Local Area Networks (LAN's) do not have to be limited simply to one building. They can be used to connect groups of buildings such as communities, campuses, or nearby offices. This activity provides an overview to the types of ethernet connections, including some of the technology considerations for extending a network using different methods. Actual techniques for creating these solutions are covered off in individual modules, depending on the technology chosen.

Conduit used as a method of extending a LAN has several advantages:

• Less expensive than wires on poles: Conduit installation is generally cheaper than putting wires onto poles, as pole supply and installation costs can be very expensive, and in some cases pole rental is required on a monthly basis.
  
  
• Protect the cable and get around problems: Conduit can be used to go around or under obstacles such as forests or roads, while still protecting the cable.
  
  
• Pre-Installation: Conduit can be installed at any time and is an asset to the community. If the community where the network is being installed is forward thinking, it is a good idea to convince the community planners and those doing any community infrastructure work, to put conduit in at any time when infrastructure is being upgraded.
  
  
  If ditchwork, sidewalks, gas or waterlines are being installed, conduit can be cheaply and easily put into the holes at the same time - even if the area being upgraded is not yet on the network. Having the conduit in place may make future network additions that much easier. In this way, the community would reduce the overhead of installing conduit alone as part of the initial network installation, although this suggestion would take planning and forethought.
  

Wireless technology is also a perfectly acceptable method of extending a local area network and offers several advantages:

• Flexibility: Wireless is flexible in that the technology can generally be moved quite easily to accommodate environmental changes (new building creation, tree growth, etc.)
  
  
• User Base: It can accommodate a number of users, and aside from the upfront equipment costs, installation costs can be substantially lower.
  
  
• No poles, No conduit: There can be less need for poles and therefore less problem gaining permission to put up or use poles, and there is generally less need for installation of conduit.
  

  However, if Wireless is chosen as a LAN extension method, security of the network must be addressed. This is discussed further in Module Two: Wireless.
  
  

Installation of poles generally requires:

• Careful planning, including exact placement on land plans.
  
• Permission for pole installation, often including a requirement for legal documents and agreements.
  
• Surveys.
  
• Permits.
  
• Acquiring or Rental of expensive equipment and/or personnel required to install poles.
  
• Pole purchase.
  
• Pole installation.
  
• Installation of wiring and systems on poles, which may include power systems, requiring further permissions and having specific requirements regarding who is able to do the installation and how.
  
• Pole inspections and approvals and the associated costs.
  
• CRTC permission and fees.
  
  

  Unless there is a solid revenue generation opportunity, or unless the ethernet requires only small numbers of poles to be installed, it may be difficult to justify the expense of putting in poles.
  

  However, if putting up poles is necessary, there are additional options:
  

• Rent space: Power, telephone, cable or train organizations sometimes rent space on their communication or power poles. Permission *is* required to do this, and it can be expensive. Additionally, CRTC costs may be incurred if poles are used.
  
  
• Use what's there: In a pinch, trees can be used as a means of stringing wires, although this method isn't recommended as it can be very high maintenance.
  
  

Extending the LAN - Reference Material:

• The BICSI telecommunications association publishes a manual entitled the "Customer Owned Outside Plant Design Manual." This is an excellent resource that details many aspects of exterior network infrastructure installation. Visit the BICSI website for more information on this manual, and for excellent online plant installation information: http://www.bicsi.org/Index.aspx