On 02 Sep 2003 07:35:57 GMT,
(E-Mail Removed) (Dg1261) wrote:
>
>"Steve" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Building a new house and builder says he runs CAT5 instead of Bell
>> Wire (phone) and that I should be able to change faceplates and use
>> other 6 wires for CAT5.
>>
>> 1. Doesn't phone need solid gauge Bell wire for good voice and 56k
>> modem?
>> 2. Can I really get GOOD 10/100 over a "modified" CAT5 setup?
>> 3. Are there any other problems (cable stupid here) in running
>> 10/100 and phone in same cable?? Or should I insist on him running
>> real 2-pair phone and "un-split" CAT5??
>
>I'm not a technician, but I don't think you'd have any problems with what your
>builder is proposing. CAT5 cable comes in both stranded and solid gauge, and
>it's typical to use solid going from jack to jack, while stranded is terminated
>with plugs (e.g., patch cables). The issue is more about how flexible the
>cable has to be. I'd be surprised if the builder didn't use solid inside the
>walls.
>
>There's nothing special about "Bell" wire. In contrast, CAT5 is designed for
>minimal crosstalk between 4 pairs while carrying signals of at least 100 mbps,
>so your modem won't have a problem with its puny 0.056 mbps data rate.
>
>Ethernet only uses two pairs, with the other two pairs in a standard CAT5 cable
>remaining unused, so it is possible to split the cable and use the other two
>pairs for phone, intercom, or even a second ethernet connection. I don't know
>if a second ethernet line would run at 100-mbps, but it works fine at 10-mbps
>and I've heard of many installations that do that in a pinch, such as when
>another ethernet line is desired but the wiring is already in place.
>POTS+ethernet shouldn't have a crosstalk problem.
>
>Having said that, though, daytripper has a point -- it's cheap to run wires
>when the walls are open. What your builder proposes probably makes sense for
>owners who wouldn't otherwise be installing a network. I can imagine an owner
>saying, "no, I don't need wiring for a computer network," and the builder
>saying, "fine, but let me do it this way so you can change your mind later."
>If you already know you're going to spend the money for network cabling,
>though, it feels like this is compromising.
>
>Just my non-technician two cents. When I remodeled some of the rooms in my
>house, I put in four-port wall plates in each room for two phone lines, CAT5
>ethernet, and RG6 CATV.
>
fwiw, and where I was coming from: the networking world *already* uses all
four pairs in a standard CAT5E cable. And it's not hard to envision a few
years from now that gigabit will be commonplace...
....except where lack of foresight reigns.
It doesn't make much difference what you run for the phones (you'll probably
be using digital phones in a few years anyway ;-) but I'd treat that network
wiring with more respect than this builder does...
/daytripper
Similar Threads
Linear Mode
