raked soil over it. Filling any holes, and removing rocks.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210728_181630_hu36d4ba5a49507d7da914d016f409e493_827041_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
For now the conduit was left dangling in both ends, but at least it was in the ground 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210731_181228_hu875d06472b42ccb8ec69a76b20d457e7_1738024_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
The kids had a lot of fun with the leftover soil and rocks, before it got cleaned up.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210801_163020_hu32cdfbdc4f6227c84244976ea8a0ab9b_1711994_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Securing the conduit
It took me about a week to get the parts I needed to secure the conduit, and find time to get it done.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210805_193504_hu081e772820273322bdfa1c1eb5a772b4_918730_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
The parts I got:
- Metal cable guard 22×1200mm
- Metal cable guard 28×1200mm × 2
- Metal cable guard, flexible 28mm
- Conduit fasteners 20mm
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210807_103134_hudd8da49c24ca09e69774e9912ecd0baa_1607862_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
By then; the lawn had started to clear up nicely 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210808_110527_hu0b1c62dac1df89a663619271a7da0996_938129_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I got started on the garage side. I had to chip away a bit at the base of the concrete slab, to prevent the conduit from kinking.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210808_110723_hu96288f7d94efc0d67e71c32fe076e348_632760_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Then I cut and formed the metal cable guard, to make it fit around the base of the concrete slab.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210808_112305_hubbdfac09d4805da915e2119af2e2748d_1189785_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I secured it to the slab with a single fastener.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210808_112509_hua03b17c83c09c7b34a7f2370d1f5384e_1390486_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
It turned out pretty good 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210808_115609_hua21794186625b7aba64c574ff5e70ffd_840490_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
On the other end I used a piece of flexible metal cable guard, as it had to twist and turn to get from the concrete pier to the support beam.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210808_123826_hufbe340a97618f82612ac10df4c0aff7f_780417_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Then two lengths of metal cable guard going up the beam, totalling 2.4 meters. The guards covers both the new conduit and the existing power cable for the garage.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210808_124214_hub915162545745880cf292b32077a89b4_1000818_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
It’s like I was never there 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210808_141231_huf37c1e01729fff466623c4308771d1b9_847838_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
At the top of the beam; I put a IP55 rated junction box, to end the conduit and keep the water out. I installed a M16 cable gland, to get the CAT6 cable back out of the box.
Pulling the cable
I purchased a new fish tape for the occasion, it’s stiff — yet flexible.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210727_220351_hua91ef6269476437edeca0fe065d4ed0d_701421_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I had outdoor rated CAT6 cable left over from installing my outdoor access point.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210821_223722_hu9ccd3fe104a57353d39eb68a7df33ff9_813734_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to push the fish tape through, that it would get stuck in a 90° bend, or because of friction.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_103614_hu6b8002e4ef4f92c9669541da2a474b3a_574468_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
There is a hatch in the terrace floor, for removing snow in the winter. It’s located above the junction box where the conduit ends. This made it a lot easier to work with the fish tape.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_101240_hu714a43b1b6430646a0d0f91dd8354b54_944807_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Much to my surprise, I effortlessly pushed the tape all the way through the conduit and out the other side. I didn’t even feel it going through the 90° bend. A good fish tape is key!
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_102323_hu09db98d2383fd86432215cb8d9be3c31_647988_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Then I threaded the wires through the pulling eye, making sure they were secure.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_102602_hu964383fd1118e3a112657c5982142a24_507788_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
And duct-taped it, so it wouldn’t come loose or get hung up on something.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_102825_hudd1a0899dafc54b300a817f2e086df11_1357964_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I secured the CAT6 spool to a wire basket stand. My wife helped feed the cable as I pulled, and we got started 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_104953_hu2a0d14006902cb401ba91b8f64435eaa_1225250_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
We pulled the cable though without any problems. I didn’t need to use any lubricant on the cable — the conduit does have a “smooth inside” so maybe that helped.
After the cable was through, we needed to pull another 25 meters for the cable to reach all the way to my home office.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_150441_huad6850918e84e8b7413fd32ff5130299_718070_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Then I started threading and fastening the cable. The junction box is just used to end the conduit, keeping the water out.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_122546_huff5a65e0f9c38affd63e6b0a8c841318_522974_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Cable leaving the junction box, going up under the terrace.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_122612_hu5a497f05a8e3cebbcd76c5d5d2acfad6_650421_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Continuing along the underside of the terrace, where it meets the cable from the outdoor access point. Then onto the wall of the house…
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210821_142721_hu1560cb1e45ccfb3ce08d519d515a961f_1240854_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
…going down and into a conduit leading to the basement. Together with another CAT6 cable and my ISP fiber.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210821_154455_huf740e46cf498d60d56597d41e6778195_265405_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Then through the basement, and into my home office.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_125509_hud6173ca2f03d3da8bca89ded0bdc0a88_629816_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
And finally; to the patch panel 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_122513_hu879bac14465a69f071afe8d336e83378_1043278_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I used the rest of the 22mm metal cable guard to secure the conduit in the garage. My initial plan was to end the conduit after the guard ended…
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210815_164044_huc660f89dfa1d78ceecb8a0d8a944ff6f_887207_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
…but instead I figured I might as well use it all the way to the rack cabinet. So I extended the conduit with a coupling, and secured it with some fasteners.
