VIEW CART [ subtotal: $0.00 ]

SITE MAP LOGIN REGISTER ORDER STATUS PURCHASING HELP

Fiber Optic
Cable, Testers, etc.
Patch Cable Cat 5E &
6 (UTP/STP)
Cat 5E / 6 Data & Voice Hardware
Cat 5E / 6E / 6A
Bulk Cable
Tools & Testers
LED Flashlights
Batteries & Chargers
Technician Tool Kits
Technician Tool Case &
Utility Cart
Rip-Tie Cable Ties
Racks, Brackets &
Metal Products
Innerduct
Cisco Router Cable
Network Equipment
Labeling Tools & Acc.
Hi-Tech Home
What's NEW
SALE ITEMS

Product Search Tips
Advanced Search
Cat 5E & 6 Tutorial
All About CAT 6A
How to Make Cat 5E / 5 Patch Cable
How to Make Category 6 Patch Cable
Installing Cat 5E/6E Shielded Modular Plugs
How to Terminate Cat 6 Shielded Jacks
How to Wire Phone Jack
LED Technology
Fiber Optic Tutorial
Fiber Optic Jargon
Fiber Optic Basics
Fiber Optic Fiber
Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber Termination
Fiber Optic Network
Fiber Optic Estimating
Fiber Optic Testing
Fiber Optic Training
Fiber Optic Glossary
Mode Conditioning
Pulling Fiber Optic & Communication Cables
Designing Conduit Runs






HACKER SAFE certified sites prevent over 99.9% of hacker crime.

How to Wire a Phone Jack (Voice or Telephone RJ-11 thru RJ-14)

(USOC Wiring Diagram)

Telephone wiring for a phone outlet is typically either 1, 2 or 3 pairs (2, 4, or 6 conductor). Most cable nowadays is UTP (unshielded twisted pair). There may be instances where you may need to connect to or transpose from the old "quad" cable. The diagram below provides the transposition between these standards.

Pair 1 (T1 & R1)

Usually the primary dial tone or talk circuit is wired to the center two pins (pins 3 & 4) and is the white/blue and blue/white pair (AKA: T1 & R1 - tip 1 and ring 1). A standard single line phone draws dial tone from these center pins.


NOTE: The type of wiring shown here is known as USOC (pronounced U-sock). See background below.

Pair 2 (T2 & R2)

The secondary circuit is wired to the two pins (pins 2 & 5) directly to the side of the center pins and is the white/orange and orange/white pair (AKA: T2 & R2 - tip 2 and ring 2). Depending on the application, the secondary circuit can either be the 2nd dial tone line on a two line phone, or the data/control circuit for an electronic key phone.

Pair 3 (T3 & R3)

The third circuit is wired to the two pins (pins 1 & 6) on the outside and is the white/green and green/white pair (AKA: T3 & R3 - tip 3 and ring 3). Depending on the application, the third circuit can either be the 3rd dial tone line on a three line phone or an accessory circuit for an electronic key phone.


BACKGROUND

Tip & Ring

In telephony the terms that represent the conductors that comprise a circuit are known as "tip and ring". These terms stem from the early days of telephony when operators made telephone connections using 1/4" phono plugs similar to those used today for stereo headphones. The old systems also carried a third wire which was a ground. The "Tip" was the tip of the plug and was the positive (+) side of the circuit. The "Ring" was a conductive ring right behind the tip of the plug and was the negative (-) side of the circuit. Right behind the ring was the "Sleeve" which was the ground connection.


The ground (sleeve) is no longer used today for individual pairs.


USOC (Universal Service Ordering Codes)

In the old days of telephony, USOC (pronounced U-sock) standards were used to simplify and standardize the various different wiring schemes for modular jacks.

RJ (RJ-11, RJ-45 Etc.)

The USOC standards consisted of many different Registered Jack Configurations which were abbreviated as "RJ" and had designations like RJ-11, RJ-12, etc. Today we still refer to modular jacks in the RJ designations but rarely use them to refer to a wiring standard that they were originally intended for. Even though it is technically incorrect, popular terminology today for the terms RJ-11, 12 or 14 refer to a 6 pin jack and RJ-45 refers to an 8 pin jack.


The information on this page is an original copyrighted article. We welcome you to link this page from your website. However, copying this article in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

Disclaimer: We have provided this article as general installation advice to our customers. We make no claims about the completeness or the accuracy of the information as it may apply to an infinite amount of field conditions. It is the responsibility of the person or persons using this information to check with all concerned parties, owners and local authorities, etc. before doing an installation. Users of this information agree to hold Atcom Inc. harmless form liabilities of any kind relating to the use of this information.


Email for Information
- questions for existing customers, or pertaining to pending sales
(any others may be charged a consulting fee).

Email for Sales

Home | Site Map | About Atcom / LANshack | Purchase Orders / Credit Application | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement | Contact Us
Copyright 1999 - Atcom Inc. (LANshack.com)