Data extension kit question

Is the total diameter the same as any other CAT5e? I seem to remember someone saying it was slightly less.

I wish to replace a stranded ali phone extension with some cat5e and run 1x100Mbps data and 1xphone connection off it, a smaller diameter cat5e cable would help if it exists.

The most recent data extension kit, as supplied by Openreach, is only two pair, so yes, much thinner, but possibly no good for what you want it for.

Croftie,

If you do run a phone extension and 100Mbps data along a cat5e I would be very interested to hear how you get on.

I've currently got 1Gigabit data running through a 3 pair cat5e with a standard telephone extension cable running alongside, over a distance of about 60 feet, from the back of a filtered face plate on the master to a phone socket. It would possibly be more convenient to run the voice and data through the same cable and terminate with a dual unfiltered phone and rj45 socket up to 60 feet from the master socket and the router/gigabit switch?

Thanks that's really helpful, the search continues then. There must be someone who makes CAT5e with a tighter fitting outer sheath.

I thought Gigabit needed all 4 pairs?

FWIW I'm currently running 2x100 Mbps data down one CAT5e cable with no problems.

Croftie,

If Gigabit full duplex needs all four pairs, as you say, then using it for voice also would be impossible - thanks for the info

"The data is transmitted over four copper pairs, eight bits at a time. First, eight bits of data are expanded into four 3-bit symbols through a non-trivial scrambling procedure based on a linear feedback shift register.." - for some reason I thought one of the pairs was redundant, however only two pairs can be used but it will be at a lower speed. I do have all four pairs connected though

Please elaborate about your 2x100Mbps down one cat5e cable setup.

Edited by 4M2 (Wed 26-Oct-11 00:18:58)

Yeah you confused me a bit there saying you had gigabit over 3 pairs

To run data and voice down a single CAT5e cable you would need to use 2 pairs for data, 1 pair for voice and have the last pair spare.

My run is a single length of standard CAT5e with 2xRJ45 modules on each end contained in a surface mounted back box and faceplate.

All that stuff you can see here: http://www.blackbox.co.uk/product/modc5e-r2/1/13/1/M...

Hope that helps.

Thanks Croftie, guess I was thinking ahead of myself regarding the 3 pairs, i.e. as you said " 2 pairs for data (100mbps), 1 pair for voice and have the last pair spare."

So I guess you are running two devices from two ethernet ports on your router via a cat5e 4 pair cable and rj45 modules etc. at 100Mbps.

Just let me know how you get on with voice and 100Mbps data down the same "slim" cat5e 4 pair cable if you can get it.

Do you have any specific concerns running voice and data down one cable? I can't envisage any problems and a quick google turns up at least one person that has done it.

Croftie,

I'm sure from advice on this forum, unless I misunderstood, that it is fine to run an analogue adsl signal and filtered voice from a master socket filter/splitter faceplate along an extension cat5e cable (2 pairs would be OK) to a dual adsl rj45 and unfiltered voice phone socket, then on to a router with either a rj11 to rj11 or rj45 to rj11 adsl cable and also to a phone with a standard phone lead/connection - e.g. http://www.clarity.it/acatalog/adsl_extensions.html - DUAL: 1 x RJ45(ADSL/Data) & 1 x BT socket, interestingly the cable supplied with that kit is 3 pair.

However I don't know about running 100Mbps data along 2 pairs and using the third pair for filtered voice - perhaps the digital data may cause problems with the analogue voice signal if they are running over a distance of perhaps 60 feet through the same cat5e cable? Hence my question regarding your potential setup and any experience you may have had with it.

I have done 2 pair (100Mbit) ethernet and one pair analog voice over CAT5 cable on many occasions. It's always worked fine for me.

ionic,

Thanks for the info, much appreciated

4M2.

Many thanks for that link, I searched for 3 pair cable but had no luck. Preferably I'd want small diameter 4 pair but doesn't look like it exists. That 3 pair will be a very good alternative though.

If you go down the solid-core route then you might be able to pull one pair out of some 4-core. This would make the cable more compressible.

If it helps, my BT/OR Data Extension cable is 5mm in diameter.

Don't know how many pairs are in it though.

original kits had 3 pair cables.

a quick search found:
http://www.networktechinc.com/cable-cat5ef.html
list 1/8th" cables, and flat 1/16th" patch leads ~3.2mm and 1.6mm

Edited by ggremlin (Fri 28-Oct-11 15:27:22)

ionic

You said: "...you might be able to pull one pair out of some 4-core..."

I wouldn't fancy trying to do that with a 60 foot length!

ionic

You said: "...you might be able to pull one pair out of some 4-core..."

I wouldn't fancy trying to do that with a 60 foot length!

Try an NHS Dentist (if you can find one).

G3UZF,

I've got an NHS dentist thank you very much - hate going to see him though

Edited by 4M2 (Fri 28-Oct-11 12:45:16)

Good thought but would be impossible on a long length, can't even do it on 30 CM.

Hmm that's only 1mm thinner than my 4 pair and as ggremlin says it only has 3 pairs.

Nice find but that's stranded cable unfortunately.

Not been to the dentist for years, no fillings yet either, touch wood I put it down to drinking pretty much nothing but milk in my youth.


Think I'm going to just try some 4 core and get some 3 core if it won't go.

Thanks all.

Really? I've managed it on around 10m of cat5e before. It was quite a slackly packed cable though (Lindy IIRC)
Needs pliers, a mate and some patience. It's not easy, granted.

No Just tried it with some pliers on a short length and it came out easy. So I suppose it is possible on a longer length providing the sheath isn't too tight. Thanks.