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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms >> CAT5 https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1110222869 Message started by maintenance_man on Apr 19^th, 2004, 12:16am

Title: CAT5
Post by maintenance_man on Apr 19^th, 2004, 12:16am

Has anybody used cat5 to wire a phone network? if so can you help

i would like to wire all the phones back to one point (star) much the same as a data network

I was thinking of doing it but dont know what products to use, or if it is at all possible to wire phones this way

mm

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by plugwash on Apr 19^th, 2004, 12:34am

writing phones with cat5 is commonly done in offices to allow lines to be used for either phone or data in the future but then they are usually plugged into an internla exchange of some sort

for the phones you can get rj45-bt socket adaptors

in the patch panel you will need to do something with the incomeing phone line perhaps wire it to 4 or 5 sockets in the patch panel and mark those as phone line

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by HandyMac on Apr 19^th, 2004, 7:26am

You've probably got this covered anyway, but don't forget that there are limits on the number of phones you can hang on a telephone line. Standard lines from BT and NTL can only manage 3-4, after that they stop ringing and so on.

I'm probably reading a bit too much into your question for this to be a sensible answer, however your reference to star topology raised a question mark in my mind about how extensive this network of phones will be.

Andrew

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by L.Spark on Apr 19^th, 2004, 8:28am

yeah it's a good point handymac, but i think your reffering to REN, which may or may not come into the distribution of CAT5 and data system.

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by toomuchtooyoung on Apr 19^th, 2004, 12:24pm

Handy Mac is quite correct;

The basic Bell circuit falls over if you have more than 4 (REN 1) terminals on it (including modems etc.). You can use CAT5 cable to connect up phones - i've even seen security cable used - nasty....

Connections to 2 and 5 for the main circuit and then a loop back from all secondarys to the primary on 3

Have fun,

TMTY

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by rabbit_rabbit on Apr 19^th, 2004, 8:44pm

A lot of CAT5/6 cabling is used for phones and data on PABX systems so REN numbers rarely a problem.

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by HandyMac on Apr 19^th, 2004, 9:26pm

wrote on Apr 19^th, 2004, 8:44pm:

A lot of CAT5/6 cabling is used for phones and data on PABX systems so REN numbers rarely a problem.

My comment was really referring to a situation where several phones were being connected in parallel on a single line - quite possibly not what the OP had intended to suggest but that's the way I read it.

With PABX you've got separate circuits with a single phone on the end of each one, so you are right about ignoring REN.

Andrew

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by maintenance_man on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:11pm

The reason for this question is,with a bit more info.

I have been asked to wire up a phone network in a largish house. i was thinking of future proofing by using cat5. as was suggested. the customer wants phone points in most of the rooms ( at least 10) BUT THER IS ONLY ONE INCOMONG LINE. Is there any products available to make this possible. ( ie a mini exchange)

Iam not sure how many phones yhey actually intend to use but would like to be able to use them all withiut problems.

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by supersparky on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:12pm

dont forget the strict termination rules for cat5...and it cant go outside the house either!

ss

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by plugwash on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:17pm

do you get special exterior grade cat5

i used to be at a residential school and they sure as hell ran cat5 outside (mostly in conduit but exposed in a lot of places too)

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by supersparky on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:22pm

nope!
reason its not allowed outside is lightning(mainly)

ss

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by plugwash on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:26pm

pity...

would be nice to have a masterseal datacom outlet with a telecom module and a cat5 module next to a masterseal socket for using your laptop outside in the summer :)

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by supersparky on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:27pm

lol, patent that quick!!!!

ss

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by maintenance_man on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:30pm

Im at present working my notice after deciding to go it alone. where i work at the minute, a very large national company who employ specailist firms to do all the networking systems. thes firms have ran cat5 allover the place even laid in the gutters of buildings. Value for meney or what?

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by L.Spark on Apr 20^th, 2004, 1:31am

wrote on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:27pm:

lol, patent that quick!!!!

ss

no need SS, it already exsists, surprised you have not come across it yet ::)

and ive seen cat5 exposed in places befour 2, but usualy optical links that are completly exposed.

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by supersparky on Apr 20^th, 2004, 7:54am

well thats not cat5 then is it!
it says in the regs it shouldent go outside- i take that to mean any runs that go outside are not to regs, and why would i know of a cat5 ip65 socket when i only just started doing cat5 lol

ss ::)

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by scotspark on Apr 20^th, 2004, 9:13pm

yes you get cat5 for external work it look's a bit like the external bt cable you get at first glance :P

used it quite a lot even crossed between buildings on catenary wire with it :)

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by supersparky on Apr 20^th, 2004, 9:17pm

hmm, ive not seen it yet, whenever ive seen links betweeb buildings its been fiberoptic to computer rooms ect ::)

ss

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by rabbit_rabbit on Apr 21^st, 2004, 8:19am

Stuff CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6 etc. install Bluetooth system

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by Beanzy on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 9:10am

Cat5 no prob. Our whole system in London is on it.

You can get exchange emulators to allow the phones to share the line. We use one for our talkback. Any line to any outlet or calling between the outlets is possible. There's a 4 o/p one which is ok price-wise but wouldn't have enough o/p for you.

The ones I use are Panasonic, called Advanced Hybrid Unit KX-TA624. Cost a bit. If you were prepared to go lower number of ports then there's a 6 outlet one, have a look at http://www.panasonic.co.uk/analogue-systems/kxt206e/index.htm

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by scotspark on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 7:46pm

yeah ss on larger networks links between buildings are usually fibre optic but do some work for a local charity and their network is very basic only a couple of points in each building via booster switches ;D :-*

Title: Re: CAT5
Post by L.Spark on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 9:57pm

sounds about right ::)