Topic: Cabling

[Monekey-Poo]

I've got an old PC. I'm thinking about cabling from it to my server.

I could run either a BNC or a CAT-5 network. I am however, interested in having a dual-use cable.

Is there any way I could use an ordinary phone cable so that it could be connected via a standard modem at the pc to the phone line with the option of going to the server instead?

The idea is that my elderly mother could use the computer either directly to the net, via my server or use the phone line from her room. All via one cable. Is it possible/practical?

MP

[RayG]

You can't use ordinary telephone cable for ethernet. Not for more than a few feet anyway. You can, however, use Cat-5 cable for the run and run a telephone line over one of the unused pairs. I have one cable run at home set up like this.

[Monkey-Poo2]

interesting. I don't understand how I CAN use a phone cable that's 20 meters long to connect from the PC to the phone socket but can't use a phone cable to connect PC to PC. It doesn't make logical sense because the PC connects via the phone to another computer along that phone cable.

[del]

Hi,
I have been installing Cat5 and all it's variations for over 8 years and RayG is correct in what he says, technically, but like you said logically why not, I have seen people using telephone cable for ethernet but only 10mbps stuff, try it and see. But in order to use it for both options you will need to have at least 3 pairs of wires in there (1pair for the phone and 2 pairs for the ethernet), I mention this because in the UK 3 pairs are standard but in the US 2 pairs seem more common. Hope this helps, let us know how you get on.
Regards,
Del

[Monkey-Poo2]

Well, I'm in the UK. I was toying with the idea of using a phone cable because it's thinner.

Having said that I see no reason why I can't run a CAT 5 cable under the floorboards.

MP

[Boris]

Well, I'm in the UK. I was toying with the idea of using a phone cable because it's thinner.

If the way cable looks drives your decision why not to use cable of different colour. Pick the pretty one.