Old house - phone line to Ethernet set up

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Old house - phone line to Ethernet set up

UrbanMyth

122 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#233857 6-May-2018 23:17

We have an older (1920's) house that I am wanting to wire up ethernet plugs in a couple of the rooms.

The phone line enters the house in the main office in the form of a male plug. What options do I have so that I can convert this to an ethernet wall socket, which in turn will be connected to another wall socket in a another room?

If you could link me to a howto or equipment needed, that would be great.

Thank you

1 | 2

7345 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2117

ID Verified

#2008952 6-May-2018 23:38

I suspect one of that age will only ever have been designed for a single phone on the wall (they were expensive!)

So won't have 'star wiring' (that's the best objective goal). If there are existing outlets in the walls now, you need to find if they are run up the walls into the ceiling and can be re-cabled to a central point. Or if they are daisy-chained room to room horizontally in the walls

If there are none, it depends on the wall makeup if its doable to run fresh. Or under the floor is accessible to run some and wall capping to the points.

irongarment

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 134
Inactive user

#2008953 7-May-2018 00:09

Step 1
Find a convenient location for your Ethernet patch panel and communications equipment.

Step 2
Install RJ45 wall sockets around the house and connect twisted-pair Ethernet cable from each socket back to your patch panel.

Step 3
Locate the incoming telephone line route and re-route it to your patch panel location. Terminate it in a telephone socket near the patch panel.

Step 4
Make a patch lead with a telephone plug on one end and an RJ45 plug on the other. Generally this lead will have one pair in it, connected to the central pair of pins (pair 1).

Step 5
Plug the patch lead into the phone socket you installed next to the patch panel. Plug the other end into the patch panel in the socket for the room you want to have the phone in.

Step 6
Plug the phone into the RJ45 socket in that room. You can do it by putting an RJ45 plug on to your phone's cord, or you can buy a RJ45 to phone socket adapter.

Goosey

3014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 867

Subscriber

#2008972 7-May-2018 06:31

does the house still have the original electrical wiring too?

Id seriously consider replacing that ASAP.

UrbanMyth

122 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#2008976 7-May-2018 07:40

Recommendations for a patch panel?

Will google for the wiring diagram for the RJ-45 to patch panel cable - or can you buy these?

(And yes, the wiring is in need of replacement in some areas of the house - will be doing this in future room renovations. Other areas of the house have been renovated by former owner so they have been changed already)

froob

698 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 233

Lifetime subscriber

#2008978 7-May-2018 08:14

A patch panel in this instance will just have RJ45 jacks on it - so patching is just with an RJ45 to RJ45 patch cable.

Dynamix sells a few different patch panel models, and which one is most appropriate will depend on where you will be locating it and how many runs of cable you are planning

For example, if six or less runs, you could terminate them all to a standard faceplate and locate it behind a desk in an office or study, or behind the TV. Or, if you are installing a cabinet or rack, then there a patch panels designed to fit these. Dynamix also have a 12 port patch panel that can be screwed directly to a wall in a cupboard or similar.

Are you actually planning to pull out your current phone cabling? If not, it can be wired to a single port on the patch panel and still used for phones (including VOIP).

Guide: Installing Network Cabling in New Zealand Homes

irongarment

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 134
Inactive user

#2008980 7-May-2018 08:20

I like this one because it doesn't need a rack (the bracket screws to the wall and the panel clips to the bracket). Any panel will do. Get Cat6 because you're starting now. If you get one that screws to a rack then get a rack, or fabricate something to screw the holes at the end to.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/CHSDNX1114/Dynamix-PP-MINI12-C6B-Mini-12-Port-Patch-Panel-Cat

Regarding wiring. There should be a coloured sticker on the back of your sockets (in the room) and on the back of the panel. There are two colour codes, T568A and T568B. Pick one (and stick to it) and match the colours on the sticker to the colours of the wires at each end.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2008994 7-May-2018 08:53

If you don't have any knowledge of what is required, your best bet will to to call a local data installer and ask for a quote.

irongarment

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 134
Inactive user

#2009036 7-May-2018 09:45

sbiddle:
If you don't have any knowledge of what is required, your best bet will to to call a local data installer and ask for a quote.

Ah, New Zealand.

Is this not the geek zone?

Data wiring is simple. Anyone can do it.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2009056 7-May-2018 10:10

irongarment:

Data wiring is simple. Anyone can do it.

That is certainly something I cannot agree with.

Might be simple if you do it for a job, but there are plenty of catches. To suggest somebody with no knowledge of cabling could successfully (and more importantly professionally) wire up a whole house is simply crazy.

antoniosk

2382 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 742

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2009064 7-May-2018 10:24

sbiddle:

irongarment:

Data wiring is simple. Anyone can do it.

That is certainly something I cannot agree with.

Might be simple if you do it for a job, but there are plenty of catches. To suggest somebody with no knowledge of cabling could successfully (and more importantly professionally) wire up a whole house is simply crazy.

I'm with Steve on this; data wiring can be straightforward if you know what you're doing, and it is devilish to learn when you are making holes in your house and trying to make things work. You can bodge your connections, you can spend a decent whack of cash buying the tools and pieces and still bodge your connection, and at the end you are left by yourself trying to make it all work. Tools doesn't just cover punchdown and port wiring, it also covers drill bits and extras needed to trail wire through stud walls and avoid electrical wiring, and so on.

Still, if you have the time and energy, why not.

My experience of most electricians is if you shop around and are clear on your needs, costs are nominal. For example there is a new sparky advertising her services on VIC Deals for electrical and data wiring. $50/hr. It may be nominal but she is pricing to get business as she's new, and why not.

________

Antoniosk

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#2009083 7-May-2018 11:08

A newbie isn't going to be able to pick up a couple of tools (of which I say you only need side cutters and a punchdown tool), wire up a link and have it pass on a Fluke tester, but they are certainly going to be able to wire a 20-30m link and get gigabit speeds over it.

Plus if it's something that interests you then just go ahead and do it. There is enough documentation/forums/blogs out there that anyone could go and grab some cable and get their house wired up.
If you screw up drilling holes whole you're at it, that's your problem. Why should anyone else care?

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2009085 7-May-2018 11:10

I'll just expand on that - if data wiring was that easy I wouldn't end up spending my days fixing up data installs done by people who have no idea of what they're actually doing.

The number of times I see RJ45 connectors that are a) crimped incorrectly with exposed untwisted cable and no cable jacket into the connector and b) using a custom wiring pinout that's neither 568A or 568B is truly remarkable.

sonyxperiageek

2984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 397

Trusted

#2009148 7-May-2018 12:20

I found eBay have some decent priced patch panels.

Sony

irongarment

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 134
Inactive user

#2009154 7-May-2018 12:31

sbiddle:
irongarment:

Data wiring is simple. Anyone can do it.

That is certainly something I cannot agree with.

Of course you can't, which makes your advice not entirely impartial.

irongarment

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 134
Inactive user

#2009157 7-May-2018 12:34

sonyxperiageek: I found eBay have some decent priced patch panels.

Good point. My PBtech link was just an example. I should have posted a link to DealExtreme or some similar site so that OP could get free shipping and avoid GST.

1 | 2