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Thread ID: 59910	2005-07-16 09:35:00	using unused pairs in cat5 cable	personthingy (1670)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
372707	2005-07-16 09:35:00	Righto... Two observstions: 1. Cat 5 cable uses 4 twisted pairs. 2. The network cards seem to only use 4 wires, or 2 pairs. Now i'd like to give my son a phone and a network connection in the sleepout down the back of my section, which will involve about 40 metres of cable running to pretty much the same distrobution points. Theres also a second sleepout further on that could be handy to have a phone in. I figure that seeing they are all twisted pairs induction between pairs must by minamal, yet i see people allways running a seperate cable. There may be a good reason for this, or perhaps its just because thats the way it is done. Conversations with tradespeople tend to support the latter reason for this practice. :groan: Is there any good reason why i cant use one or both of the unused pairs for the phone lines? If not why not.	personthingy (1670)
372708	2005-07-16 10:01:00	Hi PT For non critical applications you most certainly can use the other pairs. It would be pointless having the extra pairs if they couldnt be used at all. The only issue might be transients on one pair corrupting data transfer on another, but that really isn't an issue for the average user. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
372709	2005-07-16 10:04:00	I think there are reasons which someone like Godfather or GrahamL will be able ot explain, I suppose if it works, then why not do it. I can tell you that a friend of mine did precisely what you intend to do, when running network + phone line to a temproary office about 2 years ago. The cable was about 30m long, and there didn't seem to be any major problems.	somebody (208)
372710	2005-07-16 10:21:00	Now one other question . . . . . Would it be fine to tack the cable under the horizontal bits of wood that hold the fence up? It may get damp, not underwater, and not in direct sunlight . When i sell up and move on i fully expect to sell a gutted shell to a bulldozer driver wanting to develope the land . . Therefore i am not interested in apearance, just that it works . :)	personthingy (1670)
372711	2005-07-16 10:40:00	You're not supposed to, but in saying that, I've seen a CAT5 cable hung between two buildings cable-tied to a length of conduit for about 10m, in wind and rain, and it worked fine (although a bit slower than it should have been). Do you have some old garden hose which you could run the cable through? It might give you a bit more piece of mind. When you tack the cable to the underside of the fence railings, it could damage the insulation protecting the cable.	somebody (208)
372712	2005-07-16 11:02:00	Would it be fine to tack the cable under the horizontal bits of wood that hold the fence up? If it is not expected to survive for too many years, and you use oversized staples to support it (but not kink, crush or compress the outer sheath in any way) it will be fine . Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
372713	2005-07-16 11:11:00	Thanks Billy and Somebody I thought id best ask before i went and did it. :D i've just popped over to CF1 might see you later on? Chris.	personthingy (1670)
372714	2005-07-16 14:09:00	yes you can use the unused pairs in cat5 for telephone, you need a cable spilter (at both ends) and a means to hook up to the telephone line. WE use the unused pairs on our network for this purpose. You can also use the unused pairs to connect up to 2 pcs to the same network connection using this technique but you need pair matching spilter on both ends of the cable ie wall socket and distrubtion cupboard. We have not experanced any data or crc errors due to using this technique.	beama (111)
372715	2005-07-16 14:14:00	you could run the cable through some pipe, or alkethene (spelling), that might make it last longer	Prescott (11)
372716	2005-07-16 14:36:00	yes you can use the unused pairs in cat5 for telephone, you need a cable spilter (at both ends) and a means to hook up to the telephone line. WE use the unused pairs on our network for this purpose. You can also use the unused pairs to connect up to 2 pcs to the same network connection using this technique but you need pair matching spilter on both ends of the cable ie wall socket and distrubtion cupboard. We have not experanced any data or crc errors due to using this technique.splitter? Ok the telephone line will be my PABX, and thats right by the place where the network switch will go. I assume i'll have to carefully sent the phone pairs out to the side while taking care that the computer network pairs are connected as per normal. In the sleepout that will mean having a phone jack right beside the computer jack. At the network switch that will mean having a pair go from the PABX to the same deal as the sleep out, and running a patch lead to the network switch.. Does that make sense or am i opening a can of worms for myself here?	personthingy (1670)
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