Re: Creating a home Ethernet out of installed but unused Cat 5

["Herb Stein" <herb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1BaDf.3258$Z3.279@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> While not optimum, I have  to disagree. The best solution, of course, is
> to run a new cable. However, running a phone line and ethernet in the same
> cat5 jacket should present little or no problem IF DONE CORRECTLY. I've
> done it many times for the sake of expediency and have never had a
> problem. I've even added 12vdc on the 4th pair and still had no problems.
> Just make absolutely sure your connections are done properly.

The whole point of TIA-568B (and A) by AT&T was to allow the computer
network and
telephone to occupy the same sheath. It might be "iffy" with 100 Mb or
1000Mb LAN
connections, but I'd say it's worth a try. If it's a problem (speed, etc.)
just go wireless.

Just my 2 cents.

> As for tools, www.mpja.com has a very extensive tool kit for $80 that has
> more than you will ever need for maintaining the wiring in your home
> (http://www.mpja.com/productview.asp?product=15043+TL).  While I use
> better quality "pro" grade tools for regular use, I keep one of these kits
> at my second home and another in the trunk of my car "just in case."  They
> do the job quite competently, are of decent quality and are ideally suited
> to occassional users.
>
> What you need: For upstairs and downstairs buy 2 Cat5 RJ45 ethernet
> keystone jacks and 2 RJ12 keystone jacks (get 2 colors like blue for data
> and black for phone; i.e. MPJA #11082TT & 7182TT), one keystone F
> connector (Home Depot), & one 3 hole and one 2 hole keystone faceplate
> (MPJA 5944TT & 5943TT). You'll also want to get 4 Scotchlok connectors for
> the basement location (Home Depot).
>
> How to do it (using only the tools in the kit): On the 1st flr look at the
> phone jack and determine which wires are used for your phone line - most
> likely the white/blue pair. The remaining 3 pairs should be just left
> loose. You can cut off the "Dolphin" connectors on the other pairs if
> you've determined that the wires aren't being used for any other purpose.
> Connect the tone generator to one of the orange/white pairs (if you have
> more than one pair after cutting the connectors) and turn it on. Use the
> wand to locate that pair at the basement phone box. If it's not loud and
> clear, go to the top floor location and see if it's loud and clear at the
> jack (you may have loop wiring). Now do the same thing but put the tone
> gen on the other white/orange pair.  What we're trying to do is see where
> each end of the cable goes from the first floor location. If the cable
> goes to the second floor location then you don't need to do anything in
> the basement. If not, repeat the procedure on the second floor so you can
> identify the pairs from each location that go to the basement.  In the
> basement, match the conductor colors of the white/orange pair and the
> white/green pairs and connect with the Scotchloks.
> Do your terminations with the new jacks at both locations upstairs and
> check it all with the cable tester in the kit.
>
>
> From:SQLit
> sqlit@xxxxxxxxx
>
>> "Bruno" <bruno.lerer@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:1138551772.795104.242890@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> The phone company has installed, throughout the house, shielded Cat 5
>>> cable with 4 sets of wires. One is used for phone service, while each
>>> of the other three is terminated with what looks like a plastic
>>> sleeve imprinted Dolphin (just in case it makes a difference...).
>>>
>>> I have a wi-fi broadband router on the second floor (physically
>>> connected to two computers); I also have another computer in the
>>> ground floor den which is currently wirelessly networked with the
>>> others. The phone company's breakout box is in the basement,
>>> naturally.
>>>
>>> For various reasons, I would like to physically network the first
>>> floor computer.  Ideally, I would like to install in the router room
>>> a wall plate with an RJ45 jack, with a patch cord connecting to the
>>> router. Currently, the Cat 5 terminates in a standard RJ11 jack.
>>> The same would go for the ground floor den; there, however, the Cat
>>> 5 terminates in a wall plate with a coax F-type jack at the top and
>>> a standard RJ11 at the bottom.
>>>
>>> So that's the question - how do I approach a project like this? In
>>> particular, how do I go about making sure that, while I go two floors
>>> down and then one floor up, I am still connecting  the same set of
>>> wires to the appropriate terminals in the router room, the breakout
>>> box and the den? What type of tools would I need to accomplish this?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Just to be clear, TELCO and ETHERNET in the same cable can be
>> problematic. I have tried it and the results have been poor.
>>
>> VERIFY the pairs everywhere. Especially at the outside terminal block.
>>
>> The devil is in the terminations. I have seen poor terminations take
>> a CAT 5 down so low it was worthless.
>>
>> Black Box has an excellent catalog with lots of information on the
>> types of connectors, tools and color codes.
>>
>> I repeat myself I WOULD NOT run both services in the same cable.
>> Your house your rules.
>>
>> Plan on spending at least $200 bucks for tools and terminals.  Just
>> to get started.
--
Herb
herb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
314 952-4601