can I use existing telephone line to connect to my Hub?

[vulpeculla]

I have a linksys hub networking 2 computers with Win98SE ICS, and I want to extend the network out of the room I have the existing network in. I can not access any type of crawl space, however, I have rooms with phone lines. I was wondering if I can crimp these phone lines into RJ-45 jacks, since I was reading in the linksys manual that pins 4,5,7,8 are not used, and only pins 3 & 6 are used for receive and pins 1 & 2 are for transmit? That means a total of 4 wires are the only ones used I assume? Most phone lines have 4 pair wires in them and that is the case with mine.
Any opinions? Thanks

 

[outlamd]

I suppose it would depend on how far you are going to extend it. CAT5 cable is twisted along its length to reduce crosstalk, whereas most phone line is flat. I've never heard of anyone trying it before, but I suppose it would be cheap to even give it a shot. If it works, GREAT!!

 

[cavingjan]

I would suggest against this. You will get a crosstalk with a flat wire instead of the twisted pair but sometimes its not too bad (stress sometimes). If you do go through with this, make sure to take those phonelines completely off teh phone system. AKA ringer voltage will do very bad things to both your hub and your computer if it is not addressed correctly.
I will suggest that you either run the cat5 or get a different connection setup. Wireless will solve your problem but at a high cost. Phoneline networking kits aren't as expensive and is also a viable option for this situation.

 

[blstriker]

Get a pair of home phone line networking cards and you're really to go. no hub needed. if want to go real cheap, compgeeks has a 2 cards for $12.50, of course they're the older 1 mbps, but it's pleny fast for light networking, games, or internet access.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HOMEFREEK

 

[convex]

or run cat5 along the floorboard