Quick question on internet connection (ie the physical line itself). I am running an extension line from my living room to a newly converted office, using approx 17-20 metres of telephone line (would be shorter however must skirt door arches etc).

My question is, how much, if at all is this extra line distance from the wall socket to the modem/computer going to affect my connection speeds? Also, will having a connection in the middle affect the connection speed? I will have two cords joined in the middle with an adapter but would it be a good idea to have one long line?

Thanks for any info.

Hiya BC

The distance round the house will make NO difference to your speed. Just make sure you have a micro filter installed if you want to use a phone in the office.


Mike

Further to Mike's reply above, I would add:

It is preferable to have as few joins in the cable as possible. Each joint is a potential point of failure. If you can, invest the few cents to buy a new cable.

While you are at it, try to route the cable so that it remains at least 1 metre / 3 feet away from power cables. This will reduce the risk of induced electromagnetic 'noise' on the line.

Equally try to avoid sharp turns/folds in the cable - ie when you are going round door frames etc. This reduces the risk of one of the conductors breaking inside.

Once you have installed the cable check its continuity by:

1. Firstly, disconnecting the exchange line completely.
2. In the remote end bridge any two terminals (make a note of which two).
3. Measure continuity between these two wires at the exchange end using an ohm meter/ multi meter- should be no more than a few ohms.

BTW telephone cables are in pairs twisted together to reduce line noise and should be colour coded (I'm not sure what is used in Oz) make sure you use a matched pair.

Hope this helps

EG

Thanks very much for the info! Much appreciated! :)

Being a telephone tech I can tell you that it does not matter at all. Extension cables are flexible cables and so the risk of breakage is minute and if you get dial tone why check continuity it must be good.

At the frequencies we are dealing with sharp corners do not matter either. Segregation from the power is a regulation in OZ but only for fixed cables. As I don't cable pull anymore I would have to check the minimum distance required but 300mm is sufficient and that is purely for non contact purposes as any induced noise would be induced into both legs of the circuit and as such would cancell out.
As for the number of connections in the circuit that only applies at frequencies way beyond what telephone lines work at. What you have to bear in mind is that some broadband services are now giving 8 meg over cables that have been in the ground for as many as 50 years and elsewhere possibly even longer and some of those older cables may even be jointed using twist joints sheathed in paper and sealed in a lead outer sheath.

Don't worry about it.

If you think you are running slow you want to see the speed Telstra is legally obliged to support..........8k or lower
However in practice you can force them to support a fax which uses 14.4K