I imagine if it's RJ11 over Cat5 (which I've seen used in some american projects just because it makes life easier when anything can get plugged into anything) then it's much of a muchness, but I also imagine your RJ11 cable isn't Cat5. #RandomPointlessEdd

An RJ11 is a plug not a cable spec

I know. What I was trying to get at was that it's the cable that matters in this case, rather than the connector (Although I guess with some things (Not RJxx) the connector could introduce some sort of reduction in quality, but only if it's a particuarly shoddy spec. for a jack).

You know what he means!

Although re-reading it, I think I misunderstood. Now I'm not sure I do know what he means... so to clarify:

A length of cat5 cable with an RJ11 at either end is perfectly fine for extending phone connections, especially in countries where they universally use them.

Running phone signals over cat5 using normal RJ45 patch systems is also fine.

Either option is superior to the RJ11 leads you normally get, which are flat and not even twisted.

In the case of ADSL, none of these options are as good as keeping the router as close as possible to the master phone socket and extending the reach via the LAN side.

Err,

This made me smile and frown at the same time.

How do I find the master socket? All of our sockets are standard faces. We have three - two downstairs and one upstairs. All three have ADSL microfilters and are connected to telephones. At the moment, I have a telephone extension cable from the downstairs socket (back of the house) trailing out of the window, into the upstairs window and hence my bedroom, to an adsl microfilter and to the router.

Sticking the router downstairs means all of the computer stuff (which is upstairs) have a poor wifi connection. I'd need a massively long telephone extension wire to connect the router to the upstairs socket without tripping over it. I want to improve my connection and ping speeds.

The master socket should have a yellow capacitor in. The secondary sockets should not have this. It's probably the socket downstairs, closest to the front door. A screw driver may be required, although you can sometimes see just peering in the hole.

If the telephone extension sockets are not really used, then it's best to actually disconnect them by pulling the wires off at the master socket. Consider using cordless handsets if it makes it more convenient.

Even if they are used, it's best to disconnect the bell wire which is unbalanced and picks up interference. It's only needed for very old fashioned BT phones. It's never been used in the rest of the world.

I've been getting nostalgic over a watch I had when I was a kid for no apparent reason. Searching on the net though I couldn't find anything about it for ages. After buying a watch for the in-law off Amazon today (Black Friday FTW!) I was reminded of my old watch and searched again. This time I found a forum with someone asking about the same watch but with no name or accurate description, just that it has a compass in the strap. Someone though remembered and posted its name. I now know that the watch I've been searching for (for months!) is a Timex Blazer!

What a beauty! :p

Our telephone lines seem to come in from the back garden. In fact, when I checked the downstairs backroom socket, this is what I saw:




I will need to check with the upstairs phone. Last time I checked, it was this style:



If I did need to disconnect the bell wire, how do I know which one it is? Googlefu suggests an orange wire. Is this correct? Do I need to disconnect the orange wire at the other sockets too?

Ideally all of the sockets. Orange should be right - you'll know if it's the wrong one because the other phones will go dead! If it's numbered, then 2 & 5 are the only ones you need. They'll usually be blue & white on internal wiring.

That picture is a master socket, and if the wire comes in there then that's enough proof.

I know what you mean. In the 80's I had a digital watch with an FM radio built in. There was a headphone socket next to the buttons on the side .

I remember being quite jealous of kids with games or calculators on theirs.

Perfect Christmas pressie for your catholic friend.

The Jesus toaster.

http://www.amazon.com/Burnt-Impressions ... gy_k_img_y

Ideal gifts for Catholics? Get yourself down to Asda!



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