Can I Use Cat6 For Phone Lines ?

Can you use cat6 cable for telephone?

Due to the development of telephone systems we continually are asked for advice on telephone system cabling. Is my existing cabling suitable? Volition i need boosted points? Can i use Cat6 cable for telephone?

The simple respond is YES. Cat6 for mod phone systems is a suitable cablevision to install. However its non just the telephone systems yous should be considering when designing an overall cabling installation. Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a are all suitable for modern VoIP systems. However your requirements overall volition decide if you demand a lower or higher specification

The confusion in cabling requirements sometimes comes about due to how system evolved from the legacy BT systems to today'south mod equivalents

Legacy Phone Systems

Legacy phone systems such as the BT phone line on the wall did non use modern data cabling for its connections. BT standard cable was specifically used to install all the connections. This cable known as CW1308 would exist installed for the BT sockets directly back to a BT connection indicate. Hence the phone lines were separate for the remainder of the communications networks.

The BT points were not to a data manual standard and therefore couldn't be used for internet such equally PC's or WiFi. Therefore you would accept two separate installations

Digital Systems

Telephone systems then progressed through to a digital version which compared to the legacy systems had a bit more flexibility. To begin with standard information cabling was installed from the communications room to both PC'due south and Telephones using separate data cables. Furthermore these cables were terminated onto the aforementioned patch panels and onto data modules at the desk. These cables were ordinarily Cat5e and sometimes Cat6 cable.

The incoming BT lines were then installed into a digital phone system. Finally private cables / lines were taken from the phone arrangement onto additional patch panels with each port designating an extension number. These ports would then be "patched" to an outlet number to become a staff member their designated phone number

The shortfall in this organisation was you needed to add more cables and panels to increment the phone numbers and as well re-patching was constantly required if people moved around the office.

VOIP Systems

VoIP is the standard for the modern telephone organisation. For the most part all offices now either have this system or volition eventually movement to it. With a VoIP system individual data cables are installed from the communications cabinet to each desk. Some systems install two cables for user. One would be for the telephone and one for the PC. In contrast some systems apply ane cablevision per user and plug the PC into the phone and apply the aforementioned cable.

After the PCs and Phones the same information switches within the data chiffonier. The phone number is allocated to the phone itself. Wherever the phone goes the number goes. Therefore moving people and phone numbers is easy and efficient. Furthermore adding new numbers is via software and quick and almost instant

Cabling for telephone systems

In summary to respond tin can I use Cat6 cable for telephone, the answer is yeah of grade. However as described above the modern VoIP system is part of an overall information network within your office. Therefore the conclusion on the cabling you crave will depend on a few factors such every bit those below

Required speeds of network
Number of outlets
Time to come expansion allowances
Restrictions on installation such every bit false floors and containment
Upkeep

Data Cabling Options

For the majority of installation Cat6 is recommended as the minimum standard for your overall information cabling installation. However a lot of clients still specify a Cat5e installation to minimise costs. Cat5e and Cat6 are both suitable for 1 gigabit speeds and therefore either choice is suitable in a large proportion of installations

At the same time many network requirements are moving to a minimum of 10 gigabit. Thus cat6 has a slight advantage over cat5e in that Cat6 can transmit 10Gig upwardly to 55m. In contrast Cat5e is not suitable for 10Gig. However for a standardised cabling for 10gigabit Cat6a is the standard for installation.

Telephone systems only require a maximum one gigabit for transmission and in many cases only 100mb. Therefore many clients believe that they tin can install Cat5e/Cat6 to the phones and Cat6a to the PC's for 10 gigabit connections.

While this is technically true and would piece of work information technology destroys all the advantages of a structured cabling network. A structured cabling design is to standardise all cabling to its maximum design so that for any change in layout, equipment or technology the cabling is suitable. Furthermore the additional fourth dimension taken to install 2 different types of cable negates any savings in material costs

Phone System Data Cabling Advice

In summary our standard guidance on telephone systems is to expect at your overall design as a whole. If you just crave a gigabit network overall so install Cat6 cable as standard. If budget is an result then peradventure get for Cat5e.

At the same time is 10gigabit is required within your network so our advice is go for Cat6a throughout. This will give yous future flexibility and a standard of wiring

For further manufactures with regards to Phone and VOIP cabling please visit our Knowledge Center HERE

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