Phone wires carrying Ethernet without VDSL technology
Phone wires carrying Ethernet without VDSL technology
Hey everyone, just a quick note about my background. We’re currently in a house with Ethernet over powerline, but since the router is on a separate circuit, the speed is pretty low. There’s no coax or Ethernet cabling left—just powerline and phone wires, which we’ve stopped using as we switched to IP-based phones (DECT). I heard about MOCA (Ethernet over Coax) and thought maybe we could repurpose the existing phone wires for Ethernet. Some general info about the place: the PC is on the second floor above the router, and the walls are made of bricks, making it hard to install new wiring easily. From a German contact.
It wouldn't be wise to attempt using your phone lines as Ethernet. Initially, this would restrict you to just 10mbps because standard phone cables use only two pairs, unlike modern Cat5 which supports higher speeds. Another concern is interference from cross-talk since phone wiring isn't designed as twisted pairs. While technically possible, I strongly recommend against it. It would be much easier for a professional to either replace the cable or install it through a wall or outside with Cat5.
I believe it wouldn't be difficult if you managed to extract the phone wire... it seems to be securely attached to the wall using the cement they applied during construction. Thanks for your tip, @MarbleHornets. I plan to have a professional redo it.