Phone and Network on one cable?

[tboneuls]

I am building a new house and notcied that the builder is using Cat 5e cable for the phone line. I was wondering if I could use the 2 unused pairs for a network. I;m trying to save costs, but I might be able to run another cat 5e cable just for networking. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Soybomb]

Its not spec, if you're building a house and having the cable laid its worth the cost, for future upgradability if nothing else, to cable it properly. There won't be a cheaper time to install that cable than now. Run another cable.

 

[Need4Speed]

nothing would stop you from doing that....though the cost of laying some more cat5 now during construction of the house would be much cheaper than when u change your mind later

 

[reicherb]

Do it right and run separate runs. You then have the flexibility to run 2 data drops, 2 phone drops, or 1 of each and then change the configuration as desired as long as they are terminated in the same patch panel.

 

[rw120555]

I'm no expert, but I believe others have recommended against this, on the grounds that this is out of spec and you'll create interference on your network. Now is the time to do it right. And again, I'm no expert, but I think people have suggested using conduit or other means so you can easily upgrade the wiring in the future, e.g. when Cat7 becomes the must-have wiring or whatever.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

I would be the conduit-promoting cablemonkey you speak of. 😛

Conduit >> *

While you've got the walls open, run a second drop like reicherb suggested. Better than nothing.

- M4H

 

[ScottMac]

(nef)
Ditto (at least two runs - the cable is the cheap part, if you have to scrimp, pull the extra cable but don't terminate it till you need it).
(/nef)

(Nuts, I can't even nef properly today....)

Scott