Telephone jack to DSL modem - a "length" question

[MichaelD]

How to title this message? I'd no idea...gave it my best shot. Anyway;

In the room my main pc is in, the phone jack is on the opposite side of the room from where the pc is. Currently, I have a 50ft regular telephone line extension cable that runs along the baseboards from the jact to the pc for my dialup modem.

When I go to DSL (freakin' soon, c'mon SWB, where's my installation? :frown: ) will I need to upgrade that phone cable to a CAT V cable? I would think not, being that ADSL is carried over regular phone lines to begin with, right?

Also, should I have the modem as close to the wall jack as possible? Does that matter either? I'm going to have the modem running to a router/firewall, then to the NIC card. Thanks a lot.

 

[nippyjun]

I don't think it really matters, but the cat cable probably holds a signal better then regular phone cord, so you may want to keep the modem near the wall jack and run the cat cable across the room to your computer.

 

[Gunbuster]

The line can go 15K feet to your house from the CO, a extra 20 feet wont hurt it

 

[Viper GTS]

The line can go 15K feet to your house from the CO, a extra 20 feet wont hurt it

WRONG! The gauge of wire used outside your home & the CAT3 that you run between your wall aren't even comparable. 10 - 15' max is ideal for the phone jack -> DSL "modem" connection.

If you really must go further than that, use cat 5. But keep in mind that your provider probably won't support it that way.

You've got to realize that DSL is extremely sensitive. A spare phone in your kid's bedroom, a halogen torchiere in your den, a water meter out in the yard that has a phone connection, your home security system, there are TONS of things that can and DO interfere with DSL connectivity.

Viper GTS

 

[JohnnyTT]

Just to make you feel better, I also say, put the modem by the jack and run the cat5 to your computer. I don't think it really makes a difference though. Yes, the line outside is a different one than what's in your house, but the lines running from your box, (place where outside changes to inside), through your home are regular phone cables, and they are running all through the house, and that could be a couple hundred feet of cable.

 

[Viper GTS]

but the lines running from your box, (place where outside changes to inside), through your home are regular phone cables, and they are running all through the house, and could be a couple hundred feet of cable

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the wiring from the DMARC to the individual jacks is a higher quality cable than the cheap crap that typical extension cords are made of.

And in case you wonder why I'm so sure of myself... I do this for a living. I'm not directly involved with this kind of stuff anymore as I'm strictly LAN support now, but I did it for a year.

Viper GTS

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for all the replies.

Viper,
What do you mean by If you really must go further than that, use cat 5. But keep in mind that your provider probably won't support it that way.

Do you mean that the teleco's installer guy won't give me any CAT V cable? I'll be doing the install myself and could very easy get some terminated CatV cable. I think I may, because I believe the distance between the jack and my pc is approximately 20 feet or so, running around the perimeter of the room by the baseboards. Thanks.

 

[Big Lar]

The way to do it, is get enuff cat5 and run it to your Phone Box outside, and put a new jack in. It's relatively easy, and won't cost you much, which insures the best signal possible for your connection/ if you don't go that route,Put your modem by the jack you have now, and run cat5 from the existing jack to the modem, and cat5 outta the modem to the nic card, every lil bit helps.

 

[JohnnyTT]

Viper, you're probably right, but I've done rewiring and stuff in my couple of houses and family members, and the wiring appeared to be ordinary stuff. In my house now, it is definitely ordinary looking, could be wrong though.

I have a DSL and have a splitter off the main jack with a 20ft. line to the modem. I'm always running at top speed.

But like I said, go with the safest solution if it makes you feel better.

Viper, how do you tell the difference, the stuff in my house isn't marked? It doesn't appear to have more shielding, thicker wires, or anything different. Thanks.

 

[Pghpooh]

HI
I am using DSL and have had it since 10/6/2000. I am with Verizon Communications here in Pa.

This is the way my dsl is set up. (Been 6 months so I hope I get it right)
At the DEMARC or NID,, the filter was installed. This filter blocks the whole house and all other phones on the line. At the NID, CAT 3 wire was run to a jack near my pc. (Wire and installation done at no cost by Verizon!) The modem is plugged into the jack. CAT 5 modular plug cable from the modem to the NIC in the pc.
Never had a problem with any interference from the auto meter reading stuff and noise from any other things on the phone line. (have 5 phones on the line!!!)
If you can, go with CAT 5 all the way. And, if and when the install guy shows up, ask what they have and ask for extra wire for "future use!"
They might say yes, might say no.

Pghpooh

 

[Viper GTS]

MichaelD...

I mean that if you're unable to connect they probably won't submit a trouble ticket unless you connect directly to the wall with the cable they provided. They will want to eliminate all CPE variables before they check their own equipment.

JohnnyTT...

Many people do get their DSL to work with splitters, long extensions, etc. But when connectivity problems DO arise, those would be the first things to check. What I always tell customers is that if it works, use it. If it doesn't work, then start eliminating the non-kosher things.

As for the household wiring, most of the in-wall stuff I've seen has been a round cable, maybe 2/3 the diameter of cat5. Not that flatwire cat3 stuff. I dunno, I'm not a wire expert, but I do know that extensions out of the wall jack should be kept short. The longer they are the more interference they're subject to, the more the signal degrades, etc, etc, etc.

Viper GTS

 

[MichaelD]

CATV cable has an RJ45 size connector, right? So if I go get a length of pre-terminated CATV cable, I could just plug it directly into the wall jack and then straight to the modem, yes? Thanks.

 

[Viper GTS]

Cat5 typically has RJ45 connectors, but your DSL "modem" and your walljacks are almost certainly RJ11. You will need to find Cat5 cabling with RJ11 ends - Not common, but it can be found. I believe Radio Shack markets it as "premium" phone cable, or some crap like that.

Viper GTS

 

[Yoshi]

Just put your bridge by the phone jack and run the ethernet cable around your room!

 

[etech]

You do not need cat5 cable between the wall and the modem. The SWB DSL kit comes with a phone cord (cat 4) that is around 6' long.


Good luck with your DSL, I'm 19,500' from the CO, it just would not work reliably. :|

 

[Viper GTS]

While you don't need it for ordinary use, if you plan on going further than the 6' cable they send you you'll have greatly increased chances of success with cat5.

Viper GTS