Converting phone sockets to Cat 5 network?

[Nick]

Is this possible?

I'm sure I read somewhere there is a way to do it.

Bascially every room in the house has a phone socket wired into the wall.

I have a digital cordless phone with three bases all connected to the main base which is plugged into the main BT socket.

So I'm thinking I could use all these unused sockets as the basis for a wired in home network... it'd make life a lot easier.

So, can I just re-wire the existing wiring into a new faceplate or is it a case of ripping it all out and laying Cat 5, (hoping like crazy the wiring runs through conduits so I can easily re-cable).

Thoughts?

[peterb]

You could, but you would have to change the cable for cat5. Then you would end up with non-standard sockets (ie BT type) and you would have a job terinating those, and you would need special patch cords with rj45 at one end and BT telephone at the other - messy!

If the cable is in conduit, change it for CAT5 and get RJ45 sockets to replace the BT ones.

[redlight]

If you are going to rewire have a look at this site there is some intersting stuff.
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/modules.php?name=Topics

[DougMcDonald]

You could, but you would have to change the cable for cat5. Then you would end up with non-standard sockets (ie BT type) and you would have a job terinating those, and you would need special patch cords with rj45 at one end and BT telephone at the other - messy!

If the cable is in conduit, change it for CAT5 and get RJ45 sockets to replace the BT ones.

You can get 'mod-taps' to do that, we use them at work to take the phone lines from labs into the switch room:

http://www.cablecity.co.uk/product_i...b0quvqvpouvo63

[DR]

You should get the mod-taps for it - far easier an quicker to use

[peterb]

Mod taps are for use when structured cabling is already in place and converts the appropriate cat 5 line pair presented at the RJ45 socket to the BT socket outlet. (Cat 5 has 4 pairs - in structured cabling two pairs are used for ethernet/data - the other two typically for telephony) I doubt (but I am prepared to be corrected ) that the house has structured cabling installed.

[merdat]

Nick if it was me ,I would just use the existing wiring first as it should be ok . If you are having ' error problems ' then you could change to cat 5 but provided your wiring is not 19 oatcake then you should be ok .

[alsenior]

using cat2 cable for Ethernet is not a good idea. you may get stung by crosstalk and at the very least you could see a performance drop

[merdat]

Maybe not a good idea but it should work ok (provided he does not have massive runs) and if he has probs which I very much doubt then he could go to cat 5

[Agent]

using cat2 cable for Ethernet is not a good idea. you may get stung by crosstalk and at the very least you could see a performance drop

Agreed.
You probably could do this Nick with a bit of cable hacking, but its really really not worth the hassle it will probably cause you in the long run.

Seriously mate, If you can russle me some tea up, drill the holes, keep the coffee flowing and cover my petrol money (Bike = cheap), i'll run the Cat 5 / Fit the faceplates / ect for you.

[Steve B]

dont trust him, he wants to come and abuse your gigabytes!!!!