Reddit reviews APC Surge Protector for Ethernet Data Port (10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet lines), ProtectNet (PNET1GB)

Yup. Put something like this between the powerline adapter and your switch. You can ground the surge suppressor to the grounding screw that's likely on the back of your UPS.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BKUSS8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1500252918&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ethernet+surge+protector&dpPl=1&dpID=31T2csu01XL&ref=plSrch

And if you're worried about a surge coming in via coax cable, get one of these (high speed data compatible):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00737FWLK/

Via data cable:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BKUSS8/

They might not protect against a direct lightning strike. Not many things can protect against a direct strike unless you want to spend thousands of dollars on commercial grade stuff. But it might help against an indirect strike which happens a lot more often than direct strikes.

If he already ran cat5, install a switch in the shop and connect the cat5 to the switch (as well as connecting it to a LAN port on the router in the house). In the shop, you can add an access point for him to hang off of the switch to provide better wifi in the shop.

Where does the shop get power from? If it has it's own panel, I recommend getting some inline cat5 protectors and put them on both sides of the cat5 run. When extending networks to other buildings, it is best to use fiber, but that does complicate things and increase price.

https://www.amazon.com/APC-PNET1GB-ProtectNet-Standalone-Protector/dp/B000BKUSS8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481391077&sr=8-1&keywords=inline+cat5+protector

Ethernet Surge Protectors do exist... but I've never been in a situation where I needed to use them.

http://www.amazon.com/APC-PNET1GB-ProtectNet-Standalone-Protector/dp/B000BKUSS8

You want an Ethernet surge protector, not a modem one. Modem ones 'can' cause issue but not always, Ethernet ones never cause issues.

Get this one: https://www.amazon.com/APC-PNET1GB-ProtectNet-Standalone-Protector/dp/B000BKUSS8/

And wire the green wire to earth somehow, I have mine wired to the Earth pin on a plug and I removed the other 2 pins on the plug.

The one you linked should also be fine and won't cause issues if you only use the Ethernet ports and not the DSL ports, but I havn't tried it, I prefer to have separate devices.

>Every surge protector I’ve found that has Ethernet protection drops speeds to 100 base t, so that’s not going to work.

Really? Cause gig ones are easy to come-by. Don't know why the title is in Spanish.... https://smile.amazon.com/APC-PNET1GB-ProtectNet-Standalone-Protector/dp/B000BKUSS8/

I've used these though and gigabit works fine if your cabling is good.

I think you are worried about lightning protection? I wouldn't worry about it on a direct buried cable, but if you want to be safe get this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BKUSS8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1503629636&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=cat+6+lightning+protection&dpPl=1&dpID=31T2csu01XL&ref=plSrch

And if it were me, I wouldn't run 5 cables from your switch direct buried. I would run 2 and use 1 (the 2nd is just a backup) and connect to another switch in the other room. This gives you flexibility to do whatever you want in the new place. Your ISP is probably feeding you 50-80 megs or so? You can easily cover the whole pipe with a single 100 meg cable. You don't need to homerun al your drops

https://www.amazon.com/APC-PNET1GB-ProtectNet-Standalone-Protector/dp/B000BKUSS8

I've never personally used one, but there are lots of people making in-line network surge protectors. You have to connect the ground wire to your PC case or power supply.

Couple things I would check would be your home's electrical ground. and I would if not already done so install a COAX surge protector.

https://www.amazon.com/TII-Broadband-Cable-Lightning-Protector/dp/B0016AIYU6

You could also put an ethernet surge protector between your system and the router.

https://www.amazon.com/APC-PNET1GB-ProtectNet-Standalone-Protector/dp/B000BKUSS8

Disclaimer I am not making a recommendation on parts. Part links are for example only.

To answer '1', your speed would likely drop using the APC protector that is only rated at 10/100. It's possible that it won't and that they couldn't get high enough speeds to certify as 10/100/1000 but may still get pretty close.

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To answer '2', yes you can absolutely use both cables. For short runs you won't notice any difference in speeds by mixing the cables. CAT6 is the same connections but using better shielding and twists the already twisted pairs to assist in being affected by interference over long distances.

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To add a another option, you could use an in-line surge protector that is dedicated solely to the CAT connection. You connect both of your cables at either end and connect the ground cable to the ground prong on your outlet using a power cable that has the ground plug on it. https://www.amazon.com/APC-PNET1GB-ProtectNet-Standalone-Protector/dp/B000BKUSS8/ref=asc_df_B000BKUSS8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167126093426&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=505423349040086280&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026802&hvtargid=pla-314322209240&psc=1

I tried putting my cable modem on a surge protector a while back, but it ended up messing up my lines or something, so I settled for the modem getting fried and bought this instead. It sits between the modem and router.

The really important bit is to use an inline ethernet surge suppressor on both ends. You can use the one in a UPS, if you already have a UPS nearby and handy. Otherwise you can use standalone "bullet" style suppressors like this or this, or you could go with a power strip with Ethernet surge suppression.

Note that the cost is very similar between the standalone suppressors and the full power strip, which might make a difference in your decision. The standalone is probably more robust protection against actual lightning-strike levels of overvoltage, but ONLY if properly grounded with the spade connector. If you're at all uncertain of your own ability to properly ground the suppressor, you should probably go with a power strip that plugs in with a three-prong plug, since the third prong grounds it for you.

Some of the lightning protection devices have hefty earth connectors, for example: http://www.amazon.com/APC-PNET1GB-ProtectNet-Standalone-Protector/dp/B000BKUSS8

I assume this is to provide a more attractive path. In the case of the media converter solution you just need to ensure they have similar earth connections (or at least the 'upstream' one)