casey@gauss.llnl.gov (Casey Leedom) (02/02/91)
We're planning on completely rewiring our home. We want provision
for three analog voice lines, AppleTalk PhoneNet and 10baseT Ethernet.
Each analog voice line needs a pair of wires, PhoneNet requires a pair
and 10baseT requires two pair. Two of the analog voice lines would be
used for high speed modems (V.32bis.)
We're thinking of running copper six pair, twisted pair cable
throughout the house. I have several questions regarding the wiring:
1. I've heard that there's a potential problem with running high
level (loud) digital signals in the same cable with lower level
analog signals on other lines -- even if using twisted pair
throughout. It was suggested that we should consider running two
three pair cables; one for the PhoneNet and 10baseT and one for
the three phone lines. Is there any truth to this?
2. ISDN may hit our area sometime in the distant future. This would
obviate the need for two of the voice lines because we could use
an ISDN B channel. Would the three pair we have allocated for
voice service and modems be enough to support an ISDN connection?
Can one use one B channel for voice and the other for data
simultaneously? I.e. in order to support our need to be able
to use a phone in a standard manner and operate a data connection
require that we get *TWO* ISDN drops?
Basically we'd like to do the cabling job *RIGHT* once and not have
to go back and run new cable because of electrical problems (cross
talk, too thin wire, etc.), mechanical problems (insufficiently robust
insulation, etc.) or not enough wires. We don't care that much about
the cost of the raw wire. The biggest cost as far as we're concerned
will be the effort of running the cable and wiring the stations.
Thus:
3. Can people recommend specific wire for our needs? Please
specify brand and model or provide explicit descriptions of
features I should look for.
Which brings up a related topic: all this wire is going to go to and
from some place. We're planning on running all the wiring out from a
central junction in a star pattern. Individual wires that aren't in
use by particular end station won't be hooked up at the junction. The
questions are:
4. What kind of junction would be best for our needs? It would be
really nice if it were easy to [de]activate lines to stations
simply by throwing a switch instead of having to pull wires off
of and punch them down into a punch down block of some kind.
Again, specific brand and model recommendations are welcome.
5. What kind of end stations would be easiest to work with and look
nicest? It would be really nice if there was a modular box
capable of holding several varying jacks. Three RJ11s for the
voice lines, an RJ45 for the 10baseT and whatever PhoneNet uses.
I doubt whether such a box exists, but I can dream. What do
people recommend for this?
Thanks for any and all advise you can give!
Casey