Converting a phone jack to a data jack

[Del91574]

I usually use the proper jack for the intended purpose. They are not that expensive. It stops issues with people plugging the network connection in to the wrong jack. When you have service contract accounts, this will save you a service call, and money.

Bingo.

As I said, those here might not share the same issues that I've had such as loose connections where improper jacks/outlets being used, and I've got a nice box of a few thousand keystones with bent contacts that had been installed by the EC's.

Will it work, sure, but is it the right way to do a proper install out of the gate?

Proper tools for the job, the example was an exaggeration, however I've witnessed EC's using linesman's to make up RJ's and BNC's and overcrimping Scotchloks to the point of cutting through the conductors and failing to understand why it won't work properly.

 

[ecborgoyn]

<soapbox>
I think I must agree with DEL on this one....

True, 6-position (e.g. RJ11) plugs can plug into 8-position (e.g. RJ45) jacks. BUT it's NOT a secure connection. I've done it in a pinch on my patch panel but would NOT recommend it for the distal keystone jacks. It's just NOT good practice. I agree with all of the comments that this has worked, does work, and will work in the future, it's just not prudent.

I my system, I have Cat 5/5e/6 runs to a Cat X patch panel (currently Cat 5 due to the age of the panel). At the distal ends in the rooms, I terminate on the proper keystone. 8-position for data, 6-position for POTS telephone. I have TWO Cat X cables run to every room in a single box/location. If I re-purpose a cable, I change the keystone. (Leave some extra cable pushed into the wall for future changes). My patch area is all 8-position (i.e. RJ45) jacks, patch cables, etc. I have a 66 block that terminates in 12 8-position RJ45 connectors for POTS service. All patch cables are Cat X. The wiring closet is easy to control and assure that voice and data patches are not interconnected. The distal/room ends are not as controlled.

The keystone jacks in the rooms take more abuse and can take advantage of the proper fitting connectors.. Voice grade 6-position keystones are VERY cheap.

</soapbox>

 

[tmbrown97]

Your fear of using an RJ45 jack for an RJ11 plug because of the 1% chance of issues is just naive. The RJ45's will work fine and not require future work - whereas your ideas of using RJ11's now and changing in the future guarantees that a change in the future will be necessary. And for people who don't do cabling, it introduces a whole world of cabling issues they need not be exposed to.

Why on earth would you use the RJ11 jacks *knowing* they'll be wrong in the future, rather than future-proof now and use RJ45's and risk the 0.001% of jack failure?

Most of the world has figured this out - there's no good reason to waste time on RJ11 jacks.

 

[ecborgoyn]

It matters more when your wife wants to make a land-line telephone call and the 0.001% failure occurs.... Kind of blows your credibility in managing a home network...

Actually I've never changed a keystone jack. My standard termination is one Cat5e 8-position jack and one Voice 6-position jack at each location.

 

[wuench]

Geez, talk about over-analysis hell. It's a choice, the O.P. has plenty of options.

I chose to use all RJ45, and I am too lazy to make up RJ11/RJ45 patches, I only have two jacks with RJ11 plugged in and they have been plugged in for 10 years and I have plenty of extra keystones in a box downstairs if I need to change one out, and Lowes is like 3 miles away if I run out.

I am a network engineer, not a wiring technician/installer. That means my cabling is sloppy, I take shortcuts, and my terminations are a mess. I am OK with that.

 

[ecborgoyn]

OK, I'll lighten-up and be less dogmatic. I was being emphatic for effect.

Yes, the O.P. has lots of options and can select one based on desired effort/cost/flexibility/risk.

I tend be the perfectionist (often to excess) and don't mind additional small expenses and minor efforts.