Distance of Telephone (POTS) wring?

[Lakee911]

Anyone know what the maximum distance is for telephone wiring? I need to extend telephone service about 3000 (yes, three thousand) feet. I may use fiber, but I need to cost it out both ways.

Thanks,
Jason

[brownizs]

Why would you use Fiber? POTS has to use Copper. Now if you are talking about Networking, then you are looking at a completely new subject.

[alternety]

Do you perchance have any rolls of cat 6 lying about? If so, try testing with that. Google of a line extender bidirectional amp. Fiber gets expensive for the conversion devices.

[Mikey]

You'd be surprised how far you can extend POTS wiring. The main problem might be EMF problems -- lightning, etc. The only hard number I know of offhand is a 5000' limit for an analog line on a Cisco VG248 -- an analog-to-digital voice gateway -- which I would guess would be a good guideline. All in all, I'd say 3000' would work, but fiber would be very cool.

[jimbo]

Distances up to 15000 feet from a central office are not uncommon for POTS. Depending, adding 3000 feet to yours probably won't be an issue.

[Lakee911]

Why would you use Fiber? POTS has to use Copper. Now if you are talking about Networking, then you are looking at a completely new subject.

Because fiber is immune to electromagnetic interference. There are some Cu to FO converters available for POTS.

Do you perchance have any rolls of cat 6 lying about? If so, try testing with that. Google of a line extender bidirectional amp. Fiber gets expensive for the conversion devices.

I don't have any rolls of Cat6. Most of designs are on paper only. I'll check into this line extender bidirectional amp though.

You'd be surprised how far you can extend POTS wiring. The main problem might be EMF problems -- lightning, etc. The only hard number I know of offhand is a 5000' limit for an analog line on a Cisco VG248 -- an analog-to-digital voice gateway -- which I would guess would be a good guideline. All in all, I'd say 3000' would work, but fiber would be very cool.

I think that I saw a post regarding that Mikey... but like the next poster said, it could be many thousands of feet prior to that too. I would run the cable (probably CAT6) in rigid metalic conduit.

Distances up to 15000 feet from a central office are not uncommon for POTS. Depending, adding 3000 feet to yours probably won't be an issue.

Maybe I'll call the Teleco. They can probably tell me my distance.

Thanks!
Jason

[OscarG]

Unless you are way out in the country adding another 0.6 mile should not be a problem for POTS, although if you have DSL on the line it may stop working if you are already at 15000 ft. DSL has a max range of ~18000 ft. and sometimes less depending on the age of the DSLAM equipment.

Your TelCo should be able to tell you how far you are now. Easiest to call repair (ususally 611) and ask them.

My biggest concern would be lighting if you run extension as overhead rather than burried.