sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Partially convert CAT5-based phone system to data network

I just bought a townhouse that has CAT5e jacks in every room. It looks like all the CAT5e jacks and standard RJ11 jacks are wired to a panel in my storage closet. To me, having a CAT5e jack wired into my phone system is kind of pointless (do they make non-VoIP phones with RJ45 jacks?). What would be the reasoning behind this? Maybe the builders were anticipating some type of VoIP system in the future (the place was built in 2001)?

Anyways, what I'd like to do is disconnect the CAT5 from the panel in the closest (for the RJ45 jacks only, I don't want to mess with my phones) and put an RJ45 connection (8P8C) on the end. This should then allow me to put a switch near this panel for standard ethernet networking (that's the idea at least). Is this a reasonable plan? Is there anything that I need to watch out for?

As I am researching how to add the 8P8C connections (this is all new to me, I'm a software guy by trade), I wanted to make sure that I used the correct wiring standard (568A/568B). Since one end of the cable is already wired for me (the jacks in my rooms), I decided to remove some of the face plates for these jacks so I could see which wiring method was used. It looks like the installer used 568A, however, pairs 1, 2, and 4 actually have their solid and striped wires reversed. Is there any reason the installer would do this intentionally? Or does it not matter as long as I use the same method on the other end of the cable when I connect the 8P8C connection?

I'd appreciate any info/advice, thanks in advance...

Wow, stick to software :-)

If you already have jacks in the closet, and your switch has jacks, guess what? They make PATCH CORDS with plugs on each end. Now you don't disturb the house wiring and try something you've never done before with about a 50% chance of success.

If you use the patch cord method, you don't even have to know whether it was wired 568A or B, since it ought to be the same on both ends.

Carl

Sparkies always use CAT5. That's the only thing they know exists and they use it for everything including tieing the ladder onto their truck.

Your plan is fine. What I would do is is cut off those jacks you intend to use for data and replace them- 568B. No telling what those bozos did and it's cheap enough to know you did it correctly. Then pull the runs off that structured media panel and terminate them on a small patch panel next to it. Use patch cords to your router.

If you can't handle this yourself get someone to do it for you.

-Hal

Ouch.

I think maybe you've slightly misunderstood (or I didn't explain it well). The panel in the closet doesn't have jacks, the CAT5 is wired directly into the panel using connections that I can only describe as similar to punchdown but much more spread out. So I need to disconnect the CAT5 wires from this panel and add 8P8C connectors to it. Or I could do what hbiss suggested and connect the CAT5 to a new panel with RJ45 jacks on it.

The panel in the closet doesn't have jacks...

I've seen enough of those things and ripped enough of them out to know exactly what you are talking about.

I would suggest the patch panel or you could simply put jacks on those ends too if there are not too many. That way you have only one job to learn. There are plenty of surface housings out there that will take 6 jacks that you could mount next to your router.

I would stay away from pressing plugs on the cables. A good presser is expensive and there are plugs for solid and stranded cable that people confuse all the time. Then you have to get the wires in the right 568B order and keep them that way until you squeeze the presser. Not always easy. I would stick with jacks or a small 12 port patch panel.

-Hal

It always seems like most structured media panels never work right. I've gutted a few and put regular punchblocks and such in them. They work ok then. But at that point what is the point? Pretty covers?

If you've never done cabling or termination before then this would either be a good or bad place to learn. Depends on your personality. A good crimper isn't cheap for something you are only going to use for a dozen plugs (by the sounds of it).

When in doubt, contract out!

I cant imagine that reterminating the ends and slapping a small patch-panel on the wall would be very costly.

As Hal mentioned, you do not want to put a modular plug on your cable runs. For something small, like 4 runs, you can use a surface box with 4 jacks in the closet, and reterminate with the proper jacks at the workstation end of the cable.

You can use A or B for your terminations, just make sure you do the same at both ends. If the existing jacks were terminated with anything other than 568A/B, then absolutely reterminate.

I would also suggest you look at the existing jacks to see what brand/make they are and try to stick with that for anything you need to purchase.

Thanks for the advice guys. It sounds like reterminating the ends in the closet and patching from there to my switch is the safest way to go. I only have 4 rooms with jacks and I really only need two of them hooked up to the network so I can have a media PC in my living room downstairs talk to my media server upstairs. Hmm, since I only need to connect these two rooms, maybe I should just connect the two cables directly to each other (just kidding!).

Where can I purchase a small patch panel or the jacks and housing (6 ports would be plenty for my use)?

home depot/lowes have jacks and patch panels .

switchs best buy /wallmart

Ohhh, I get it. Like the Leviton modules that the installer SHOULD have used? Silly me to think that he would have used the right equipment in the first place.

As others have said, it would be best if the Sparkies had just left the wires unterminated and let the owner decide what to do. Probably that's what happened, back in '01.

Try https://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=6381&section=10370

The best source for this is actually eBay and do a search for 47603. You can get one or more for about $30 a piece. It's kinda expensive, but it brings out 6 jacks and it fits in the modules.

Carl