Category: BT

Telephone system

We are going to use the same cabling and sockets for the ethernet and telephone points.  This means that any ethernet outlet can be reconfigured as a telephone point and vice versa.  Since there are multiple ethernet connections in each room, this provides us with a lot of flexibility plus we won’t have to worry about those ugly telephone extension cables around the place.

We have a standard BT telephone line and master socket.  I have acquired a unit that will convert the incoming telephone line into 4 RJ-45 connections.  This is the standard connector for ethernet.

 All of the room sockets terminate in a patch panel, so it is a case of connecting the telephone line to the appropriate socket using a patch cable – rather line the old fashioned telephone exchanges you used to see on TV.

Once the telephone line is connected to the socket, it is a case of plugging in a short lead that converts the RJ-45 connection back into a standard BT plug (or an LJU socket to be more precise).  These are just a few pounds each.

In fact, the unit that I have bought is capable of converting two telephone lines into 4 ethernet connections each.  This means that if we ever get a second line (e.g. for business use) that this could be patched to any room in exactly the same way.

You will find the central unit is available from CyberSelect.  I did have a good look around and there aren’t many on the market.  They also supply the converter leads too.

Telephone connectivity

One of the problems in a number of homes that I have owned is that the telephone points are never where you want them.  This either results in unsightly cables or poorly cabled extensions.  We want to avoid this in this house.

The plan is that every room will have at least two data ports (RJ-45 sockets) cabled back to a central point using CAT5 cable.  All the cables will terminate in a patch panel.  Then by using a patch cable at the central point, it will be possible to supply the sockets in each room with either data or telephone services. 

The incoming telephone line goes into a hub which then connects the line to 4 RJ-45 sockets.  I found this 1U rackmounted kit at Cyber Select.  I have actually added the optional second voice hub to the unit which means that potentially two separate phone lines could be brought into the house and distributed independently.

I am going to install a small 19″ rack in the cellar.  This will house a RJ-45 patch panel (for all the terminations for the cables to the room outlets), this telephone hub, a 48 port ethernet switch and the broadband router.  The telephone master socket will be in the cellar, thus making it easier to connect up to the rest of the house.

BT Pole

There was telephone pole in one of the fields.  It didn’t seem to be connected to anything and had a coil of black cable hanging from it.  A nail on label (see below) seemed to suggest that it was surplus to requirements.

I sent the folks at BT Openreach an email via the BT website on the 10th December and I got a pretty quick response.  They pointed me at the External Network Relocation team (0800 917 7381 option 6) and they said that they would send out a survey team to have a look at the site.  All seemed pretty easy.

Well, at the weekend, I noticed the pole had been removed. Not sure when it was removed, but either way, I am impressed with the quick response.  Thank you BT.

BT Pole

BT Pole due to course

BT Pole to the left track

BT Pole to the left track

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