Let’s be honest — putting delicate electronics outside, in the wild, is asking for trouble… unless you plan ahead.

At Interstate Telecommunications, we’ve seen just about everything: spider webs that confuse smart cameras, ants building colonies in wireless bridges, and even indoor-rated cable cooked to a crisp by the sun. When you place equipment in the elements — whether it’s cameras, access points, switches, or point-to-point wireless — you’re not just wiring a network. You’re waging war against nature.

Here’s how to win.

🌩️ Enemy #1: Weather & Environmental Hazards

Outdoor network gear faces every kind of attack Mother Nature can throw:

Lightning strikes & power surges — One wrong storm and your system’s fried.
UV radiation — The sun doesn’t just give you a tan; it destroys indoor cable jackets.
Rain & moisture — Water finds its way in unless you seal it out.
Snow, ice, and heat — Freeze-thaw cycles crack gear, and heat can cook electronics inside sealed boxes.
Wind — A poorly mounted antenna or AP can become airborne faster than you’d expect.

Pro Tip: Always use NEMA-rated weatherproof enclosures, UV-rated cabling, and install proper grounding rods and surge protectors. Think of them as cheap insurance.

🕷️ Enemy #2: Pests That Love Your Tech

You wouldn’t think a spider could take down a camera system — but you’d be wrong.

One client recently noticed their recordings were only storing for a few weeks instead of a few months. Turns out, a spider had built a web right in front of the camera lens. The infrared night vision lit up that silky thread like a fireworks show, triggering hundreds of motion events per hour and filling up the storage in days.

In another case, we opened up a 5GHz wireless bridge and found… an ant colony. Yep. They made themselves right at home inside the gear. RF signal might attract insects, or maybe it’s just warm and cozy in there — either way, the bugs were thriving.

Pro Tip: If pests are common in your area, use sealed enclosures or environmentally safe deterrents. Mesh vents, weather gaskets, and even a dab of insect-safe poison can save you thousands.

🔌 Enemy #3: Power Challenges

You can beam data wirelessly — but power? That still needs a wire.

Outdoor power planning is one of the trickiest parts of any install. If there’s no nearby source, you’ll need:

Solar panels with battery backup
Long-distance trenching for power
Extreme foresight (the most underrated tool)

Pro Tip: Plan for power first. Get creative with PoE switches, solar options, or local electricians — but don’t let “we’ll figure it out later” be your strategy.

🧰 Your Defense Strategy: Best Practices for Outdoor Installs

Here’s what we recommend to anyone putting network gear outdoors:

✅ Use outdoor-rated or direct-burial cable (and protect it in conduit when possible)
✅ Seal every enclosure — weather grommets, cable glands, and vent filters matter
✅ Ground towers and install surge protectors and battery backups at key locations
✅ Don’t forget lightning rods in exposed or rural areas
✅ Use weatherproof mounting brackets and stainless hardware to prevent rust
✅ Inspect regularly — just looking at your equipment once a month can catch small issues before they turn into outages

🔎 A Few Wild Things We've Seen (So You Don’t Have To)

A spider web that maxed out camera storage in under 72 hours
A full ant colony living rent-free inside a wireless bridge
Cable jackets shredded by the sun because someone used indoor-rated cable
A camera box that became home to a very angry wasp nest
An outdoor AP dangling by one wire after a tropical storm (it still worked — for a while)

⚠️ Final Thought: The Elements Never Take a Day Off

When your network infrastructure is outside, it needs to be armored like it’s going to war — because it is. The elements are relentless, and even a tiny oversight can lead to big headaches.

Whether you’re setting up a campground network, a parking lot camera system, or a long-range wireless bridge, plan smart. Use the right materials, install with care, and don't forget to peek inside the boxes once in a while.

Because in the great outdoors, it’s not a question of if something will go wrong — it’s when.

Need help planning an outdoor install? We’ve already fought this battle (and have the bug bites to prove it).

Contact us today!

👉770-781-4787 or sales@interstatenetworks.com

➡️Related posts:

When Nature Fights Back: What to Know Before Installing Network Equipment Outdoors