The cable now goes from the rack cabinet in the garage, all the way to the patch panel in my home office. With a total cable length of 40 meters — 15 of those in the conduit.
Now it just needs to be terminated 🥳
Terminating the cable
The last step is to terminate both ends of the CAT6 cable.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210822_144759_hu23378974e33783814ab2a5f87cdbba74_813515_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I’m using tool-free keystone jacks, which are really easy to install.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210822_150204_hu204ca0d12bce15c3f63e3b515fd1b53f_378745_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
The wires goes though and are fastened in the top plastic piece.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210822_150337_hu819aafe9095ecfd2e685e4bae58c0667_416237_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
This piece is then pushed onto the keystone jack itself, and done 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210822_151727_hu1141a1a98dd05b789621fa73355f686e_346932_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Before I cut the wires and closed the keystone jack; I tested the continuity and pairing using a Fluke network tester.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210822_152152_hu855475c0aaa953adf1aca0f9a0ce5fa1_692739_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Nice! No crossed pairs 😃 The measured cable length is surprisingly accurate; the length markings on the cable shows that the run is 40 meters, and I used a 1 meter patch cable in both ends.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210822_153214_hu9478cd36eaffe47f57b13ac5eebdd0c0_531241_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
Then I cut the wires, closed the keystone jack, clicked it into the home office patch panel, and secured the cable.
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210822_215610_hub35be2f50ad4fa6d3869de258734e376_437410_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
I repeated the process in the garage cabinet, and patched both ends 🙂 My garage access point no longer has a wireless uplink 👍
I don’t have a patch panel in the garage cabinet, as there probably isn’t going to be that many patch cables. I can easily install one later, if I need to.
Future plans
I’m planning to install more network equipment in the garage:
- Some CCTV cameras
- Raspberry Pi temperature sensor, and possibly a GPS time server
- Automation equipment for my wife’s future greenhouse
I did consider a small backup server, but I think it gets too cold for spinning disks in the winter.
Why not fiber?
I’m including this because I think the question will come up; why didn’t you use fiber?
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/y-u-no-fiber.jpg)
I thought about it — but because the conduit ended where it did, needing a long run under the terrace and along the house wall; I decided against it. I had a spool of CAT6 cable, and it’s just easier to work with.
I realize the rick of lightning damage isn’t non-existent, but I think the chance of that happening are very low. This isn’t a pole mounted access point sticking up in the air.
And — the garage gets its power, and ground, from the house. So there shouldn’t be any ground potential difference between the two buildings.
A ground potential difference occurs when ground in one part of a building is at a different voltage than ground in the rest of the building or in a neighboring building. — cablinginstall.com
To reduce the risk even further; two Ethernet surge protectors, like the Ubiquiti ETH-SP-G2, can be installed on both ends of the cable.
We plan to dig a new power cable for the garage in a few years time, I’ll probably include a conduit for fiber then.
Closing remarks
I really enjoyed this project, perhaps wired network to the garage isn’t strictly necessary — there are many wireless building-to-building solutions.
But I wasn’t in any rush, so I took my time, had fun, even got to include the kids 🙂
![](https://blog.cavelab.dev/2021/08/underground-cat6-to-garage/20210821_160454_huee0d3e829c3889527cedf410cd203484_1726967_800x0_resize_q80_lanczos.jpg)
28 days I after I started digging; and the lawn has started to clear up nicely.
Last commit 2024-04-05, with message: Tag cleanup.
Home network v2 series
- Replacing Unifi switches with MikroTik
- Getting started with MikroTik CCR1009 and RouterOS
- Altibox fiber — straight into Mikrotik CCR1009
- Running underground CAT6 to detached garage
- Plans for my home network
- Running two CAT6 cables to the play room
- Running three CAT6 cables to the living room TV bench
- Moving CAT6 cable for access point; inside the wall
- Altibox fiber — straight into Ubiquiti EdgeRouter
- Two CAT6 cables and a fiber — from the basement to the attic
- A few Wi-Fi improvements
- Updated plans for my home network
- Knot Resolver — with ad blocking
- Pulling CAT6 cable in existing conduit
- Running CAT6 to the twins' rooms — inside interior wall
- Running CAT6 to the 2nd floor den — another interior wall