Modem Extension Cable

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saildog

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#280823 12-Jan-2021 21:14

Okay, so I have a standard ADSL modem/router plugged into the phone port. Everything works well.

We are moving our home office two rooms away and I wish to run a much longer cable from the jack to the modem which will reside in the new office. Can someone advise what it is that I need to purchase? Is it as simple as an old school phone extension? If I know what it's called I'll get one! Probably going to need to be 10m

thanks

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Mad Scientist
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#2634552 12-Jan-2021 21:27

was just wondering - have you checked the pricing of your internet vs other options? eg even 4g internet could give you better connection at a cheaper rate ...

sorry i'm not helping

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CYaBro

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#2634553 12-Jan-2021 21:28

You’d be better to leave the modem where it is and use a long Ethernet network cable.
If you need more ports in the office then add a small network switch.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Jase2985

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#2634555 12-Jan-2021 21:29

RJ11/12 or the old rectangular BT connection

coffeebaron

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#2634556 12-Jan-2021 21:31

Best option is get a new dedicated xDSL jack-point with master splitter installed. Next best option, leave modem where it is and run an Ethernet cable. Running an extension from exiting jack-point may degrade you broadband performance.

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richms

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#2634607 13-Jan-2021 02:04

Some phone extension cables are a foil wrapped around a string for flexibility. They will annihilate any DSL performance if used.

Really with still being on copper you should look at a fiber install in the location that you want the connection, that will be zero cost to you and get you off a dead end technology.

Richard rich.ms

saildog

9 posts

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#2634634 13-Jan-2021 08:05

Thanks for the suggestions but many are not feasible

We are rural and have almost zero cell coverage. We reply on a vodafone sure-signal for reception

Fibre installation won't be here for a decade or longer and even when it does we'll have to pay a fortune for the 400m plus we live from the road

The room where the modem resides is about to become our teenage son's bedroom - I want 100% control of the modem!!!

Perhaps I'll wait for Starlink!

quickymart

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#2634639 13-Jan-2021 08:14

A decade? The nationwide rollout is expected to be completed next year, for all areas that are going to get it.

RBI might be a better option for you - where are you located?

saildog

9 posts

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#2634648 13-Jan-2021 08:47

The decade was hyperbole but even when it does get here we will be faced with a 400m gap between letterbox and the house which will be pretty expensive to bridge. Will have to navigate two streams and a ford!

We are located north of Kerikeri in Northland.

shk292

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#2634653 13-Jan-2021 09:03

I know it’s not best practice but in my dark days of VDSL I used a standard phone extension lead in similar circumstances with no measurable effect on performance of the link. I’d suggest giving this a try and then thinking again if it doesn’t work. It’s cheap and simple if it works

quickymart

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#2634661 13-Jan-2021 09:28

saildog:

The decade was hyperbole but even when it does get here we will be faced with a 400m gap between letterbox and the house which will be pretty expensive to bridge. Will have to navigate two streams and a ford!

We are located north of Kerikeri in Northland.

I think Kerikeri is completed. Have a look at the Chorus map and see what you can get. Maybe you can get VDSL: https://www.chorus.co.nz/

saildog

9 posts

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#2634709 13-Jan-2021 09:42

Sadly you don't have to be much more than 2km from Kerikeri town centre and you're out of luck. The Chorus map shows Fibre progress out to Dec 2022 and we are still nowhere near getting it then.

Strangely their speed graphic shows VDSL download slower than ADSL!

Scott3

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#2634774 13-Jan-2021 11:42

Phone extentions cables are fairly cheap. Probiably can get a used one shipped to yoy for under $15.

Buy one, test the proformance without it, then add it in, and test again. Decide if the drop in proformance is significant.

Best practice would be to have a phone tech come out and install a master splitter and hardwired phone cable to your proposed router location. Of course that is likely to be $200+. Could be well worth it If you have no prospect of moving beyond DSL.

concordnz

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#2634833 13-Jan-2021 13:50

Short answer = Apsolutely you can.
Adsl wires come straight from the exchange/cabinet with nothing really done at a jack point.

All you are simply doing - is extending this point 10m-20m

If you want to see if there is any difference
Do a speed test with it in its current location.
Www.speedtest.net
And print out the results.
& do the same test-- (same time of day/same day of week after move). There is highly likely to be 0% difference.

Get a cheap cable from trademe or local computer shop will be fine.

wratterus

1687 posts

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#2634847 13-Jan-2021 14:13

Speedtest is not a reliable way of checking speed in this instance. You want to check the line stats in the modem before and after if going down that road.

Bung

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#2634868 13-Jan-2021 15:04

concordnz: Short answer = Apsolutely you can.
Adsl wires come straight from the exchange/cabinet with nothing really done at a jack point.

All you are simply doing - is extending this point 10m-20m

If you want to see if there is any difference
Do a speed test with it in its current location.
Www.speedtest.net
And print out the results.
& do the same test-- (same time of day/same day of week after move). There is highly likely to be 0% difference.

Get a cheap cable from trademe or local computer shop will be fine.

If your talking cheap telephone extension cords they are typically flat cables with no twist in the wiring. They can pick up electrical noise when trailed through the house so the impairment is out of proportion to the small increase in line length. If you must use an extension cord use a long ethernet cable or the 2 pr telephone cable marked Home Lan.

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