Newsgroups: comp.dcom.cabling Subject: Re: Single Cat5e for Computer Network & Telephone? References: <[email protected]> [email protected] writes: > Can a single Cat5e cable be used for both computer networking and for a > telephone line? In very many cases this works well but it is not a recommended practice. > I ask because I read somewhere that for computer > networking "only pair 2 and pair 3 are actually used, and pair 1 and > pair 4 are free". MIst commonly used networkign technologies use only to pairs. Examples of such technologies are 10Base-T and 100Base-TX Ethernet. But keep in mind that there are also other ntworkign technologies that can use different pairs and even need all pairs (for example 1 Gbit/s Ethernet needs all four pairs). > Our office network consists of three computers. Two > are currently connected to a D-Link DI-604 router. Internet access is > by DirecWay (we are in a VERY rural area), which is plugged into the > D-Link router. The third computer is in a separate building to which > unfortunately we buried only a single Cat5e line. So, to avoid digging > a new trench, we are hoping we can connect the third computer to the > D-Link router and to a phone line (it is not a fancy phone system, no > extensions, just a dial tone) using the single Cat5e cable. The network > cables are configured according to the T568B standard. I will greatly > appreciate any help or ideas. (If I am posting this question in the > wrong forum, I apologize.) Thanks. Peter I think this would work without problems if the line you have comes form the local PBX device. Most propably things work for most time even from directly outgoing line with the same cable, but I would be a little worried about situation when lightning strikes nearby which can cause overvoltage on telephone line.. consider overvoltage protection on the place where telephone line enters the building. -- Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/) Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at http://www.epanorama.net/
