atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring How many Cat3 pairs?

First, let me thank you all for the education I've gotten reading this forum. You've saved me from, among other things, the "structured cable telephone distribution panel" nightmare. Very briefly, I've been a "wire guy" (comm, data, electricity) since I first figured out that the dark green van with the bell on the side had all sorts of cool stuff in the back, and can find my way around a 66-block pretty well for an amateur.
Here's the question: I'm in the final planning stages of the telephone and data wiring upgrade in my home/home office. Thanks to this forum it is two separate concurrent projects, which should result in better results and fewer headaches all the way around.
Does anyone see any reason to run more than 2 pairs of cat3 to the phone jacks? There are only 2 CO lines available at the house without a very expensive engineering project. No KSU system planned at the moment. Thanks in advance.

I'd personally arrange to have one CAT3 cable at every outlet along with one CAT5e. There is no realistic cost savings in providing only two pairs for voice since two- or three-pair cable is pretty much going out to pasture. You are correct in your assumption that structured wiring panels are a big waste of money that almost guarantees lack of flexibility.

"Dark green vans.........." is funny. While not necessarily true, the old Bell System did operate with military precision to say the least.

Thanks for coming here to ask. We'll work with you in your quest to provide a technician-friendly wiring system in your home. Just remember that your needs today may change in the future, not to mention the needs of a potential purchaser of your property.

Nope I see no need for a four pair wire. If you plan on using more than two lines at any given location. Then I would suggest different.

Being a wire guy. Why not just play it safe and run voice and Data at the same time. It will be no less hassle than just running a data wire?

Thats my two cents

Ed way typing at the same time. Umm Ditto.

Thanks, Ed. The plan for the residential part of the house is exactly that, one cat3 + one cat5 at each outlet, with stouter data wiring in the office area. You're thinking 4 pair cat3? If so, would you terminate on an 8p8c jack or something different to distinguish from the LAN other than color code?
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My first house in NY came with a 1A2 in the basement and I thought I was in heaven!
"Dark green vans"... well, it _was_ a long time ago.

Right on. Two four pair cables, one CAT3 and one CAT5e, both terminated with 8P8C jacks. There's no reason to use different-colored jacks unless you want to. That's pretty much a matter of personal preference since you will be in charge of things anyway.

I see that just a little different. I would rather you use a 6p6c jack. I have too many customers that plug the keysets into the wrong jack or vise versa. The resulting service call cost more than a single digit difference in price for the jack.


Sorry no ditto here

True on that note. That happens more than I care to mention, Waine. That's the way I do things here too with regular customers, but I figured that in a residential environment where the installer is in control, such risk would be minimal.

I would use a 6-wire RJ11 jack (is the correct name RJ11C?) also because if you decide to install a two-line phone, you will not have to deal with the 568A/568B issue, since the blue pair and orange pair will always be the first two lines on the voice jack.

You should be ducking right now..
RJ11 and some other designations are the scheme or wiring patern. NOT the jack or plug that everyone seems to make it out to be. Other similar Registered Jacks include RJ14 for a 2-line telephone jack, RJ25 for a 3-line jack, all of which utilize 6-position modular connectors.

That's why I included a question mark!!!!! Thank you for educating me. RJ25 is probably what I would install.