Can Telephone Wire Be Used for Ethernet? Easy Explanation

After moving to your new house, you discovered a telephone wire is there. Now, you are wondering whether you can use that for ethernet or not as they look quite similar. Well, in short, the answer is both yes and no.

For getting an internet connection, you will require Cat5 or Cat6 cable whereas the telephone wire is Cat3, which is a pretty old version of the cat wires. They use different connectors and have different characteristics.

If you are willing to learn more about the telephone wire and whether will it be an ideal choice using for ethernet, then this article can be of help. We have discussed in depth the capability of telephone wire, the differences, and the issues that you will face. So, be with us till the end and find out what you are looking for!

Is It Possible for Telephone Wire to Provide Internet?

As aforementioned telephone wire and ethernet wire are completely different and they have a lot of differences between them. They are different in size, have differences in bandwidth, have different speeds of transmission, use different connectors, and so on.

If you are willing to use them with a modern router or modem, then you won’t be able to use them. The ethernet cable has 8 wires, 4 pairs. On the contrary, the telephone wire has 4 wires, 2 pairs. Also, telephone wire uses an RJ11 connector which has 4 pins whereas ethernet cables use an RJ45 connector that has 8 pins. And the modern router is compatible with RJ45 connectors. So, here you won’t be able to use a telephone wire for getting an internet connection.

Now, let’s talk about when it’s possible to get an internet connection with the telephone wire. Previously, when the internet wasn’t that much popular, companies like DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) sell modems and use the telephone wire for providing internet connection.

They attach special DSL modems on each end of the phone wire and then they can able to use the internet by using the telephone cable. This was known as dial-up internet back then and fortunately; you may be able to find some internet providers who offer DSL (Digital Subscriber Line).

Drawbacks of Using Telephone Wire for Internet Connection

There you will face a lot of issues while using a telephone wire for getting an internet connection. Here we have provided the drawbacks that you will have for doing so.

• You will have a slower internet speed. You can hardly get up to 20 to 25 Mbps which is considered very slow in today’s world.
• You will have a lower bandwidth rate.
• Multiple users won’t be able to use the internet.
• Will have a lesser data transfer rate.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions and Answers)

Can I convert RJ11 to RJ45?

Technically, yes, you can convert the RJ11 connector to the RJ45 connector. But it’s not recommended to do. The RJ11 has 4 pins and uses 4 wires whereas RJ45 has 8 pins and requires 8 wires. If somehow you convert, it won’t work properly. 

Can I use a landline port for Ethernet?

Technically no but you can though it’s not suggested to do. The landline uses an RJ11 connector and this type of connector is capable of providing an internet speed of a maximum of 20 Mbps. So, if you are willing to have a slower internet connection then you can use it.

Conclusion

Lastly, if you want to have a slower connection and are willing to use the internet only yourself then you can use the telephone wire as the ethernet cable. Otherwise, you should go for the actual ethernet cable. Hope that, all of your confusion cleared by now. If you have any further queries, let us know in the comment box.