I didn't realize you could use cat 5e for phone lines. I have a whole reel of cat 5e, which I've used to run Ethernet jacks to other rooms of the house. I also ran an extra phone line to the wall behind the entertainment center for my DVR.lohertz wrote: All else fails you could add some cat 5e or 6 to replace it!
They may have been connected at one time. The previous owner had an alarm system installed and there are wires everywhere in this house.southsound wrote:bw1
If you are trying to use the second pair for ooma, remember that some homes are wired in a star topography - in other words, all of the cables meet at the network interface box on the outside of the house. If you have never had more than one line in your home, the white/orange and white/green pairs may not be connected together in that intrerface box. Connecting them (white/orange to white/orange, orange/white to orange/white, ect) will make the jacks in other rooms work. You can strip the wires and twist together, using tape to finish up the job, or better yet, use ScotchLock connectors or "beanies."
When we had the blackout in 2003, after a couple of days with no power, the alarm system triggered and I had to cut the wires to the siren.
Also, when I had to have someone come out to fix the phone line that was cut by the company installing my neighbor's sprinkler system, he disconnected the alarm system from the phone line.
I'm not sure if he cut the second line at the interface box, but I do remember he accessed the alarm box in the basement.
Anyway, thanks, I'll have to check it out and see if I can get the second line connected again.